San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously adopts a resolution denouncing Prof. Ramseyer’s article.

1. In September of 2015, with CWJC’s advocacy, San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously adopted a resolution approving a memorial for the “comfort women” in a public, city property.  It was staunchly opposed by the Japanese government and the history deniers who lobbied the SF BOS openly and behind closed doors.  Hundreds of supporters and deniers filled the City Hall to speak for and against the resolution, but the resolution passed unanimously, thanks in large part to the brave testimony of the survivor Yong-soo Lee who flew in from Korea for the hearings. Two years later, the memorial representing the victims from Korea, China and the Philippines is standing in the St. Mary’s Square Park in the heart of San Francisco.   https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/an-important-statue-for-comfort-women-in-san-francisco

2. On Tuesday, April 6 (local time), San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution denouncing “Contracting for Sex in the Pacific War”, authored by a Harvard Law Professor Mark Ramseyer.  The resolution demands the article be withdrawn from the journal.

https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/bag040621_agenda.pdf (Agenda item 35.)

Here’s the copy of the resolution: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9266058&GUID=2A8DB6EE-E901-483E-B48A-D9CB88113FF3

3. The lead sponsor of the resolution was the President of the Board, Shamann Walton, along with the 7 co-sponsors of the Board: Matt Haney, Rafael Mandelman, Gordon Mar, Myrna Melgar, Aaron Peskin, Hillary Ronen, Ahsha Sufai.  The Japanese government has reportedly lobbied against the resolution by contacting each Supervisor.

4. The public comment for the resolution was done through email and phone call-in.  Supervisor Walton expressed deep concern for the rising hate crimes against the Asian American community, especially against women and elders who are the most vulnerable, and strongly pushed for the resolution.

5. Lillian Sing, the Co-Chair of CWJC, which prepared and introduced the resolution, said, “I am deeply grateful for the leadership by Supervisor Walton who maintained steadfast support for the resolution and the “comfort women” issue, despite heavy pressure from the Japanese government.  So many from the diverse community called in to support the resolution, and Grandma Yong-soo Lee’s voice message touched – once again – everyone’s heart and helped a great deal in passing the resolution unanimously.

6.  Grandma Yong-soo Lee said in her pre-recorded message, “For me San Francisco Board of Supervisors is very special.  In 2015 hearing, denialists also testified, calling me and my fellow victims prostitutes and camp followers.  However, the Supervisors passed the resolution unanimously and stood with the victims and sided on the side of historical justice.” She also said, “Prof. Ramseyer is yet another proof that the government of Japan has not addressed our issue properly with sincere apology” and asked, “Please pass this resolution unanimously so that Japan will come to its senses and own up to its crime against humanity.” Also, she asked for support for her recent call “for Japan and Korea to take the CW case to the International Court of Justice to be reviewed by the UN court” as “my final campaign to seek justice from Japan this year.”