Court Order Hobbles Protest in Little Saigon Controversy

Protesters who have picketed outside Westminster City Councilman Tony Lam’s restaurant for two months agreed Friday to abide by a new court order that effectively ends their campaign.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Monarch ordered the handful of demonstrators, who have been calling for Lam’s recall since mid-March, to stay 300 yards away from his Garden Grove restaurant. In effect, they won’t be allowed within blocks of his sidewalk, parking lot or adjoining properties.

Though disappointed by the ruling, protest leader Ky Ngo conceded defeat, stating, “We will obey the law.” But Ngo promised to continue his recall effort in other ways.

Angry protesters have been picketing Lam’s business since March 12, saying he didn’t stand with the Vietnamese American community during the controversy over a shopkeeper’s display of the Communist flag in Little Saigon.

Lam, along with the rest of Westminster’s City Council, was advised by the city attorney to avoid a public stance on the issue due to liability concerns.

“It’s a big relief for me,” said Lam. “My family and I have gone through hell.”

He said he has lost about 40% of his business since the protests started, and has incurred $50,000 in legal fees to fight the recall attempt.

Monarch had granted Lam a temporary restraining order earlier, requiring picketers to stay 50 feet from Lam’s property. But Lam went back to court, alleging that some of the protesters continued to harass his customers, shouted obscenities and urinated in public.