Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyễn Quốc Dũng and spouse pay respect to Merle Everlyn Ratner at the memorial in New York on February 28. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Huy

NEW YORK — Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyễn Quốc Dũng and Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN attended a ceremony to commemorate Merle Everlyn Ratner – a left-wing activist and a faithful American friend of Việt Nam, which was solemnly held in New York on February 28 (local time).

Among about 200 people participating in the ceremony in person and online, there were advocacy groups supporting victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO) in Việt Nam and a large number of Vietnamese in the US.

Participants recalled memories of Ratner and reviewed the life, career and contributions that she made to the struggle for peace, social equality and the rights of workers in the US and many other countries, especially her love and dedication to the country and people of Việt Nam.

Ambassador Dũng expressed condolences for the passing of Ratner, reaffirming that the country and people of Việt Nam always remember and appreciate her warm sentiments and contributions to the the struggle for national liberation, national unification and the development and integration of Việt Nam , as well as the efforts to find justice for AO victims. The ambassador emphasised that the thoughts and activities as well as dedications of Ratner have become a valuable legacy, a source of inspiration and encouragement for her friends and comrades.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Giang said that Ratner’s passing is a great loss to not only Việt Nam and the Việt Nam-US relations but also to peace lovers and left-wing and progressive people in the US. The greatest legacy that Ratner left behind is the spirit of optimism, belief in the victory of peace and justice as well as the bright future of Việt Nam and of working people around the world.

Born in 1956 in New York City, Ratner had a special love for Việt Nam. She took to the streets to protest against the Việt Nam War when she was 13 years old and became famous for hanging anti-war slogans on the Statue of Liberty.

Ratner actively participated in protests against the US war in Việt Nam since the late 1960s, the anti-imperialism movement in the 1970s and 1980s, and anti-racism campaigns in America today.

She was a co-founder and coordinator of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign in the New York area.

Ratner passed away in an accident in New York on February 5 evening. — VNS