PHILADELPHIA — A protest here April 19 marked the one-year anniversary of the sinking of the Sewol ferry off the coast of South Korea that killed 294 passengers, including 245 Danwon High School students from Ansan City, a disaster caused by the drive for profit and the me-first morality of capitalism.The ferry — whose owners had remodeled to jam in more passengers and cargo, making it top heavy — capsized April 16, 2014, en route from Incheon to Jeju Island. In addition, the cargo was not properly balanced. When the ferry began to sink, crew members — half of them temporary workers with little safety training — told passengers to stay put. The captain and most of the senior crew members abandoned ship. To make matters worse, the Coast Guard rescue operation was late and botched.“There has not been a comprehensive investigation on what caused the Sewol to sink, why the passengers were not promptly rescued, and why the sunken ship has still not been salvaged,” said a statement by People in Solidarity with the Families of Sewol Ferry, which sponsored the action here, including a march to the Museum of Art, one of several memorial events around the world. Kwang Jang had his head shaved as part of the action. “The cutting of the hair traditionally signifies our determination and that we will do whatever it takes to demand justice,” said Andy Lee, a student at the University of Pennsylvania. |
