Condolences extended over death of Việt Nam’s US friend Merle Ratner

Merle Evelyn Ratner, born in 1956 in New York City, has a special love for Việt Nam. She took to the streets to protest against the Vietnam 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-imperialist movement in the 1970s and 1980s, and anti-racism campaigns in America today. After 1975, with a deep love for Việt Nam, Ratner campaigned for the normalisation of Việt Nam-US relations, and supported Việt Nam's international activities. She visited Việt Nam many times, and engaged in joint work with mass organisations, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front, and the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics.