Nationwide vigils for Ling and Lee to take place tonight
[This post will be updated as necessary.]
Today is June 3 and that means tonight it will be June 4 in North Korea, where detained journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee will be tried in a North Korean court for supposed crimes of illegal entry into North Korea and unexplained “hostile acts.” In a show of support for the two women, vigils are taking place nationwide this evening and also tomorrow. Some vigils will include celebrity appearances, speakers and public statements made by human rights activists and lawyers. Tonight at the Washington D.C. vigil, a statement from Roxana Saberi, who was recently released after detainment in Iran, will also be read.
The following is a summary of tonight’s scheduled vigils across the country (and in Canada as well). This post will be updated as more details come in and more announcements can be found on the @LiberateLaura Twitter page (where the majority of these announcements came from and are being posted for non-Twitter users). Also, the Facebook page designated for the cause contains vigil information and also includes links to Lisa Ling’s T.V. appearances regarding the issue, including some we haven’t covered on OFK.
Boston vigil: Boston Common fountain (or if rain, gazebo), 8:00-9:30 pm [Jeanne Chang, jchiang@post.harvard.edu; 617-218-7518]
NYC vigil: Washington Sq. Fountain (or if rain, NYU Journalism Institute 20 Cooper Sq.), 6:00-8:00 pm Contact @GwenJackson on Twitter
Washington D.C. vigil: Freedom Plaza (very limited parking; Federal Triangle or Metro Center Metro stops) 6:00-8:00 pm – Contact @LiberateLauraDC on Twitter – a statement from Roxana Saberi will be read and human rights lawyer @LilyMazahery, who worked on that case, will speak.
Chicago vigil: Chinatown Sq. Plaza (Archer Ave.), 7:30-8:30 pm [hosted by @naaapchicago]
Birmingham, AL vigil: Brother Bryant Park (Magnolia btwn 21st, 22nd) 7:00-10:00 pm Contact: llanderson01@aol.com; 205-910-2643
Portland vigil: South Park Blocks (SW. Main & SW. Park Sts.) 6:30-8:00 pm – Contact: meghan1414@gmail.com; 503-880-8860]
San Francisco vigil: front steps of City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place) 6:00-8:00 pm Contact: @LiberateLauraSF on Twitter – Scheduled to speak: City Supervisor Eric Mar; journalists Mike Cerre and Lisa Chung (friends of both Ling and Lee).
Sacramento vigil: Starts at L Wine Lounge (1801 L Street #50), and ends on west steps of California State Capitol Park, 6:30-8:00 pm – Contact: Beth, 916-390-3923
Los Angeles vigil: 1413 5th Street, SM) 6:15-9:00pm. [http://www.bringlauraandeun…] Los Angeles freelance entertainment journalist Richard Horgan, who runs the @LiberateLaura Twitter account will also be present. Also, co-host actress Kelly Hu and be present, as will Lisa Ling (@lisaling), Congressional Candidate Judy Chu and actress Tia Carrere. There will be an Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) interview on site at 6:45 pm (Pacific time.)
Toronto vigil: Mel Lastman Sq. (5100 Yonge St.) 7:30-8:30 pm [info@hanvoice.org; or contact @HanVoice on Twitter].