Honoring the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide and a declaration for Cambodian Heritage Month, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn presented scrolls to local community organizations Tuesday.
“On April 17, 1975, the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge which triggered hundreds of thousands of Cambodian refugees to flee to our United States,” Hahn said before Tuesday’s board meeting. “The Cambodian Genocide was a human tragedy (and) we must never forget the scale of violence and devastation perpetrated against the people of Cambodia,” she added.
Hahn lauded Long Beach, which is part of her supervisorial district, as the most diverse city in the United States, noting that it is home to the largest community of Cambodians outside that country.
In April 2017, the board approved Hahn’s motion to declare April 17 as the Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day. On March 18 of this year, the board approved another motion by Hahn to declare April Cambodian Heritage Month for the first time in county history.
Hahn presented scrolls to representatives from 22 local Cambodian organizations, including the county’s Cambodian Employees Association.
Chanwantha Sam Limon, a board member for the county Cambodian Employees Association, presented supervisors with a Cambodian flag and Krama, a traditional Cambodian garment.
Limon, who lost family members to the genocide, was joined on stage by other survivors.
“Every Cambodian carries the weight of our history,” Limon said. “Our story didn’t end with the genocide — it continued to inspire strength, resilience and hope. We have a responsibility to keep their memories alive and honor their legacy through celebration of our culture.”
The Cambodian New Year, or Choul Chnam Thmey, is celebrated between April 13 and April 15.