A Historic Lawsuit for Justice | October KPNGN Newsletter
Dear Friend,
Our October KPNGN meeting is happening this Thursday, October 9 at 5pm PT/8pm ET! We will focus on the recent landmark lawsuit filed by a group of 117 South Korean women against the U.S. military for sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and multiple human rights violations. The lawsuit organizers intend to hold the U.S. military accountable for its role in managing a vast network of prostitution around U.S. military bases in South Korea, including various human rights abuses against Korean women at bars and brothels catering to U.S. military personnel and medical detention centers colloquially known as “monkey houses,” where women would be detained and forcibly treated for STDs.
Join us on Thursday for a critical teach-in on this lawsuit, the extensive history of U.S. militarism and gendered violence in Korea, and how U.S.-based grassroots advocates can support these women’ s efforts. RSVP here.
Stay tuned for a webinar featuring lawsuit organizers, civil society advocates, and more. For a primer on these issues, view Women Cross DMZ’s coverage below:
Women’s Rights Under the Division System Report: Multi-Media Zine
Women’s Rights Under the Division System Report
Women Cross DMZ 10 Year Anniversary Trek Day 3: Dongducheon
Following the meeting, at 6pm PT/9pm ET, join our KPNGN New Member Orientation series on the same Zoom link. The Membership Committee will host Part 2 of this ongoing series, presenting an overview of the Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network, followed by a small group discussion.
Recommended Viewings
WCDMZ Executive Director Cathi Choi writes in Challenging Militarism: Feminist Lessons from Korea on how U.S. militarism impacts women everywhere and what we can learn from those challenging the violence of military occupation, authoritarianism, and state repression. “Korean women have offered examples of challenging militarism, confronting patriarchy, and building transnational solidarity,” Cathi writes. “Feminists all across the globe can follow suit. We must build stronger transnational coalitions to end forever wars; increase public awareness of militarism’s impact on our lives; and redefine security through the lens of safety, dignity, and well-being.”
From the KPNGN Education Committee:
- A Bridge Over Troubled Waters analyzes South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung’s self-ascribed position as a “bridge of exchanges and cooperation” and how his administration seeks to build new relationships with Asian countries and the U.S.
- Lee says he won’t sign any tariff deal with U.S. that doesn’t benefit Korea reports on the status of tariff negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. and Lee Jae-Myung’s approach to making progress towards a written agreement between the two countries.
- Reality check: North Korea won’t give up its nukes provides analysis on North Korean President Kim Jong Un’s recent remarks on diplomacy with the U.S. and denuclearization and what the U.S. must reassess to create new opportunities for diplomatic engagement between Kim and Trump.
- Decarbonization and demilitarization of Korea must go hand in hand reflects on the devastating impact unended war and militarism has on the climate crisis in Korea and elsewhere, and how bringing a formal end to the Korean War and reducing military tensions is critical to stopping the environmental destruction of the planet.
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Support the Korea Peace Movement: Show your support for Korea peace with one of our tote bags, hats, baby onesies, and clothing, available here. All funds will support Korea Peace Now!, our U.S.-based movement for peace in Korea led by Women Cross DMZ. Art by Peter Holland and lazy blender.
Sincerely,
Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network