Post on Facebook:
"There Is No Space for the Far Right"
Gwangju Emergency Action held the "Gwangju Citizens' March of Remembrance and Solidarity" rally in front of Jeonil Building 245 on Geumnam-ro, Gwangju, on the afternoon of the 4th. About 2,000 citizens participated wearing black clothing and ribbons to express their condolences. After the rally, the attendees marched around the Geumnam-ro area. Photo by Song Bohyun
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung has announced a policy to deny permission for far-right YouTubers and others to hold rallies at the Gwangju 5.18 Democracy Plaza.
On the 6th, Mayor Kang emphasized in a Facebook post, "Far-right YouTuber An Jungkwon has inquired about holding a rally to incite and support insurrection at the 5.18 Democracy Plaza," adding, "There is no space for far-right activities at the 5.18 Democracy Plaza."
Mayor Kang further stated, "(An Jungkwon) is an accomplice to insurrection who insulted the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims, slandered President Moon Jaein, and defamed Representative Lee Jaemyung," labeling him an 'anti-democrat.'
He continued, "Nazis cannot hold rallies at Holocaust memorial sites. They would be beaten by democratic citizens," and reiterated, "Far-right rallies at the 5.18 Democracy Plaza are absolutely unacceptable. Permission to use the plaza will be denied."
YouTuber An Jungkwon is planning to hold rallies on the 8th-9th and 15th-16th, while the right-wing Christian group Save Korea plans to hold a rally opposing President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment on the 15th in the Geumnam-ro area in front of the Mudeung Building in Dong-gu, Gwangju. The reported number of participants is 1,000.
Meanwhile, the 5.18 Democracy Plaza is the site where citizens protested against the violent crackdown by martial law forces in May 1980. Since the December 3 martial law incident, rallies calling for President Yoon Sukyeol's resignation have been held there every weekend.
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