Fijian Americans Plan March to Protest Strife
Showing community solidarity, two ethnically diverse groups will join to protest the ongoing ethnic strife in Fiji between majority indigenous Fijians and minority ethnic Indians.
The Fiji Assn. of Southern California, a social and cultural group based in Van Nuys, and the Fiji-Indian Assn., a newly formed group in Santa Monica, plan to march at 2 p.m. today through downtown Culver City to draw attention to the democratically elected leaders being held hostage by rebel forces.
Organizers said they plan to march along Culver Boulevard between the post office and Veterans Memorial Hall.
At the conclusion of the march, the group intends to give a 400-signature petition to U.S. Rep. Julian C. Dixon (D-Los Angeles), whose constituents include many Fijian Indian residents. The petition asks the U.S. government to issue visas to Fijians being prevented from leaving their homes by supporters of rebel leader George Speight, who is holding much of the former government captive.
An estimated 70,000 Fijian Americans live in California, with many in the Los Angeles and Bay areas.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
