Long Beach’s Cambodian community celebrated its 10th annual Cambodian New Year parade yesterday.
The parade was held along Anaheim Street in Cambodia Town, home to one of the largest Cambodian communities in the United States outside of Cambodia. The goal of the parade is to highlight and celebrate the Cambodian culture and community.
Some Cambodia Town residents came to protest at the parade after Hun Manet, son of Cambodian’s prime minister, announced that he would attend the parade.
The announcement brought angry protesters to the parade. The protesters held up signs such as “No justice. No healing,” and one called the prime minister a dictator. They even tried to block parade participants from finishing the parade by standing in the middle of the road.
Some Cambodia Town residents came to protest at the parade after Hun Manet, son of Cambodian’s prime minister, announced that he would attend the parade. “Hun Sen is responsible for the killing of 2 million Cambodians,” said San Kim, a protester at the parade.
Hun Sen is Cambodia’s prime minister and a former Khmer Rouge commander. The Khmer Rouge is a communist party that took over the Cambodian government in a coup d’etat in the ‘70s.
“Hun Sen is responsible for the killing of 2 million Cambodians,” said San Kim, a protester at the parade. “He is a dictator.”
Not everyone agreed with the protesters. An attendee, who identified himself only as Sam, was at the parade for the first time. He said that the Cambodians — now American citizens — were clueless.
“They think they know how bad it is in Cambodia,” Sam said. “The truth is, they don’t have any idea what’s going on now.”
Hun Manset cancelled his visit to Long Beach before things got out of control.
Other than the angry protesters, everyone else seemed to be enjoying the parade especially those attending for their first time.
“Cambodian culture is similar to Filipino culture,” said Kevin Tolentino, a student at Cal State Long Beach. “I felt a bit at home.”
“It was fun,” said Alexis Muro, another CSULB student. “I felt like I was in another world.”
The parade ended at MacArthur Park with a festival and live band. The festival featured a variety of entertainment, art, food vendors and photo opportunities.
“I enjoyed myself,” said attendee Maria Manibog. “I saw a lot of Western culture incorporated in the parade and festival.”
Parade entrants included Khmer TV, the Long Beach Police Department, Signal Hill Police, Long Beach Transit, Del Amo Motorsports, Cambodia Town Film Festival, Cambodia Town, Inc., the YMCA and others.
Another New Year’s celebration will be held on April 23 at El Dorado Park, 7550 E. Spring St.
Parade goers wave Cambodian and American flags. Long Beach is home to one of the largest Cambodian communities in the United States outside of Cambodia.