Press Release
Oakland
CA
March 26, 2000
Vandal Axes Way Into Pacific Bridge Gallery.
Pacific
Bridge owners awoke to the sound of smashing glass at approximately 2:13
AM in the morning of April 12, 2000 as a vandal broke into the Pacific
Bridge gallery by axing through the security glass window of the front
door. One of the owners, Geoff Dorn, immediately went into the gallery
where he saw a lone suspect retreat from the installation of 35 Ho Chi
Minh portraits and escape back through the broken window in the door.
Mr.
Dorn pursued the man into the street, however the suspect escaped to his
car, which was parked across the railroad tracks and drove off. The suspect
was driving a white two-door sports car, most likely a Honda Prelude.
There was blood on the broken glass and floor indicating that the suspect
suffered some cuts, perhaps to the hands and head as he entered and exited
the gallery.
The artwork was unharmed; the suspect did not have time to vandalize the work before Mr. Dorn entered the gallery. He did however slash the tires of the gallery owners car before breaking into the gallery. Oakland Police arrived at the scene shortly after the suspect had departed and took a report of the incident. A full can of spray paint was found at the location where the suspect's car had been parked. The suspect faces felony charges of breaking and entering with intent to vandalize.
Pacific Bridge Contemporary Southeast Asian Art gallery has been the target of daily protests since the opening of the exhibition of portraits of Ho Chi Minh by C. David Thomas on March 18th, 2000. This incident is the second attempt to vandalize the artwork.
The protesting group has been increasingly agitated towards the gallery owners and visitors since losing their permit for amplified sound (use of bullhorn) on April 6th, 2000. The permit was revoked based upon consistent complaints from businesses and residents on Linden Street that the amplified sound was too loud and disturbed the operation of their businesses. The protesting group is organized by Mr. Tran Van Loan, General Secretary of The Vietnamese American Anticommunist Organizations of Northern California, based in San Jose.
The exhibition will remain open as scheduled Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM - 6 PM through April 22nd, 2000.