140 Gather at City Hall in Support of Euna Lee and Laura Ling

This was the scene tonight at the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, where a crowd of 140 offered their support for Euna Lee and Laura Ling. The people at the vigil called on North Korea to release these jailed reporters.

“We miss you” “Liberate Laura & Euna Now” “Set them free”

Supervisor Erica Mar was on the scene along with many City Hall staffers. Read an account from Marisa Lagos here and Jared Grigsby here.

Details after the jump.

WHAT: The San Francisco Vigil

WHEN: Wednesday, June 3, 2009

TIME: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Front Steps of S.F. City Hall on Polk Street

VIGIL AT SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL ON TRIAL DAY FOR EUNA LEE AND LAURA LING, CURRENT TV JOURNALISTS HELD IN NORTH KOREA

Volunteers will be handing out bright yellow carnations, ribbons, and candles on the steps of San Francisco City Hall during a vigil for two journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, being tried in North Korea on June 4.

The two journalists work for San Francisco-based Current TV, a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore. They were arrested on March 17, 2009 near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China. Both women have been accused by North Korea of crossing into the country illegally and committing “hostile acts,” and will be tried on criminal charges.

In addition to members of both journalists’ families, Laura Ling’s sister Lisa appeared on NBC’s Today Show on June 1. Lisa Ling is a well-known TV journalist.

The San Francisco vigil is among several being held nationwide on that day. Other vigils will be held in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Birmingham, and Washington, D.C.

Speakers at the San Francisco vigil will include Supervisor Eric Mar and two award-winning journalists, L.A. Chung and Mike Cerre, and friends of the two families.

Statement from the Families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee:

We, the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee – the two American journalists currently detained in North Korea – are gravely concerned about their well-being. It has been nearly three months since their arrest. We have been holding our breath everyday as we’ve watched the political situation on the Korean Peninsula grow increasingly tense. Our loved ones sit in the midst of it. We desperately urge the governments of the United States and North Korea to keep our issue separate from the larger geopolitical stand-off. We hope that our two countries can come together to secure the expeditious release of Laura and Euna on humanitarian grounds.

Euna Lee is the mother of a four-year old daughter. And Laura was being treated for an ulcer prior to her departure, and in our limited communication with her we fear it has become more serious since her detainment and requires immediate medical attention.

Furthermore, Laura and Euna are journalists who were simply doing their job. They have been charged with “illegal entry,” and “hostility to the Korean nation.” We aren’t certain of the details of what happened on March 17, but we can say with absolute certainty that when the girls left U.S. soil, they never intended to set foot onto North Korean territory. If at any point a transgression occurred, we sincerely apologize on their behalf.

We desperately hope that at the conclusion of the June 4 trial, the government of North Korea will show clemency and allow the girls to return home to their families.

Our families have been comforted by the unexpected and overwhelming support for Laura and Euna. We would like to thank all of those individuals who are organizing to secure the release of the girls. We are humbled and deeply touched by your well-wishes and efforts.