San Francisco

Protesters Decry San Francisco for Flying Controversial Flag

Every year on Sept. 2, the city of San Francisco raises a red, communist Vietnam flag to commemorate Vietnam's independence from France in 1945, but that action has many folks irritated.

Protesters, which included refugees from Vietnam, stood outside San Francisco City Hall Friday afternoon singing in Vietnamese and carrying the old yellow and red flag of anti-communist South Vietnam while simultaneously condemning the city for flying a flag that they say commemorates the communist history in Vietnam.

Demonstrator Son Pham proclaimed that he doesn't like seeing the red flag fly above the city. Fellow protestor Jane Dobui added that communism should not be represented in a free country such as the United States.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was perched atop the steps of city hall addressing a proposed soda tax while the protesters took their stance, but he did not address those protesting the flag.

Although the protesters were not recognized by the mayor, they say that they hope Lee and other city leaders heard their message.

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