Japan Must Come to Terms with Its History

DIGNITY MARCH

For the Dignity of Girls and Women, Japan Must Apologize

When: April 26 (Thursday) at 12:30 pm.
Where: Outside the White House  (Lafayette Park side)
Special guest: Young Soo Lee, Survivor of Japanese Military "Comfort Station"

On Thursday April 26th as 12:30 PM, Amnesty International USA and 121 Coalition will gather in front of the White House to call upon Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acknowledge the role of the Japanese government in organizing the enslavement and rape of 200,000 girls and women during WWII.  The victims were referred to as "comfort women," but they were mostly school girls under eighteen, with some as young as twelve.  During their years of captivity, these girls and
women endured gang rape, mutilation, disease, and brutal violence. Many did not survive.

Over the decades, Japanese officials have issued ambiguous statements that fail to acknowledge the historical record.  They have never made a
clear apology.  Recently, Prime Minister Abe has alarmed the international community by launching a campaign to deny that the government was directly involved.

On Thursday April 26th, Prime Minister Abe will meet with President Bush at the White House.  Meanwhile, at 12:30pm, we will gather in Lafayette Park to honor the courage and hear the testimony of Young Soo Lee, a survivor of a WWII Japanese military rape camp.  We will also give voice to other survivors by reading aloud their  testimonies.

At 1pm, we will begin our Dignity March: a silent, peaceful walk in front of the White House for the dignity of the "comfort station" survivors and
girls and women everywhere who have suffered or are now suffering from rape, violence, and human trafficking.

We are also calling on citizens or world to participate in Dignity Marches or candle light vigils and stand with us for truth, human rights, and global peace.

YouTube Video about Dignity March with Yul Kwon and Jung Sook Park.

Contact:
121 Coalition
Annabel Park
annabelpark@mac.com
703-944-9661

Amnesty International USA
T. Kumar
202-544-0200, ext:224
tkumar@aiusa.org

121 Coalition
www.support121.org

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