At the Heart of the World’s Largest Cambodian Diaspora: A Peace Rally in Long Beach

Community members, local leaders, and cultural figures gathered peacefully at Long Beach City Hall in Cambodia Town — home to the world’s largest Cambodian diaspora outside of Cambodia — on December 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., in a show of solidarity and a call for peace. Photo provided

LONG BEACH— Community members, local leaders, and cultural figures gathered peacefully at Long Beach City Hall in Cambodia Town — home to the world’s largest Cambodian diaspora outside of Cambodia — on December 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.

m., in a show of solidarity and a call for peace.

The rally brought together families, elders, youth, and community advocates in a calm and dignified gathering centered on unity, compassion, and hope amid ongoing regional tensions affecting Cambodia. Cambodia Town, long recognized as a cultural and historical hub for Cambodian Americans, served as a meaningful setting for the event, reinforcing the importance of place, memory, and collective identity.

Participants stood together holding signs and Cambodian flags, emphasizing humanitarian values and the need for peaceful dialogue. Organizers and attendees stressed that the rally was not about division or confrontation, but about community presence — coming together to affirm shared values of dignity, resilience, and peace.

The Long Beach gathering followed a series of peaceful rallies held by Cambodian diaspora communities across the United States and internationally in recent days. Similar demonstrations have taken place in cities including Washington, D.C., Melbourne, and Seoul, reflecting a broader global response by Cambodian communities seeking to express solidarity and advocate for calm through nonviolent, community-led action. The rally in Cambodia Town highlighted how those global calls resonated deeply at the local level.

For many in attendance, the rally was deeply personal. Elders who had lived through periods of displacement stood alongside younger generations raised in Long Beach, underscoring the intergenerational fabric of the community. Quiet conversations unfolded among families, while youth listened attentively, reflecting a shared understanding that unity during moments of uncertainty is both a responsibility and a strength.

Community members also emphasized Cambodia Town’s long-standing role as a refuge and a voice for Cambodian Americans, particularly for families shaped by historical trauma and displacement. The rally was viewed by many as an extension of that legacy — rooted in remembrance, resilience, and a commitment to peaceful advocacy.

Attendees noted the importance of holding the rally in a public and inclusive space such as Long Beach City Hall. By gathering openly and respectfully, the community sought to foster understanding and empathy while reinforcing that their message was centered on peace and humanitarian concern rather than confrontation.

As the rally concluded, participants dispersed quietly, leaving behind a sense of shared purpose. For those who attended, the event was not only a response to current events, but also a reaffirmation of community strength. In Cambodia Town — the heart of the world’s largest Cambodian diaspora outside of Cambodia — the message was clear: peace, unity, and hope remain guiding values for the Cambodian community in Long Beach.

Mei Chann Lao is the former Miss Cambodia 2024 2nd Runner-Up.

Long beach community leader speaking at peace rally