On April 4, the U.S.-based Task Force to Stop THAAD in Korea and Militarism in Asia and the Pacific , which the Korea Policy Institute is a part of, launched its national speaking tour on the South Korean people’s fight against the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system. It is collaborating with dozens of local peace and justice organizations in cities across the United States to educate people about the dangers of U.S. missile defense.
In the midst of political upheaval in South Korea, advances in North Korea’s nuclear program, and uncertainty about the Trump administration’s policy in Northeast Asia, citizens in Seongju, South Korea, are stepping up their eight-month opposition to the installation of a U.S. missile defense system (THAAD) in their city. The U.S. and South Korea claim THAAD is necessary to defend against North Korea ballistic missiles but locals fear its environmental effects, claim its real target is China, and believe it makes them ground zero for counterattacks.
The speaking tour lead speaker is Reverend Sounghey Kim, Co-chair of the Seongju Struggle Committee to Stop THAAD Deployment in South Korea. She has been at the forefront of the fight against the THAAD deployment since July 2016, when the U.S. and South Korean governments first announced the deployment plan. She has been a part of the daily candlelight protests in Seongju and the recent overnight prayer sit-in’s on Jinbat Bridge, which leads to the site selected for the THAAD deployment.
The Task Force to Stop THAAD in Korea and Militarism in Asia and the Pacific seeks to use the upcoming speaking tour as an opportunity to build greater solidarity between anti-war/peace movements in the United States and South Korea.
April 4 2017– Berkeley/Oakland University Lutheran Chapel, 2425 College Ave., Berkeley, CA
April 6, 2017– Los Angeles LA Won Buddhist Temple, 401 Shatto Pl. #200, Los Angeles, CA
April 8, 2017 – Huntsville Springhill Suites Hotel, 745 Constellation Place Dr, Huntsville, AL
April 10, 2017– Boston Boston College, Devlin Hall 101, Chestnut Hill, MA
April 11, 2017 – Philadelphia Calvary Church (Basement), 801 S 48th St, Philadelphia, PA
April 12, 2017 (Wednesday), 7:00pm – Rutgers Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Frelinghuysen Hall Room B4, 611 George St, New Brunswick, NJ
April 13 2017 – New York New York University, King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center (KJCC), 53 Washington Square South, NYC
April 15, 2017 – Washington DC Justice Center, 617 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC
April 16, 2017 (Sunday), 6:00pm – Fairfax William Cho Peace Center, 3883 Plaza Dr., Fairfax, VA
April 17, 2017 (Monday), 12:30pm – Washington DC United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave NE Conference Rm 4, Washington, DC
The Task Force to Stop THAAD in Korea and Militarism in Asia and the Pacific consists of the following organizations:
ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition Solidarity Committee for Democracy and Peace in Korea Korea Policy Institute Philadelphia Committee for Peace and Justice in Asia Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space Veterans for Peace, National Office
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