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What Price Justice?
A commentary on the acquittal of Chol Soo Lee
from East Wind Magazine Vol. 1 No. 2 Fall/Winter (1982)Subheadings were added to the original publication to make this more readable on the web.
By Ranko Yamada
A tremendous victory occurred on September 3,1982 when the jury found Chol Soo Lee not guilty in the retrial of the Chinatown murder case, Daily, dozens of Asians came to the Hall of Justice. They came notwithstanding the sheriff at the courtroom door who searched all packages and purses and the high security courtroom with its bullet-proof glass walls isolating the audience.
For Asians, this case has been so compelling as to arouse an indignation and anger spanning generations and nationality. One elderly Korean told a defense committee member, "Some days I was tired and didn't want to take the bus to come to trial. But every minute I would get more restless, wondering what was happening. Finally, I wouldn't be able to stand it and had to come to see for myself what was going on." Others sat in the courtroom all day, not understanding one word of English but waiting for that moment when they could wave to Chol Soo or mouth words of support through the glass wall.
Choi Soo Lee, both the man and the case, spoke to that totality of humiliations, racist ignorance and suffering that Asians have in common.
What Price Justice 2 (The Korean)