This rally is part of a national movement in which rallies in five other cities were being held synchronously, including San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia to speak out with one voice against hate and for the inclusion of Asian Americans in all facets of American society.
As rally attendees were filing in shortly before the start of the program, a rendition of the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” provided by Yo-Yo Ma, a world-renowned cellist, was being played at his request to honor the victims and their families.
The rally at Wat Thai in Los Angeles was joined by a group of prominent public officials from both the U.S. and Thai governments as well as by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders and members who spoke at the rally.
Chancee Martorell, Executive Director of Thai CDC, gave opening remarks to start the program and introduced a line of distinguished guest speakers to the provide their remarks.
Martorell concluded her welcoming remarks with “We live in trying times where hate threatens to undermine our society and all the values at its very core but we cannot allow hate to enter into our hearts. We cannot dispel hate with more hate. Only light can dispel darkness – the light of love, the light of hope, the light of understanding, the light of justice, the light of equality. Thank you for being with us today and for choosing the path of light.”
The guest speakers included Congressmember Judy Chu, Thai Consul-General Tor Saralamba, State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, L.A. City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Captain James Townsend from the LAPD Mission Area.
Recorded speeches were also given during the rally by the U.S. Thai Ambassador Manasvi Srisodapol, L.A. County Supervisor for District 1, Hilda L. Solis, L.A. City Councilmember for District 14, Kevin de León, and Vicha’s daughter, Monthanus Ratanapakdee.
At 11:45 a.m. (PT), Warinthip Jaengdee, President of the Thai Association of Southern California, led the attendees at Wat Thai in a moment of silence synchronous with the rallies in the other five cities. During the minute of silence, the rally participants held up portraits of Vicha to commemorate him. Then, a bell was rung by Martorell to both break the moment of silence and signify that AAPI communities will no longer be silent and tolerate abuse and discrimination while rally participants held up pictures of a red lotus flower, symbolizing strength, enlightenment, purification and spiritual rebirth.
The rally welcomed additional remarks given by Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance, Robin Toma, Executive Director of L.A. County Human Relations Commission and Jerry Louis Raburn on behalf of Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA), Los Angeles Chapter before concluding with remarks and calls to action from Rosalyn Patamakanthin, President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce of California and Alex De Ocampo, Co-founder of the Filipino Voter Empowerment Project. After the rally, a sermon dedicated to Vicha Ratanapakdee was performed by monks of Wat Thai.
L.A. County Supervisor for District 1, Hilda L. Solis said, “Just because these reports of anti- Asian hate have disappeared from the news does not mean they have stopped occurring. Today, we continue to rally for justice for our API communities. We know that this scapegoating is not new but it is still very distressing. That is why we must call out bigotry whether big or small and reaffirm our commitment to our API brothers and sisters. And that’s why I have put forward a number of motions and initiatives throughout Los Angeles County to provide resources and assistance to our API communities. At my direction, the County is expanding our LA vs. Hate Program to accurately report and track hate incidents but to also get survivors of hate, the counseling and services that they deserve.”
Since the rallies were held across the country to honor a Thai victim of hate, the U.S. Thai Ambassador, H.E. Manasvi Srisodapal took part in the rally by video and provided this pre- recorded statement, “I join you today to share deep remorse for the loss of Mr. Vicha
Ratanapakdee and other Thai and Asian people who have become victims of hate crimes and criminal acts of violence. I also wish to express admiration to the local, state, and federal authorities for their prompt assistance and action, and to the local communities, particularly the Asian community for raising awareness and advocating against hate crimes. Going forward, I hope that the Asian community and all friends in America will find strength and wisdom to cultivate a caring and harmonious society.”
A very poignant statement came from Amy Ratanapakdee, the daughter of Vicha Ratanapakdee, who said, “The hate must change. It is not a temper tantrum. Hate cannot be explained away. Hate is hate. And we must rise above it. My father, Vicha, would want us all to rise above hate. He would want us to lead with love. Thank you to the community and the people who have cared so much about fighting Asian hate. I know people are scared about the anti- Asian hate in the community. We must make sure we demand action for justice. We demand our human rights. We need safety for everyone in San Francisco. We all have the right to stay safe and be able to walk in our neighborhood without fear. I know my father still watches over me. He would tell us to be strong and to keep fighting. My father told me I have to be strong for my young boys even when I’m tired. Today, I know many of you are tired of seeing all the Asian hate. Please be strong in memory of my father. Thank you so much for being here today.”
Press:
Siam Town News: https://www.facebook.com/SiamTownUS/videos/1310051382842713/
North Platte Telegraph: https://nptelegraph.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/us-cities-mark-1st-anniversary-of-thai-grandfathers-killing/article_54e961f7-210b-5a14-8114-bca03c7b1c1e.html
LA Daily News: https://www.dailynews.com/2022/01/31/la-ceremony-decries-pandemic-era-hate-against-asian-americans/
PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/us-cities-mark-1st-anniversary-of-thai-grandfathers-killing
VOA Thailand: https://www.voathai.com/a/asian-justice-rally-remarks-first-anniversary-vicha-ratanapakdee-s-death/6422826.html
Channel 9 News Thailand: https://youtu.be/EUD3TTf2w6o
