The Campaign for the Billboard of “Father Ly’s Muted Mouth.”
Father Nguyen Van Ly and his associates on March 30, 2007 were sentenced from 5 to 8 years in prison by the VietNamese Communist Government. At the trial, Father Ly shouted "Down with Communism," during which time his mouth was physically muted by the attending court’s bailiff. Throughout the trial the Father and his associates repeatedly denied government’s alleged crime. At the same time they resolutely maintained their conviction to fight for a more democratic Vietnam. Please speak for him by promoting the campaign for the Billboard of “Father Ly’s Muted Mouth.”



Los Angeles: Billboard of Father Nguyen Van Ly's Muted Mouth Was Erected In Center of Los Angeles.


LOS ANGELES, CA. 10/06/07. At 9AM on Oct 06, 2007, Vietnamese from Orange and Los Angeles counties gathered at the corner of Hill Street and Olympic in Los Angeles to witness the erection of the billboard of Father Nguyen Van Ly whose mouth was covered in the communist court trial in Vietnam. The ceremony was hosted by Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Coordinator of the Committee of Father Ly's Billboard in Southern Cali.

In the welcoming speech, Mr. Nghia Nguyen emphasized that the picture on the billboard "tells the dark side of what the communist Vietnam has been saying about freedom of speech in Vietnam."
After the national anthem and a minute of silent ceremony were observed, Mr. Nguyen Long, Representative of Vietnamese community in Los Angeles said that the Vietnamese have to promote the campaign of the picture of Father Ly's Muted Mouth to spread out the truth of the Vietnam communist.
Following were guest speakers, representatives of the Vietnamese Community of LA and Orange counties, messieurs Nguyen Duy Nghieu, Nguyen Van Cu; Mr. Nguyen Tan Lac, and Mr. Phan Ky Nhon, the Committee Against Resolution Vietnamese Communist 36, all said that supporting the billboard of Father Ly's Muted Mouth campaign is the way to fight for human rights and democracy in Vietnam.
At the event, Mr.Ngo Chi Thieng of Vietnamese Community of LA Southern Cali gave $1,000 to Mr. Pham Dong Cac, a representative of A Call For Democracy, as a contribution to the billboard's expenses in Southern Cali. As has been noted, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nghieu, of Los Angeles county already contributed $1,000 to the Committee of Father Ly's billboard in Southern Cali.
The Committee of Father Ly's billboard in Southern Cali is a joint effort of A Call For Democracy, and Vietnamese communities of Los Angeles and Southern Cali. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, an attorney, was voted to be the Chief Coordinator of the project.
The Committee had announced that the second billboard at the corner of Brookhurst and Hazard, will be erected at 8AM on Monday, Oct 08, 2007. Also a funds raising dinner for the expenses of billboards in Southern CA will be held at Paracell Restaurant, Westminster at 6pm Oct 21, 2007.

To close out the ceremony event, the Nang Moi and Hung Ca Chorus entertained the crowd with several martial and patriotic songs.