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San Francisco committee advances resolution to establish ‘comfort women’ memorial after hours of testimony
Summary
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee advanced a resolution urging the City and County of San Francisco to establish a memorial honoring wartime "comfort women," after nearly four hours of public comment that featured survivors’ testimony, academic and faith‑community endorsements, and testimony from opponents who warned of community division and questioned some historical claims.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted to send a resolution to the full Board of Supervisors recommending the establishment of a memorial to women who say they were forced into sexual servitude by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Chair Eric Marr opened the hearing by calling it "a historic day in these chambers" and introducing Halmony ("Grandma") Lee, a survivor who traveled from Korea to testify. In brief remarks, Marr framed the proposal as an effort to "break silence," honor survivors and to create educational resources for future generations.
Survivor testimony anchored the hearing. "We hate the crimes, but not the people," testified Yong Soo Lee, identified in the…
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