Students, alumni and faculty of the Academy of Art University, along with other community organizations, are leading a community-wide gathering to join the nation in solidarity for the release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling.
Both American journalists were sentenced to 12 years in labor prison after being convicted of illegally crossing the border into North Korea and grave crimes against North Korea. The two
had been working on a story on human trafficking, from the Chinese side of the border, for Current TV, headquartered in San Francisco. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the
charges baseless and has been working all channels for their release. Euna Lee, an alumna of the Academy of Art University, earned her BFA in 2001 in the School of Motion Pictures and
Television.
The Lee and Ling families have expressed their appreciation to event organizers and supporters.
WHO: Anyone wishing to express their support for Euna Lee and Laura Ling
WHAT: San Francisco community-wide Peaceful Gathering: Free Euna Lee and Laura Ling
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
(Press Arrival at 5:30 PM)
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
5:30 PM - press arrival
WHERE: Morgan Auditorium 491 Post Street at Mason, San Francisco, CA 94102
Academy of Art University (http://www.academyart.edu/), a community of student and professional artists, designers and broadcasters, stands in
unity with Euna Lee, 2001 BFA Motion Pictures 's38; Television alumna, and Laura Ling in adding our voices to the international demands for their immediate release. An online petition has
been started at: http://www.academyart.edu/petition/index.jsp
The Governor of California and the First Lady as well as San Francisco city officials have been invited. A complete list of organizations and participants will be issued prior to the
gathering.
The Academy of Art University was founded in 1929 by Artists for Artists. It is one of the oldest educational and cultural institutions in San Francisco, California. Students pursue
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Associate of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Certificate Programs or Continuing Art Education courses with over 30 areas of academic emphasis.