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

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.