Speaker 3: Thank, thank you, Mary said. Well, we will. We'll chat with you on the site. Thank you, Mary. Next up is item number 14.
Speaker 0: Adam, 14, is communication from Councilwoman Sara recommendation to request City Council to receive and file a presentation in recognition of Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.
Speaker 3: Thank you. I'm going to go out and turn this over to Councilwoman Sara.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Mayor. I want to thank everyone who came out today to commemorate Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day, as well as our day of mourning. Johnny Depp sought an auctioneer to come on. As a child genocide survivors that was born in a refugee camp. It's an honor for me to present this item today. This year it marks the 47th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide. Beginning on April 17th, 1975, the Khmer Rouge government seized control of Cambodia. Khmer Rouge seized control of Cambodia and carried out a series of atrocities that lasted for four years, which was from 1975 to 1979. Each year in April, we remember the lives of all those who died and survived. And the Khmer Rouge had executed government officials, doctors, monks, artists, scholars and had forced many into their labor camps. It's been estimated that over 2 million, arguably between 1.5 to 3 million lives were lost due to execution and starvation. Tens of thousands were made widows and orphans, and those who lived through the regime were severely traumatized by their experiences. Of those who survived, several hundred thousand fled their country and became refugees resettling in countries across the world which made Long Beach the largest population of Cambodians. With strength and resilience, the Cambodian people survive and has been rebuilding the community, our community. Over the decade, Cambodian immigrants and children and their descendants have enriched the city in countless ways. It's becoming grocers, owning restaurants, as well as becoming public servants, working in firefighter the fire department to our city clerk office, to our various depart as city attorney office. So as we forge our path forward, we remember the tragic history that brought so many of our elders here and those who survived. So let's share our story today. As far as those who are going to be making public comment, we cried and got creative there and remember the tragedy and our history to ensure that what happened is never repeated. And to think about those and support those who are going through this challenging period right now. So I want to thank the Killing Field Memorial Center for their work for ensuring that they continue to remember April 17th every year by and now by creating the Killing Fields Memorial Garden. The genocide in Cambodia is referred to as the Killing Fields because it was the site of where people were killed and buried. And and they're building this garden to ensure that we always have a place to honor those whose lives were lost and those who survived. And so due to COVID, they're project was delayed. But I'm just so happy to share that they broke ground recently and are starting the construction process. So just honored that I was able to join their commemoration event that they hosted every year and it was beautiful and a moving and I look forward to continue to support the Killing Field Memorial Garden so that we can have a place where we can mourn and remember. I want to thank KPA also for hosting a great event Sunday evening. And today's presentation, we're going to have some public comments and a song in the end called Bong Saavedra. I think a hand that was given to you so you could follow along either try to sing along in my in an interpretation in English. Just wanted to share that this was written by the late Cambodian monk Chun not who preserved the camp. My language and identity. And. And some of his greatest achievement were his effort to kung to conserve the Khmer language in the form of the first my dictionary and one of his most well known ballad is this Bong Sabado My or my history, which is what will be sung and the song the song will be sung by . I just want to thank Charles Song and Dr. Lee and Peng Long and Boo songs for some song Tay who will lead the group in the song later on. So thank you again so much for being here as we honor and remember April 17th.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Vice me, Richardson. Second on the motion shot.
Speaker 6: I'll just add.
Speaker 4: First of all, thank you, Councilwoman Ciro, for bringing this presentation forward. I think remembrance is incredibly important, not only just to honor those that you've lost in the past, but also so that we can learn from the past in order to chart a better future for the next generation and generations to come. So thank you for bringing this forward, and I look forward to the presentation.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilman in the house.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Councilwoman Ciro, for for bringing this presentation forward. I think it's very, very important. It's important to know our history in order to learn both from the bad and the good that has happened or in this case, the horrors that happened in the past. This part of history tells the story of millions of lives that were lost during the bloody regime. But it also tells the story of the survivors, thousands of which fled and began to build a new home for their families in other countries, including here in Long Beach. Thus, though, this anniversary may bring back memories of a period in history filled with so much devastation. There is a purpose here in honoring the courageous and resilience of all of those who survived. I am proud to live in a city that is home to so many of these survivors. Our Cambodian population in so many ways continues to strengthen and enrich our city. And I'm proud to see our city council honoring this day, recognizing the history and honoring all the beautiful and strong Cambodian communities that we have here in the city of Long Beach.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilwoman Pryce.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you, Dr. Charo, for bringing this item forward. I love to hear the history that we all have, as tragic as and painful of a history as it may be for some of us, those of whom especially who immigrated here, were refugees. I, I very much appreciate hearing those stories and seeing the diversity of our city and the struggles that we all have gone through to get to this point, the histories that we all have, and the context that that creates for us to also from a place of commonality, not a place of difference. And I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to learn about your specific background and history, about the sorrow, but also that of the Cambodian community with whom I've had the opportunity to learn from and grow with. Just during my service on the City Council. I very much support this item. Appreciate you bringing it forth. Sometimes in politics and in the day to day, we forget to stop and remind ourselves of how important it is to embrace the history of the cultures that we all have and not be dismissive or shortsighted about them because they make the values that we all have . And I'm so grateful for the Cambodian community and for Dr. Charo introducing so much of their history and culture to all of us as a council. So thank you and thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Allen.
Speaker 2: Yes, I thank you, Mayor. And I also am very appreciative of Councilwoman Dr. Sorrow for this item. And I just think everyone for for being here today. The cultural influence of our Cambodian population in Long Beach is something that I am extremely grateful for. And as we celebrate Cambodian culture, we must also remember what brought Cambodians here to Long Beach in the first place. There was so much violence and devastation. And just a massive human tragedy. And many refugee refugees came here in search of a welcoming and safe community. So I think, you know, to honor the resilience of our survivors, the memories of those that we lost and just all of the mixed cultures that make us great here in Long Beach.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilmember Ringa.
Speaker 7: Thank you. And thank you, Dr. Shah, for bringing this forward. We must always remember, never forget. I have had a long history with the Cambodian community since they came here in 1978. I was working at Long Beach State at the time, and I did a study about the impact so of the commuter community into the Long Beach Unified School District. So since then, I've been very much involved with with you. I also was the Latino representative when the Centro de la Raza sold the building.
Speaker 6: And the U.S.S..
Speaker 7: United Memory Community bought the building and built their center there. And I was part of that groundbreaking ceremony there and very happy to have participated in a very proud that I was the one that did that transition from a center, La Raza to united Cambodian community. It was an awesome experience. And you and you've grown strong ever since then. Very proud to have also hired the first Cambodian chief of staff. My wife was on the city council. She hired the first Cambodian chief of staff in Long Beach. Ray Polk was the first cellist of Comorian descent here in Long Beach back in 2000 to 2010. And then Yvonne worked in my office for a short minute, and I think she also worked with Hill Councilmember Sarah. So my my connection with the camera community is strong and remain strong. And there's no question that the temple is in the seventh District, which I always, always support. So thank you for bringing this forward. And always remember. Never forget. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman Austin.
Speaker 7: Thank you. And I echo all of the words that you've heard thus far. Have a deep respect for the Cambodian community. Any time we remember remember the genocide. It's very humbling. And I think sometimes through through the pain, through through the history, it actually binds us as a community. And so this Cambodian genocide remembrance, I can recall just a few years ago was actually during the first. Recognition of it at the Expo building was just seems like a few years ago and we partnered to make that happen. Understanding that that Cambodians are citywide here in every district, you are part of the fabric of Long Beach. And again, understanding your history, understanding your plight, understanding the pain and suffering, the trauma that you're. First generation Cambodians went through hearing the United States. We should never forget that. We should honor that. And again, I think the understanding and binds us again as a community, I'm happy to support this item. And, you know. I don't celebrate this, but we remember. We will never forget.
Speaker 3: Councilman. I'm just going to. I think obviously everything has been said, but I just want to add a few a few remarks. Obviously, it's important, first of all, to always call out genocide when it happens. And it's important for us to know that throughout human history and throughout the world. There have been acts so horrific, an act so tragic and painful that they are genocide. And I don't think anyone uses that word lightly. And the Cambodian people have suffered immensely by the horrific actions of tyrants and their own government. And so to to be here today, where we have such a flourishing community in Long Beach, and I've always said it's one of the best things about Long Beach and that we're here to honor an important portant time in our history that we have learned from and we continue to learn from, but also recognize the horror and the suffering that is that has come from this time in history is really important. I want to also just just uplift as well that it's really important that the the memorial that is being built get completed and that we have a an important space within our community to commemorate this real tragic time in our world history and certainly within the Cambodian people's history. And so very supportive of that. And I look forward to to that process and the completion of of that memorial space. I want to I know this is a huge agenda item. I do have a proclamation I'm going to present to to the group. But before we do that, is public comment on this item.
Speaker 5: If there are any members of the public that would like to speak on this item in person, please line up at the podium and in the zoom. Please use the raise hand feature or dial star nine now. You'll have 90 seconds.
Speaker 6: Okay. Good. Good evening. Our old mayor and council members. So I got. No. No. My name is Seward Kim. I live in the fourth district. I'm currently assigned to Fire Station Seven in the sixth District. I am supporting the city's recognition of the Cambodian genocide. Remember, Stan? My parents fled from the killing fields in Cambodia and sought refuge in the United States in 1981. They were they were among the over 140,000 Cambodian refugees to find a safe haven in the U.S., making the city of Long Beach, home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia. Under the Khmer Rouge regime, over 2 million lives were lost, including two of my sisters and several other family members. The Cambodian genocide targeted government officials, doctors, artists, scholars seeking to erase the Cambodian culture, which was embodied by tradition, grace and elegance. Fortunately, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, was unsuccessful in their efforts, thus allowing Cambodia to restart their redevelopment, in turn allowing us to undergo the healing process, a healing process that must include honoring the many lives lost, as well as acknowledging the survivors dealing with PTSD. We must honor them by sharing their stories, struggles and sacrifice that the Cambodian culture does, in fact, live on. We must educate ourselves about the tragedies that occurred in Cambodia, so history cannot and will not repeat itself there or anywhere else. With that, I am honored and grateful for the city of Long Beach, in which I was born and raised for all the opportunities that was made possible for my family and me. Also thankful for the city's recognition of the Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day. And I'm ready to embrace the healing process. And we thank Councilmember Suzano and my friend Turk Nam for bringing this. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Next speaker.
Speaker 6: Good evening, honorable mayor and member of member of City Council.
Speaker 2: My name is Pang Long.
Speaker 6: I live here. I'm a resident of Long Beach for 42 years. And in. I live in District six for 36 years. April 17, 1975, is the darkest day for Cambodian people in three years. Eight months, 20 days under the Khmer Rouge regime, more than 2 million lives were lost. That is approximately 33% of Cambodian population at the time. 1975 is only.
Speaker 2: 7.5.
Speaker 6: Or seven and a half million population. Therefore, I am supportive of the recognition of Cambodian genocide, memory and days. April 17. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Speaker 0: Next speaker.
Speaker 6: Jury pool. Hello? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Respectfully, honorable council member and all of the staff by name to panel Ted. I'm a Cambodian born a former killing field survivor, the longtime advocate activist and a very proud Cambodian American who live and work raising children. Now four grandchildren in the city of Long Beach for 40 year. I am today to why my support for the proposal as a special presentation recognition the Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day that long overdue. I would like to express my gratitude to what's also the official who I understood about the needs of Cambodian people more. It's not about politics. It's about a nation who people nearly destroy and survive in the foreign clan. Before we used to question, I said, Are we here to stay? Are we continue to carry out my pack and keep on running? Because we got used to round and round and round for our life. The companies have destroy our route, chasing us nonstop. I would say 99.99% of the Cambodian people are here today in this room. It's a victim of the atrocity, an unfortunate Cambodian encounter. Now, please help us find peace. Keep peace after United States of America has done the unthinkable. Act by giving us peace of mind.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is up.
Speaker 6: Free and three. Yeah.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is up.
Speaker 6: Please help us.
Speaker 0: Next speaker.
Speaker 6: And I can feel District six resident growing up in the central area, I've made uh, uh, a childhood bond with many of the children of the people that you see here. And as a student at Lombard Unified, we were very much, uh, made aware in the nineties about the killing fields and the impact it had had on a lot of our neighbors. I know for my family in particular, you know, the fall of PanAm Pan, uh, led to a large increase of people coming into the community. My uncle, uh, had a dry cleaner on 17th and Alamitos, and a lot of the early workers that he had in the seventies were recent refugees trying to , uh, foundationally rebuild themselves in a new city. And I think that the the atrocity and this attempt to stamp out the intelligentsia of Cambodia was attempted by Pol Pot and the communist regime. Long Beach has been blessed in a similar fashion with the entrance of this community into the fabric of the city. And so I just come in support, in solidarity for all of my aunts and uncles here. And, you know, I hope to continue continually in the community and use any opportunity to bridge the gap between the two of us. So thank you, Dr. SA, for bringing this item to the agenda. Thank you. Speaker Thank you. Before you start my time, I brought in another survivor of the killing field to get enough time for me to talk. Thank you so much. Ottawa Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Member. I am Charles Song a five time. Genocide survivor. I have a key to this country and a proud Cambodian American Apr 17, 2022 will mark both the 47th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge seizing control of Cambodia and the beginning of the Cambodian genocide. On April 17, 1975, was the date the Khmer Rouge marched into the capital city of Phnom Penh, and what happened afterward forever changed the lives of Cambodians. More than millions of Cambodians were slaughtered, executed, hostile to death by the brutal killer wrecking public schools, pagodas, mosque, churches, university, government, building and shop were completely shut down, destroy or turn into prison reeducation camps and granary.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is up.
Speaker 3: I thank you, people. Maybe he's speaking for you. I think so. That's.
Speaker 6: The legacy of the Khmer Rouge atrocity is a nightmare for the survivor of the for all of us for generations to come. The Cambodian population have higher prevalence of trauma related mental health disorders. And Cambodians who fled Campbell who fled the Khmer Rouge persecution in the US also have a much higher prevalence of PTSD and other mental health issue. As a former refugee, we have endured a painful memory. Our resilience allow us to transform our lives successfully in the beautiful country, particularly in this city that has not only accept us with heart, but hope to inspire others. It is here where we have learned to love and forgive those who did us harm. With profound gratitude, I appreciate and thank you to our sixth District Council gunman, Dr. Sooley Sara for her recommendation brought forth in Rakhine and recommendation of the Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day. I would also like to thank you, honorable mayor, vice mayor and the rest of the Council members for your love and your continued support and my sincere thanks to my boss at the TCC family house.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is.
Speaker 6: Up, Nicholas. For her support by encouraging her staff.
Speaker 0: Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you.
Speaker 0: Next speaker.
Speaker 2: City Council members. My name's Susanna Thiam and I'm the executive director of UCC. Thank you, Councilwoman Dr. Sara, for presenting and honoring the Cambodian community and remembering the Cambodian genocide. During the genocide, the Khmer Rouge. We will repeat this statement to the Cambodian people. To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss. The Cambodian community carried this toxic narrative with them, making them feel invisible and not valuable. Your recognition tonight of the Cambodian genocide makes the Cambodian community history visible, and it shows how the city of Long Beach values the Cambodian community. So tonight we break the cycle of trauma and heal together as a community by honoring those that were lost and honoring our history. I would like to speak this affirmation that was posted by Satya Lim from the Renaissance in his show, and it says, Keeping you alive is a benefit. To destroy you is a loss. We need you cry. We need you to create, to thrive, to tell our stories, to live. The work you're putting in is necessary. You living is necessary. Thank you. Speaker. Good evening, honorable mayor and council members. I'm Dr. Lindsey Chia and I live in the District one and I work in the city of Long Beach, Atcc Family Health as a program manager. This year marks the 47th anniversary of the most tragic time period in Cambodia and for my family. I find myself at times at a loss for words to describe this horrific event and feelings that surfaces around this time period. I do want to express to my fellow Cambodian neighbors, colleagues, friends and relatives that you are not alone and we will continue to heal together as a connected community. Also, I acknowledge that regardless of how much time has passed, we will always treasure their memories and remember our loved ones by sharing their personal stories to our next generation. I, on behalf of TCC Family Health and also our CEO, Dr. Elisa Nicholas, I want to share that we are committed to continue serving our most valuable community members. So TCG Family Health was founded in 1939 by a group of physicians and community leaders who recognized the importance of access to health care for all children, particularly those who are from low income families and who are at risk for health problems. We've been serving the Cambodian community and we will continue to serve the community for more than 30 years. And I just wanted to say that we noted there's not a lot of resources to our community members at the time. So TCC has made sure that we create monthly clinic sessions with volunteer physician Dr. Cha. Sorry, Dr. Sung ten.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is up.
Speaker 2: Thank you.
Speaker 0: Next speaker.
Speaker 6: Good evening. My name is Steve Shukla, a resident of the third district and someone who grew up in town. And as the previous speaker mentioned, we were fortunate in LBC to learn a bit about the history of the Cambodian people, especially as they had been recent arrivals here. I'd like to read just the title, not the whole article, obviously, something that was written by Linda Charlton on May 5th of 1970. The article from the New York Times Anti War Strike Plans in the Colleges Pick Up Student and Faculty Support. What many people may not know about our own country's history, especially the history of the sixties, the Kent State shooting, the Kent State massacre of students by the Nixon administration in 1970 was something that was possible because there are already hundreds of campuses in this country, university campuses, where students and faculty were already out striking in opposition to the expansion of the war in Southeast Asia, the Vietnam War into Cambodia, and the bombing of Cambodia, as it was perceived rightly at the time, that it would lead to a situation where something like the Khmer Rouge would fill the vacuum. But the actions of our own government. It's important to recognize our own role in perpetuating some of these systems that lead to some of these outcomes. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and council members. I am bendable. Just in. Who is a Cambodian American Buddhist monk on behalf of the Cambodian and the Cambodian American Buddhist monks, five monk, five most wonderful monks and I are here to intone the benevolent Dharma to the Cambodians who were killed and pass on due to starvation. During the Cambodian genocide. Please understand that intoning the benevolent dharma is the Cambodian tradition and the Cambodians culture, which concatenate to Buddhism. Perhaps some of you may not comprehend what's going on when we intoning the Dharma. However, those the benevolent dogmas that we intoning for those who could understand and listen to it. The Cambodian culture. Had been suffered quite a bit. I don't need to say much more. Are most of you known what's going on already? This is my third ordination. The reason I ordained it is because my parents, my father passed on during the Khmer Rouge.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Your time is up. Next speaker.
Speaker 6: Good evening, Meyers and member console. Today I'm going to give the chanting and the meaning of the chanting is that we want all of you to be relaxed and. Be open hearted to all that human being and bring the waste and make your wish to God with good heart. God willing to all being by saying in your mind that may our being be happy. May all being be free from our suffering. And may of being free from sorrow and lamentation. The camp died in the Bay Band ten years ago, but that is the band that lie on the line to ignite some ideas and man thinking night to night. I know why. Some years, man. I don't know. I think. Is this man thinking, though? Uh. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Really, really powerful and important presentation. I want to go ahead and. Oh, look, we're going to get a song. Even better.
Speaker 6: I had to draw down.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 6: Um. Um. Uh. But, uh.
Speaker 8: Yeah, I don't know. But, um. Uh. I guess I am.
Speaker 6: I am. I am. I am who I am.
Speaker 8: And, uh, I'm glad I did.
Speaker 6: Some some it and.
Speaker 8: All. Uh. Yeah. Oh, come on.
Speaker 6: What?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I.
Speaker 6: Uh, I.
Speaker 8: I, uh. I don't know. Yeah. Um.
Speaker 6: I'm in. Uh.
Speaker 2: And I want you to know that.
Speaker 8: I want you to know that I am I. You know, I mean, sometimes, uh, uh, uh. You know.
Speaker 6: But yeah. Um hum.
Speaker 2: Um hum.
Speaker 8: Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Um hum. Uh um.
Speaker 6: I say, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah, right, yeah. Right. Uh, but, um. But, uh, I'm.
Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you very much. We're going to go ahead and I'm going to ask if all of our friends at joins us can just please come forward. We're going to I'm going to present a certificate to actually do the proclamation for the Cambodian Community Genocide Remembrance Day. And if I can also have I know the vice president of our Killing Field Memorial Center is going to join us. Mr. Connor Noon is also going to come forward, and I'm going to present the certificate. But if anyone else in the community wants to join us, please do so. And certainly the council would like to join as well. That'd be great. Thank you very much for that. I'm going to walk as we exit. We're going to go on to the next item, please. Madam Clerk, can you please read 15?
Speaker 0: Mr. Mayor, we still need to to actually.
Speaker 3: Have a vote on this item. So let's take a vote and we'll do it in 15. Roll call, please.
Speaker 0: Councilwoman Sun has a councilwoman Ellen. Councilwoman Price.
Speaker 2: I.
Speaker 0: Councilman Sabrina, i. Councilwoman Mango. Councilwoman Mango. Councilwoman Ciro.
Speaker 2: I.
Speaker 0: Councilmember Warangal. Hi, Councilman Austin. Hi. Vice Mayor Richardson.
Speaker 6: Hi.
Speaker 0: The motion carries. The motion is carried.
Recommendation to request City Council to receive and file a presentation in recognition of Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.