What: 1st Anniversary celebration of the “Comfort Women” Column of Strength in St. Mary’s Square.
All activities are free and open to the public.
When: 11am – 4:30pm, Saturday, September 22, 2018
Where: St. Mary’s Square (651 California St. San Francisco, CA 94108) from 11am – 12:30pm &
City College of San Francisco in Chinatown (808 Kearney St. San Francisco, CA 94108) for “Comfort Women” Photo Exhibition, lunch and afternoon sessions from 1pm – 4:30pm
Entrance on Pine and Grant, or California and Grant. Once inside the park, walk towards the direction of Kearny (facing the high-rise Bank of America building)
The official ceremony of the first anniversary of the “Comfort Women” Column of Strength includes…
The citizen’s delegation from Osaka, Japan, who will convey a strong message of solidarity and friendship from the people of Osaka for the “Comfort Women” Memorial and the citizens of San Francisco, whose sister-city relationship was put on jeopardy by Osaka Mayor who threatened to cut the sister-city tie with San Francisco over the acceptance of the “Comfort Women” Memorial as city property.
Special guests from China, the “Comfort Women” advocates Zhang Shuang Bing and a critically acclaimed film “Dai Han” producer Shang Yue Ping will be introduced.
At the end of the ceremony, CWJC will lead a demonstration/march for freedom from sexual slavery, sex trafficking and violence against women from St. Mary’s Square to the City College of San Francisco (808 Kearney St.) where lunch will be provided at around 1pm.
Lunch will be followed by a plenary session introducing the recently launched free digital “Comfort Women” High School curriculum, and a talk by Brian Fong of “Facing History.”
We will also introduce the special guests from China, the “Comfort Women” advocates Zhang Shuang Bing and a critically acclaimed film “Dai Han” producer Shang Yue Ping who will give talks about their 30-year efforts to gain justice for the much neglected Chinese “Comfort Women” survivors.
At 2pm, a movie “Dai Han” will be screened at the City College.
And More…
The special exhibition of the “Comfort Women” history featuring photos of the survivors of the Japanese military sexual slavery system will be presented at the City College from September 22 – October 19, 2018. The same exhibition is currently on display at the State Building (350 McAllister St, SF CA 94109) from September 4 – September 20.
There will be live music and drum performances presented throughout the day at the ceremony and in the afternoon.
In addition, there will be a series of promotional programs to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the “Comfort Women” Memorial in SF. Already staged are the two large billboards at Bay Bridge on I-80 E into Oakland, and the advertisement on MUNI stop on California St. and Montgomery St.
