Light a Candle for Peace, to End The Korean War
Sunday, July 26, starting at 6:25 pm
Meet at the Lincoln Memorial steps, Washington DC
Sponsored by Washington, DC Global Coalition for Korean War Reconciliation,
NAKA (National Association of Korean Americans) and DC-affiliate of the
National Campaign to End the Korean War
On July 27, 1953, the U.S. signed an Armistice agreement with North Korea totemporarily halt the fighting that claimed 4 million lives and divided 10
million families. All foreign troops were to leave Korea and a permanent peace
treaty secured. Yet despite the wishes of people in North and South Korea for
peace and reconciliation, no peace treaty has been signed and war could erupt
at any moment. The U.S., which authored the division, still has 28,500 troops
in South Korea, and holds the key to peace in Korea.
Today relations between the U.S. and North Korea are at its worst level in
recent years, and we are again in a very dangerous moment that could at any
moment spark a full-scale war on the Korean peninsula. As one Korea expert
recently put it, "We are sleep walking to war."
While government leaders are beating the drums to war, the people say enough
is enough. We must finally end the Korean War with a peace treaty. Even James
Laney, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea recently said in Seoul, "One of
the things that have bedeviled all talks until now is the unresolved status of
the Korean War. A peace treaty would provide a baseline for relationships,
eliminating the question of the other's legitimacy and its right to exist."
On the 56th anniversary, communities across the U.S. in Los Angeles, New York,
San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, DC will hold candlelight vigils to
commemorate the nameless spirits who lost their lives in the Korean War, and
renew our resolve to finally bring peace and reunification to Korea. Plans are
underway in South and North Korea to make this candlelight vigil
transnational, so please come out for the vigil or help organize one in your
town or city!
