Join the North Korean Freedom Week Events
Update from Suzanne Scholte
of North Korea Freedom Coalition
Dear Friends:
I am pleased to send another update on the events confirmed for North Korea Freedom Week April 26-May 3, 2008.
Please note that since my last update we have added several additional events: another panel session, a special demonstration by Youth for Truth and as a testament to the importance of North Korea Freedom Week, the producer of the soon-to-be-released movie Crossing, Patrick Cheh, is coming to show a special screening of this movie that is scheduled for threatrical release in South Korea in June.
This is the first feature film to deal with the refugee crisis in North Korea with a star studded cast including one of South Korea’s most popular actors. It was filmed in secret as the cast and crew went on location in China and Mongolia, and it is based on the true stories of the terror the North Korean refugees are facing every day.
Please join these events to help save the North Korean refugees and take a stand for the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean people. Please spread the word by downloading and distributing the attached flyers on the two main public events:
* The International Protest Against China’s Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees on Saturday, April 26 with events here in DC and around the world; and
* The Capitol Hill Rally on Tuesday, April 29, and note a third main public event Press Conference with Senator Sam Brownback and Congressman Frank Wolf on Thursday, May 1.
We are also pleased to announce that The 318 Film Crew and Hotgenre Productions have agreed to be the official film-o-graphers of North Korea Freedom Week 2008
This will be the most expansive NKFW we have ever held and have the largest delegation of North Korean defectors that have ever participated — and it must be, because the North Koreans are suffering as much as ever before and they need your voice speaking out for them.
So, remember wherever you are in the world, join the April 26 events and if you can, attend the events of North Korea Freedom Week 2008 April 26-May 3 in Washington, DC!
Warm regards,
Suzanne Scholte
North Korea Freedom Week Confirmed Events
April 26-May 3
Saturday, April 26: 11 AM Music by the Pyongyang Musical Mission Troupe and the Seoul Presbyterian Church Praise Band; 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm —International Protest vs. China’s Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees around the world at the PRC embassies and consulates, there will be protests, demonstrations and prayer vigils against China’s ongoing and brutal repatriations of the North Korean refugees. Note that times and events will be different for different cities, so be sure to contact the city coordinator(s). For Washington, D.C. Location: Chinese Embassy, 2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Host Organization: North Korea Freedom Coalition (NKFC) and the Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom (KCCNK), Open Doors, and PSALT
2:00 pm Special Walk from the Chinese Embassy to the Embassy of South Korea to honor and welcome the new President of South Korea
Host Organization: KCCNK
Sunday, April 27:
International Day of Prayer for North Korea
April 27th has been declared an International Day of Prayer for North Korea by the Global Justice Prayer Network in support of North Korea Freedom Week to focus prayers for the North Korean people and all those who work on their behalf.
International Day of Prayer for North Korea
April 27th has been declared an International Day of Prayer for North Korea by the Global Justice Prayer Network in support of North Korea Freedom Week to focus prayers for the North Korean people and all those who work on their behalf.
Host Organization: Global Justice Prayer Network
7 pm ¨C North Korea Freedom Week Evening of Prayer & Worship:
This will be a special prayer service in which everyone is invited to participate. Prayers for both North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States will be part of the service as well as participation by the visiting North Korean defectors. The host organization is a young adults group representing 80 Korean churches.
This will be a special prayer service in which everyone is invited to participate. Prayers for both North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States will be part of the service as well as participation by the visiting North Korean defectors. The host organization is a young adults group representing 80 Korean churches.
Location: New Hope Church, 15121 McKnew Road, Burtonsville, Maryland 20866
Host Organization: PSALT and MDCN (a young adults group representing 80 Korean churches)
Host Organization: PSALT and MDCN (a young adults group representing 80 Korean churches)
Monday, April 28:
(Anniversary of the first North Korea Freedom Day)
Two special screenings of Crossing with the movie’s producer, Patrick Choi, and director, Kim Chang Gyun — this is the first feature film to deal with the refugee crisis in North Korea with a star studded cast including one of South Korea’s most popular actors; it is scheduled for theatrical release in South Korea in June but the producer and director agreed to show a special screening during North Korea Freedom Week.
3-5 pm Special Screening of Crossing
Location: Mary Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor of the Library of Congress, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C.
Host: Congressman Trent Franks with the film’s producer, Patrick Cheh
6-8 pm Special Screening of Crossing
Locaton: Ebenezer’s Coffee House, 201 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
Host: Sin U Nam of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, Crossing producer Patrick Cheh, and Mr. Choi Eung-Pyo of the Korean American Freedom Fighters Movement
Tuesday, April 29:
10:30 am Demonstration by Youth for Truth of what is happening to the North Korean Refugees in China
Location: Columbia Station Plaza — right across from Union Station
Host: Nancy Purcell and the Youth for Truth: Chinese police officers played by Taylor Purcell and Noah Taylor and North Korean refugees played by Taliah Kurylak (mother) and Silas and Jed Taylor (children)
11 am Concert and 12:00 noon Capitol Hill Rally for North Korean Human Rights and to Save the Refugees:
Music by the Pyongyang Musical Mission Troupe and theSeoul Presbyterian Church Praise Band
Members of Congress, NGO leaders, and North Korean defectors will be speakers at the rally.
Members of Congress, NGO leaders, and North Korean defectors will be speakers at the rally.
Location: Taft Memorial Carillon Park across from Union Station near U.S. Capitol located between Louisiana, Constitution and New Jersey Avenues
Host organization: North Korea Freedom Coalition and the Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom
Host organization: North Korea Freedom Coalition and the Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom
Visits to Senators and Congressmen for North Korea Human Rights and Refugees Legislative Initiatives
Immediately after the rally, participants will be divided by states and go together to visit their Senators and Congressmen to gain support for specific legislative actions to help the North Korean people and the refugees. Each group will have a guide to help and Open Doors is preparing information for all participants.
Registration Highly Recommended at Open Doors website:http://www.opendoorsusa.org/content/view/416/1/
Location: Capitol Hill Senate and House offices
Immediately after the rally, participants will be divided by states and go together to visit their Senators and Congressmen to gain support for specific legislative actions to help the North Korean people and the refugees. Each group will have a guide to help and Open Doors is preparing information for all participants.
Registration Highly Recommended at Open Doors website:http://www.opendoorsusa.org/content/view/416/1/
Location: Capitol Hill Senate and House offices
Host Organization: Open Doors
3:30-5 pm Briefing on North Korea’s Persecution of Christians with Eyewitness Testimonies
Location: 2255 Rayburn
Host: Congressional Human Rights Caucus Task Force on Religious Freedom, Co-Chairs Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Congressman Trent Franks
Wednesday, April 30: 10-11:30 am:
Panel Discussion on North Korean Refugees Focusing on Two Reports: Migration Experiences of North Korean Refugees: Survey Evidence from China, and Exit Polls: Refugee Assessments of North Korea’s Transition
Location: The Peterson Institute, 1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Host Organization: The Peterson Institute for International Economics
Contact: Marcus Noland, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute at
Panel Discussion on North Korean Refugees Focusing on Two Reports: Migration Experiences of North Korean Refugees: Survey Evidence from China, and Exit Polls: Refugee Assessments of North Korea’s Transition
Location: The Peterson Institute, 1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Host Organization: The Peterson Institute for International Economics
Contact: Marcus Noland, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute at
2:30-4 Panel hosted by NGO confirmed, more details to follow
4:30 pm (Tentative) : Time to be confirmed Capitol Hill Screening of On the Border, the recent documentary focusing on the human trafficking on the China-North Korea border produced by the Chosun Ilbo with leading international broadcasters. On the Border is Korea’s first global cross-media program on North Korean refugees. Documentary is in Korean with English subtitles.
Thursday, May 1: 11 am Morning Press Conference: Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman Frank Wolf, Members of Congress, and former North Korean Refugees to release Congressional letter to Hu Jintao to save the North Korean Refugees; Activists for Tibet, Burma, Darfur and others persecuted by China’s policies will be part of the event and all are welcome and encouraged to join.
Location: The Senate Swamp across the street from Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill
Location: The Senate Swamp across the street from Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill
TBD Piano Recital with North Korean defector Kim Choel Woong
Location: TBD
Host: The Honorable David J. Kramer, Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Sponsors: US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the National Endowment for Democracy
Friday, May 2: 12 noon — Capitol Hill Forum Honoring the North Korean Defectors
Forum is especially for Congressional staff, but open to the public
Registration Required to participate and fee of $30 for lunch
Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Host Organization: Defense Forum Foundation
INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS CONFIRMED FOR THE NORTH KOREA FREEDOM WEEK:
NOTE OLYMPIC TORCH IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA APRIL 26 AND 27
If your city or country is not listed, let us know if you would like to be the coordinator.
CANADA
Ottawa and Toronto
Petition delivery to Chinese embassy and consulate in Ottawa and Toronto on April 26 with a three day protest also scheduled for May 16- May 18.
Host Organization: Council for Human Rights in North Korea
BELGIUM
Brussels
Host organization: Human Rights Without Frontiers
JAPAN
Tokyo and Osaka and Nagano — note Olympic Torch in Nagano April 26
Host Organization: Japanese Coordinator for the NKFC
12:00 noon protest in Nagano for Olympic Torch and later in the day demonstrations at PRC embassies at 4 pm Toyko; also 10 am protest planned in Osaka
also at 6:30 pm at Suginami Sangyousyoukoukaikan at Meeting speaker Kan Ando will address Human Rights Abuse in North Korea
also at 6:30 pm at Suginami Sangyousyoukoukaikan at Meeting speaker Kan Ando will address Human Rights Abuse in North Korea
NETHERLANDS
Host Organization: Open Doors Netherlands planning a number of activities and actions for North Korea Freedom Week 2008
PHILLIPINES
Day of Prayer for North and South Korea on April 27
Host Organization: HallelyYAH Prophetic Global Tower Foundation
SOUTH KOREA: Has ongoing 444 Campaign in Seoul with daily activities and events. Also note Olympic Torch protest at the main entrance of the Olympic Stadium Seoul on Sun. April 27, 2008, 12 am
Host organization: 444 Campaign
UNITED KINGDOM:
London:
Host Organization: Open Doors/UK planning demonstration on April 26 visit their website for updates!
Website:www.opendoorsuk.org
UNITED STATES — locations at Chinese consulates, embassy unless noted otherwise:
Chicago:
Host Organization: KCCNK
Houston:
Host Organizations: Open Doors and The Korean Americans for Liberty and Human Rights
Los Angeles:
Host Organizations: Korean American Patriotic Action Movement and Open Doors
New York:
Host Organization: PSALT
NYC PRAYER RALLY & PROTEST DEMONSTRATION 12- 3 pm
Location: West side of 12th Avenue at 42nd St. across from Chinese Consulate 520 12th Avenue, New York (Circle Line Cruise Docks, Pier 83)
San Francisco: confirmed to coordinate Sam Kim of KCC
Host Organization: Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom
Washington DC: confirmed to coordinate Pastor Heemoon Lee, Sin U Nam, and Suzanne
Host Organization: North Korea Freedom Coalition and Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom
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