Orange County Senator Tom Umberg Releases Statement Commemorating Vietnam Human Rights Day

May 10, 2019

California State Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D – Santa Ana) issued the following statement regarding Vietnam Human Rights Day:

“I am honored to represent the 34th Senate District, which consists of Little Saigon and a large population of Vietnamese Americans. As Americans, we must lead in advocating for human rights; the rights of which every human being is entitled to without discrimination,” said Umberg. “Vietnam, among other countries who signed on to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has continuously violated its people’s basic rights. Hundreds of Vietnamese peace activists and religious leaders are imprisoned for their advocacy, and families continue to lose their loved ones. On this Vietnam Human Rights Day, I join the Vietnamese American community of Orange County to address the concerns of the Vietnamese community overseas in matters of democracy, human rights, and religious freedom in Vietnam.”

Each year on May 11, the United States observes Vietnam Human Rights Day - a day to remember the importance of advancing fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression, assembly, association, and religion. Vietnam remains an authoritarian state ruled by the Communist Party of Vietnam. The most recent National Assembly elections, held in May 2016, were neither free nor fair.

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Senator Thomas Umberg represents the 34th Senate District 34, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Westminster. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.