Connecting AAPI Heritage Month and Korea Peace | KPNGN May 2024 Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Korean American March for Peace in Korea on Saturday, April 27! We rallied, marched, and gathered to demand an end to the U.S.-South Korea joint war drills and for a peace agreement between the United States and North Korea at Dam Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City. We met up with fellow organizers at the Korean American Peace Fund, Korean Council for Reunification and Cooperation of Greater New York, Korea Peace Now!, 6.15 U.S. Committee for Reunification of Korea, and Heungsadahn NY. Check out photos of the march below, and see more photos here!
✌️JOIN: Join us at our KPNGN National Meeting this Thursday, May 9, at 5pm PT/8pm ET! Register here.
We’ll talk about what the legacy of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month means for the Korea peace movement. We’ll also be joined by Ji Hye Choi, a youth organizer with Mariånas for Palestine who will share about their solidarity work on Guåhan (Guam) and across the Mariånas towards supporting a permanent ceasefire and peace for Palestine. Finally, we’ll hear updates from KPNGN committees about upcoming opportunities to organize and advocate.
Immediately after, we’ll continue with Part II of our New Member Orientation at 6pm PT/9pm ET! This is the second session of our three-part series, happening regularly following national meetings. In Part II, our Education Committee will present a brief history of the Korean War, followed by a small group discussion. Use the same Zoom link as above. Register here.
📣 SAVE THE DATE: Intergenerational Trauma and the Korean War: Healing Across Generations: A talk with Joseph Han and Helena Choi Soholm, on Wednesday, May 29, at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Register here!
Join us for the inaugural event of Korea Peace Now’s Intergenerational Learning and Healing Series! The Korean War was the “the most brutal war of the 20th century,” with more than 4 million killed in three years, mostly Korean civilians. Seventy years later, the Korean War has still not ended. However, it is often referred to as “the Forgotten War,” as its history and legacy are not widely understood or known by those in the United States. Many Korean War survivors live with severe trauma, which is then inherited by their descendants, resulting in an ongoing cycle of violence, secrecy, silence, and shame. Through intergenerational dialogue, political education, and storytelling, this series aims to unearth narratives of the Korean War and its ongoing legacy, and build bridges across generations.
We will hear from two speakers on addressing intergenerational trauma and healing through their own artistic and professional practices. Award-winning author Joseph Han and psychologist and shaman Helena Choi Soholm will share their approach to healing intergenerational trauma and grappling with their families’ histories, the legacies of U.S. imperialism, and the ongoing war in Korea. We will hear brief presentations from both speakers and then break out into smaller groups facilitated by Joseph and Helena, during which time participants will have the opportunity to share their own stories. Join us on Wednesday, May 29, at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET! Register here for the event. More details to follow.
🗣️ LEARN: The KPNGN Education Committee suggests the following materials:
- Interview with Ji Hye Choi – Hear Ji Hye Choi, a young organizer with Mariånas for Palestine, discuss demonstrations for peace and demilitarization happening in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam, as well as connections to resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in this episode of Fanachu Podcast.
- New U.S.-led attempt to monitor sanctions on North Korea – This article discusses a U.S.-led investigation into creating a new mechanism for monitoring sanctions on North Korea after the UN panel overseeing Pyongyang’s compliance with international sanctions was dismantled.
- Rising concerns about unprecedented U.S. war drills in Korea – This article reports on the ramping up of U.S.-South Korean war drills and the impact of continuing political and military provocations against North Korea, as well as the role of Korea and war drills in the new U.S. Cold War against China.
📺 WATCH: The KPNGN Korean Language Caucus is hosting a film screening of WARmerica on Wednesday, May 15, at 5pm PT/8 pm ET. The screening will be followed by a discussion on strategies for hosting community screenings. Note: The film will have English subtitles, but the discussion will be held in Korean only. Register here!
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday!
Sincerely,
Cathi Choi