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Los Angeles Agent Orange Demo

By Horace Coleman

On Sunday morning April 18, 2010, Dow-a maker of Agent Orange-sponsored a Live Earth Run for Water in Los Angeles. The race began and ended at LA's Exposition Park.

When runners left the park-and re-entered it at the race's end-they passed by a group of Vietnamese and Southern Californians with orange balloons and posters and signs calling Dow to account for the devastation Agent Orange has done.

The Vietnamese contingent included Nguyen Thi Than, president of the DaNang Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, and Pham The Minh, a victim of Agent Orange exposure.

Among the US citizens demonstrating were area Vietnamese Americans, Larry Abbott (member of Los Angeles VFP chapter), Merle Ratner and Ngo Than Nhan (coordinators of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility campaign). An Agent Orange widow was present, dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

Horace Coleman, representing VVAW, spoke at the post demonstration press conference.