Hundreds of Constituents in Colorado and New Jersey Condemn Sen. Gardner and Sen. Menendez’s Call to Tighten Sanctions on North Korea During COVID-19
April 17, 2020
Posted in: News
For immediate release
April 17, 2020
Hundreds of residents in Colorado and New Jersey, representing a wide cross section of constituents, including faith groups, NGOs, community and business leaders, academics, students, and the Korean American community, sent letters to Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today condemning their call to step up the enforcement of US and UN sanctions on the North Korean government during the COVID-19 crisis.
The concerned residents sent their letters in response to a March 31 letter sent by Sen. Gardner and Sen. Menendez to Secretaries Michael Pompeo and Steven Mnuchin, urging the Trump administration to “step up enforcement of U.S. and United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on the North Korean government.”
“Your urgent appeal to reinvigorate sanctions against North Korea during a global health emergency is cruel and inhumane,” the letters state. “Insisting on maximizing pressure against North Korea only ensures that millions of people remain critically vulnerable to a global pandemic.”
The signatories note that, to date, there have been nearly 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China and South Korea combined: “By proximity, North Korea is extremely vulnerable to an outbreak due to its severely crippled health care system as a result of the U.S.-led global sanctions regime.”
While Sen. Gardner and Sen. Menendez note that humanitarian aid should still be able to reach the North Korean people, the concerned residents note, “life-saving humanitarian assistance is often not able to reach those who need it most in a timely manner because international financial institutions refuse to facilitate the transfer of funds needed to cover medical and operating expenses. This is a direct result of the increasingly harsh sanctions that you seek to tighten.”
Finally, the letters cite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet — one of an increasing number of officials who are calling for an easing or lifting of sanctions against countries like North Korea in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Read the full letters below:
Sen. Cory Gardner
354 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
April 17, 2020
Dear Senator Gardner:
We, the undersigned, represent a wide cross section of your constituents in Colorado, including faith groups, NGOs, community and business leaders, academics, students, and the Korean American community. We write to express our deep disappointment in your March 31 letter to Secretaries Michael Pompeo and Steven Mnuchin, urging the Trump administration to “step up enforcement of U.S. and United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on the North Korean government.”
Your urgent appeal to reinvigorate sanctions against North Korea during a global health emergency is cruel and inhumane. While we struggle to prevent the spread of the coronavirus here at home, many of us fear for our relatives in the region, including long-divided family members in North Korea. There have been nearly 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China and South Korea combined. By proximity, North Korea is extremely vulnerable to an outbreak due to its severely crippled health care system as a result of the U.S.-led global sanctions regime.
Despite your note to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach the North Korean people, we know that, in practice, life-saving humanitarian assistance is often not able to reach those who need it most in a timely manner because international financial institutions refuse to facilitate the transfer of funds needed to cover medical and operating expenses. This is a direct result of the increasingly harsh sanctions that you seek to tighten.
Insisting on maximizing pressure against North Korea only ensures that millions of people remain critically vulnerable to a global pandemic. We implore you to heed the words of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who called for an easing of sanctions against countries like North Korea:
“The majority of these states have frail or weak health systems. Progress in upholding human rights is essential to improve those systems – but obstacles to the import of vital medical supplies, including over-compliance with sanctions by banks, will create long-lasting harm to vulnerable communities. The populations in these countries are in no way responsible for the policies being targeted by sanctions, and to varying degrees have already been living in a precarious situation for prolonged periods.”
Right now, we need leadership that fosters international cooperation and peace rather than further entrenching division and conflict. We urge you to use your platform to advance diplomacy and engagement with North Korea. Our collective health, security, and humanity depend on it.
Sincerely,
Emily Williams, Korea Peace Now, Denver, CO
Maria Rapisarda, Graduate Student, Denver, CO
Amber Hunt, Denver, CO
Nicklaus Cole Nusbeitel, Denver, CO
Sungyun Lim, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Marie Elizabeth Berry, Professor, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Marianna Kosharovsky, Golden, CO
Shannon Payne, Denver, CO
Brendan Mapes, Researcher, Denver, CO
Alexandra Haas, Denver, CO
Daniel Rinner, Denver, CO
David Miller, Denver, CO
Rebecca Galemba, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Michael Fowler, Professor Emeritus, Greenwood Village, CO
Chayoung Ahn, Centennial, CO
Thomas Seol, Centennial, CO
Ashten Scheller, Denver, CO
Deidra Smith, Loveland, CO
Dana Sanchez, Pine, CO
David Gurarie, Doctor, Boulder, CO
Valentina Gurarie, Boulder, CO
Lynette Rynders, Special Education Teacher, Bennett School District, Strasburg, CO
Maria Gorokhova, Boulder, CO
Lynn Karr, Retired, Berthoud, CO
Tim Keenan, Denver, CO
Paul Schutt, Breckenridge, CO
Dana Sanchez, Pine, CO
Carole Chowen, Grand Junction, CO
Joan Glasser, Boulder CO
Albert Chong, University of Colorado, Boulder CO
Mary Sprunger-Froese, Colorado Springs CO
Arthur J. Altree, Durango, CO
Lawrence Crowley, Louisville, CO
Leslie Singer Lomas, Boulder, CO
Sondra Hardgrave, Loveland, CO
Aaron Hudson, Westminster, CO
Donna Bonetti, Boulder, CO
Margaret Hotze, United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, CO
Hon. Tiffany A. Snyder, Retired Ward, CO Mayor, Boulder, CO
Ellie Young, United Methodist Women, Grand Junction CO
Hal B. Rager, Unemployed due to COVID-19, Arvada, CO
Nick Wilde, Castle Rock, CO
Eunsang Lee, Denver, CO
Carol Hollomon, Retired, Denver, CO
Ashlyn Jeong, Aurora, CO
Kady Martin, Arvada CO
Don Thompson, Retired, Alamosa, CO
Judy Stege, Milliken, CO
Phillip Davis, Denver University, Denver, CO
Kathryn M. Christian, Grand Junction, CO
Edward Kook, National Unification Advisory Council Denver Chapter, Colorado springs, CO
Dr. Samuel C. Riccillo, Pueblo, Colorado
Yeo Jun Kim, National Unification Advisory Council Denver Chapter, Lone Tree, CO
Tracy C Andersen, Minturn, CO
James A. Clark Jr., Colorado Springs, CO
Alan Gilbert, Distinguished University Professor, Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Mary Ann Watson, Longmont, CO
Jesus Enriquez, Denver, CO
Grace Yang, Aurora, CO
Caleb Jung, Aurora, CO
Dorothy Ogle, Former United Methodist Missionary to Korea, Lafayette, CO
George Ogle, Former United Methodist Missionary to Korea, Lafayette, CO
Fran Aguirre, National Education Association, Colorado Education Association, Denver Classroom Teachers Association, Denver, CO
Katherine Dines, Songwriter, Performing and Teaching Artist, Denver, CO
Arlee McLeod, Production Assistant, Boulder, CO
Tanner Fox, Dillon, CO
Faith M. McKenna, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Marylou Barrios, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Rosa Gutierrez, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Melia Golin, Boulder, CO
Kirby Anstead, Boulder, CO
Sienna Rahe, Salida, CO
Ryan Haines, Denver, CO
Anna Rae, Boulder CO
Mark Canganelli, Lakewood, CO
Francisco Partida, Lone Tree, CO
Colin Johnson, Denver CO
Sen. Bob Menendez
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
April 17, 2020
Dear Senator Menendez:
We, the undersigned, represent a wide cross section of your constituents in New Jersey, including NGOs, peace groups, community and business leaders, academics, and the Korean American community. We write to express our deep disappointment in your March 31 letter to Secretaries Michael Pompeo and Steven Mnuchin, urging the Trump administration to “step up enforcement of U.S. and United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on the North Korean government.”
Your urgent appeal to reinvigorate sanctions against North Korea during a global health emergency is cruel and inhumane. While we struggle to prevent the spread of the coronavirus here at home, many of us fear for our relatives in the region, including long-divided family members in North Korea. There have been nearly 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China and South Korea combined. By proximity, North Korea is extremely vulnerable to an outbreak due to its severely crippled health care system as a result of the U.S.-led global sanctions regime.
Despite your note to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach the North Korean people, we know that, in practice, life-saving humanitarian assistance is often not able to reach those who need it most in a timely manner because international financial institutions refuse to facilitate the transfer of funds needed to cover medical and operating expenses. This is a direct result of the increasingly harsh sanctions that you seek to tighten.
Insisting on maximizing pressure against North Korea only ensures that millions of people remain critically vulnerable to a global pandemic. We implore you to heed the words of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who called for an easing of sanctions against countries like North Korea:
“The majority of these states have frail or weak health systems. Progress in upholding human rights is essential to improve those systems – but obstacles to the import of vital medical supplies, including over-compliance with sanctions by banks, will create long-lasting harm to vulnerable communities. The populations in these countries are in no way responsible for the policies being targeted by sanctions, and to varying degrees have already been living in a precarious situation for prolonged periods.”
Right now, we need leadership that fosters international cooperation and peace rather than further entrenching division and conflict. We urge you to use your platform to advance diplomacy and engagement with North Korea. Our collective health, security, and humanity depend on it.
Sincerely,
Ejay Kim, Bernards Township, NJ
Soobok Kim, Veterans for Peace #021, Teaneck, NJ
Jeff Hoey, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton, NJ
Madelyn Hoffman, Hoffman for Senate 2020, Flanders, NJ
Diane C. Beeny, Union County Peace Council, Westfield, NJ
Matthew B. Johnson, People’s Organization for Progress, South Orange, NJ
Joanmarie Cifelli, New Jersey Peace Action, Belleville, NJ
Lorna Henkel, New Jersey Peace Action and First Friends of NJ & NY, Secaucus, NJ
Michael Grele, Montclair, NJ
Jo Sippie-Gora, New Jersey Peace Action, Kinnelon, NJ
Sarah Mercuri, New Jersey Peace Action, Madison, NJ
Bennet D Zurofsky, Maplewood, NJ
Anna Nelson, New Jersey Peace Action, South Orange, NJ
Lise Brikowski, New Jersey Peace Action, Dover, NJ
Ki Sung Chung, Korean American National Coordinating Council, Norwood, NJ
Cindy Hoey, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton NJ
Matthew Skolar, Young Ecosocialists Caucus of the Green Party of New Jersey, Kearny, NJ
Chuck Augello, Wharton, NJ
Sheri Burkat, Wharton, NJ
Afina Broekman, Fair Lawn, NJ
Greg Pason, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair, NJ
Kaitlyn dinzes, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton, NJ
Juyeon JC Rhee, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, Tenafly, NJ
Howard D. Lipoff, New Jersey Peace Action, Little Falls, NJ
John Kaniecki, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair, NJ
Matthew Hoey, Clifton, NJ
Charles Courtney, New Jersey Peace Action, Madison, NJ
Sean McDonough, Glen Ridge, NJ
Theresa Carlson, Retired, Ramsey, NJ
Harold Carlson, Retired, Ramsey, NJ
Ellen Jamieson, Leonia, NJ
Peggy Monges , New Jersey Peace Action, Closter, NJ
Carol Gay, NJ State Industrial Union Council, Brick, NJ
Donald Leich, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair, NJ
Collin Minert, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair, NJ
Judith Arnold, New Jersey Peace Action, Hopatcong, NJ
Patricia Alessandrini, New Jersey Peace Action, Teaneck, NJ
Mary Gallagher, Maplewood, NJ
Litsa Binder, Sparta, NJ
Zeb Noormohamed, New Jersey Peace Action, Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Helga Moor, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton, NJ
Jerilyn Doherty, Retired, Sparta, NJ
Susana Sotillo, MSU Emérita Professor, Bloomfield, NJ
Matthe Cinotti, Sparta United Methodist Church, Church and Society Committee, Stanhope, NJ
Lynn Stockhamer, Montclair, NJ
Bert Morris, Maplewood, NJ
Mary Bell, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair, NJ
Peter Park, Salon, Little Falls, NJ
Henry Ickes, Newton, NJ
William W Smith, Park Ridge, NJ
Simeon Larson, Monroe Township, NJ
Wendy Fisher, Newton, NJ
Sara Flounders, International Action Center, Jersey City, NJ
Rosemarie Morey, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton, NJ
Barbra Apfelbaum, Cliffside Park, NJ
Louis S. Bedrock, Peace Action, Roselle, NJ
Judith A. Acquaire, Paralegal, Wyckoff, NJ
Paula Rogovin, Teaneck, NJ
Afina Broekman, Fair Lawn, NJ
Tom Violett, Green Party of Monmouth County NJ, Farmingdale, NJ
Bennet D Zurofsky, Attorney at Law, Maplewood, NJ
The Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director, Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton, NJ
Joseph Attamamte, Morristown, NJ
Henry Hafelfinger, Clifton, NJ
Barbara S. Webster, Montclair, NJ
David H. Schraeger, Unidad Latina en Acción NJ, Hamiltion, NJ
Moon Jang, June 15 US Committee for Reunification of Korea, East Brunswick, NJ
Haingbo Kim, Retired, Fort Lee, NJ
Elizabeth Blake, New Jersey Peace Action, Westfield, New Jersey
Lela Charney Squitieri, Leonia Vigil Group for Peace and Justice, Leonia, NJ
Michael Kramer, Veterans For Peace / Chapter 021, Jersey City, NJ
Charles Orlowicz, Rutherford, NJ
Judith Arnold, New Jersey Peace Action, Hopatcong, NJ
Jaszmene Smith, Bridgeton, NJ
Mark Regenthal, Toms River, NJ
James Rothwell, Union City, NJ
Cori Bishop, Egg Harbor City, NJ
Jo Ann McGreevy, Reired, Hackensack, NJ
Martin Oppenheimer, Retired, Rutgers Professor, Franklin Park, NJ
Janis Barondess Todd, Princeton Junction, NJ
Sylvia Stengle, Princeton, NJ
Nancy Taiani, Glen Ridge, NJ
Marion Held, Montclair, NJ
Michael DeGregory, Retired US postal worker, Trenton NJ
Richard Moody, Coalition for Peace Action, Cranbury, NJ
Gangwoo Kim, Leonia, NJ
Bonnie Shapiro, Fort Lee, NJ
Ruth Boroshok, Summit, NJ
Matthew Franck, Highland Park, NJ
Elsie McKee, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Mark S Lowenthal, Maplewood NJ
Patricia Alessandrini, New Jersey Peace Action, Teaneck, NJ
Rose Kim, Veterans for Peace #021, Passaic, NJ
Sister Josie, Jersey City, NJ
Cheryl Dzubak, Yardville, NJ
Emil Brisson, Phillipsburg, NJ
Thomas B. Park, Palisades Park Chamber of Commerce, Little Falls, NJ
Al Arroyo, Verona, NJ
Nancy L Chismar, Edison, NJ
Gregory A. Clewell, Seaside Heights
Bert Morris, Maplewood, NJ
Leslie Jenkins, West Orange, NJ
Paul Williams, Toms River, NJ
Sunyoung Yang, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Trenton, NJ
Claire Cooney, Retired Hackettstown, NJ
Chong Yang, Dumont NJ
Margaret Spallone, Browns Mills, NJ
Osvaldo Hernandez, Voorhees, NJ
Minju Bae, Jersey City, NJ
Innbo Shim, Documentary Producer, Montclair, NJ
James Paul Gorman, Englewood, NJ
Brian Reynolds, Atlantic City, NJ
Soveira Hernandez, Bayonne, NJ
Lisa Brikowski, New Jersey Peace Action, Dover, NJ
Susan Guardia, Union Beach, NJ
James Pansulla, Bloomfield, NJ
Afina Broekman, Fair Lawn, NJ
Tim Sevener, New Jersey Peace Action, Mount Tabor, NJ
Terri Suess, New Jersey Peace Action, Union, NJ
Rosemarie Mcpartland, Veterans for Peace, Bergenfield, NJ
Trina Paulus, VP, Cornucopia Network of New Jersey, Montclair, NJ
Manijeh Saba, All Human Rights Advocate, Somerset, NJ
Majid Maleki, Somerset, NJ
Judith Arnold, New Jersey Peace Action, Hopatcong, NJ
Jules Orkin, Veterans for Peace, Bergenfield NJ
Richard DeKoyer, Emerson, NJ
Nancy Taiani, New Jersey Peace Action, Glen Ridge, NJ
Claire Simon, Artist, Morris Plains, NJ
Archie Palmer, West Caldwell, NJ
Lynne Palmer, West Caldwell, NJ
Joe Melilo, Trenton, NJ
Donald Leich, New Jersey Peace Action, Montclair,NJ
Harold Carlson, Ramsey, NJ
Kwang C. Jung, Norwood, NJ
Cindy Hoey, New Jersey Peace Action, Clifton, NJ
Yunhee W. Lee, Korean American Association of New Jersey, Fort Lee, NJ
Ronald A De Stefano, New Jersey Peace Action, Woodland Park
Simeon Larson, Monroe Township, NJ
Paula Bushkoff, Princeton, NJ
Ruth Indeck, Jersey City, NJ
Chris Joon Lee, Teaneck, NJ
Sharon W. Lee, Teaneck, NJ
Sally Jane Gellert, Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Juyeon Rhee, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, Tenafly, New Jersey
Jason Jongseo Rhee, Tenafly, New Jersey
David Jangjae Rhee, Tenafly, New Jersey
Soojin Rhee, Tenafly, New Jersey
Paul H Lee, Palisades Park, NJ
Susan Mullins, New Jersey Peace Action, Bloomfield, NJ
Matthew Schmieder, Anakbayan Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ
L Chan, Edison, NJ
Sisira Mandapaka, Dayton, New Jersey
Craig Spivack, Jersey City
Felicia Panny, Orange, NJ
Hans Chou, Short Hills, NJ
Sonia Kumar, Edison, NJ
Young Choe, Cherry Hill, NJ
Jinoo Song, Clifton, NJ
Louis S. Bedrock, Roselle, NJ
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