FROM THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN MIKE HONDA
PROUDLY REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA’S 17th DISTRICT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 23, 2015
Contact: Lauren Smith
(202) 225-2631
CONGRESSMAN MIKE HONDA PRAISES VOTE IN SUPPORT OF MEMORIAL RECOGNIZING THE SO-CALLED “COMFORT WOMEN” OF WWII
Silicon Valley, Calif. –Today, in response to the unanimous vote to establish a memorial recognizing the sex slaves, or “comfort women,” of WWII, Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) released the following statement:
“I am overjoyed by the news that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to establish a memorial for the WWII sex slaves or so-called "comfort women." Today’s vote is not just a win for the spirit of the 200,000 girls and women whose innocence and youth were stripped away by the Japanese Imperial Army; it is a win for truth and justice. I applaud the Supervisors, and the city of San Francisco, for courageously standing with Ms. Yongsoo Lee and the memory of her sisters.
“Earlier this spring, Grandmother Lee was my honored guest during Japan’s Prime Minister Abe’s address before the Joint Meeting of Congress. She and I were disappointed and disgusted by the Prime Minister’s inability to squarely face the truth regarding the WWII atrocities committed by the Imperial Army.
“Grandmother Lee was also with me on July 28th to commemorate the anniversary of my resolution to acknowledge the true history of what happened at the hands of the Japanese government during WWII.
The fight is not over, however, until the government leaders of Japan fully acknowledge their past transgressions, unequivocally apologize for, and commit to teaching future generations their true wartime history.
“True honor comes in knowing you have power, and then choosing to show honest grace, such as in a small act of setting the history books straight. Grandmother Lee and her sisters continue to inspire me, and teach me perseverance and fortitude. I hope Grandmother Lee and her sisters find some measure of solace in today’s historic win.”
