Memorial in N.J. sparks controversy - KMSP-TV

Memorial in N.J. sparks controversy

More than half of the people who live in Palisades Park, N.J., are of Korean descent. A little monument here honoring Asians is stirring up a big controversy.

Mayor James Rotundo agreed to put a monument outside the library to honor the thousands of Asian women, many of them Korean, known as Comfort Women during World War II. These women and girls, some as young as 13, were reportedly kidnapped and used as sex slaves by the Japanese military.

The monument was built in 2010, but it really gained attention in May when members of the Japanese parliament came here and demanded it be removed.

Mina Yoshigaki of the Japanese American Society of New Jersey said she is offended by it. Yoshigaki doesn't deny Japan's wrongdoing, she just said feels this monument doesn't belong in New Jersey.

There are now two petitions online: one asking President Obama to remove the monument and the other requesting he let it be.

The library has been bombarded with hate emails calling for the removal memorial.

"The purpose of this monument is war is bad, war shouldn't happen," said Deputy Mayor Jason Kim, who is Korean American. "This kind of crime against women and crime against humanity should be stopped right now."

The Mayor said there are no plans to remove the monument. He actually said this controversy is the best thing to happen to it because now more people know about Comfort Women.