Little Saigon Book-Burning Plans Dropped

Little Saigon activists backpedaled Friday from plans to burn books from Communist Vietnam today after Westminster police warned they would ticket participants for violating city fire codes.

The 4 p.m. event was planned as part of daylong activities marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which led to the exodus of more than 1 million Vietnamese. More than 200,000 of the emigres ended up in Southern California, and the strip of Bolsa Avenue in Westminster forms the heart of the expatriate community.

The other events, including a 25-hour fast by 25 protesters, were expected to take place as planned at the Cultural Court on Bolsa Avenue near Magnolia Street in the heart of Little Saigon.

The area has been the scene of numerous protests last year, most stemming from shop owner Truong Van Tran’s display of the flag of Vietnam’s Communist government and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.

Du Mien, coordinator of the planned book-burning, said he and some other protesters have decided against participating in it in light of the police warning issued Friday morning.

However, Mien said some activists might decide to go through with the plans.

“I’m not going to burn any books because the police are giving me a hard time,” Mien said, adding that he had been unaware that a fire permit was required. “I can’t guarantee other activists will do the same.”

Westminster police Capt. Andy Hall said the book-burning, even as a symbolic protest, would violate city codes barring bonfires or other open burnings without prior approval from the city.

“An open fire needs a permit,” Hall said. “This is an unlawful activity scheduled in Little Saigon.”

Peter Eliasberg, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said ticketing book-burners likely would not be considered a violation of free speech protections. Courts have recognized the government’s right to restrict behavior--such as setting fires--that is a risk to public safety so long as the law is not selectively applied, he said.