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Ferguson protest planned for Saturday in Seoul

December 4, 2014

Demonstrators protest against the shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, during a rally at the Department of Justice in Washington, Monday. (AP)

Expats will gather near Hongik University in western Seoul on Saturday to protest against a Missouri grand jury’s recent decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot dead an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

“We are planning a solidarity action to support and stand with folks in the United States and all around the world for Mike Brown and for justice,” rally organizer Deja Motley told The Korea Times. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the issue in Korea and give people space to voice their opinion.”

From 2 p.m., organizers will start handing out fliers with information in English and Korean about what happened in the case. The organizers will then lead protest chants before speakers recite poems and speak words of hope.

The organizers also plan to collect support messages and mail them to the Brown family in the United States.

“We welcome any and everyone that sees the injustice in Mike Brown’s murder,” Motley said. “This vigil will provide us an outlet to voice our concerns, our hopelessness, our frustration and our inability to remain silent concerning issues of racial injustice. I also hope this event will provide a bit of healing for many of us who are hurting.”

So far, about 60 people have signed up to participate in the protest, and Motley expects more to show up.

She said the protest will be legal and peaceful, adding that any incitement of violence or illegal activity will not be tolerated.

Motley, who was born and raised in Chicago, came to Korea in July 2012 and has since worked as an English teacher at public elementary schools.

She said it is important for Koreans to know and understand racism because it is an important human rights issue across the world.

“I want Koreans to see that it is OK to speak up about injustices,” she said. “I want Koreans to see the issue as it is ― a human rights issue, a right to life issue.”