Credit:  usembassyseoul /   Black live

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

A  “BLACK LIVES MATTER”  placard was boldly draped on the front the U.S. Embassy in Korea capital city Seoul Friday but was promptly removed two days later apparently at the direction of President Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Bloomberg reported.   The “Black Lives Matter”  movement, which regained momentum after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody last week, has sparked demonstrations across the globe, including in South Korea.  The large banner was displayed on the facade of the embassy in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. 

“The U.S. Embassy stands in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change. Our #BlackLivesMatter banner shows our support for the fight against racial injustice and police brutality as we strive to be a more inclusive & just society.”

Trump Appointee Ambassador in Korea Expresses Support for  Anti-Racism  BLM Movement  

“I am deeply troubled about the events surrounding the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the ongoing aftermath. I hurt to see our Nation going through such difficult times. Most demonstrators across the U.S. today are formed in peaceful protests against racism, bigotry and hatred. I stand with them. I share the conviction that those beliefs have no place in our society. As an Asian American who was reared in the segregated South of the 1960s, I never thought I would see this happening again, especially in the 21st Century. But I believe in America and her people. I know what makes our country strong. I believe that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. I believe that America, like all of us, is resilient. I believe that America is still that “city on a hill” about which President Reagan spoke so eloquently.”

-Harry  Harris,  U.S. Ambassador to  The Republic of Korea 

Ambassador Harris Does Not Support  Violent Protest 

Credit: U.S. Department of State /  U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris.

Ambassador  Harris, a Japanese-American,  made a bold break from the usual neutral staid political diplomatic protocol  by making such a public statement in expressing solidarity with the BLM movement. However, the ambassador made it clear that  “I do not stand with those who use peaceful protest as a cover for vandalism, mayhem, and wanton destruction. And to those voices — and there are some, already — who take perverse pleasure in what is happening in America today…to them I say we’ll emerge a better country and a stronger democracy …and we won’t forget. I am confident that by approaching these events transparently, under the twin spotlights of the law and a free press, the United States will emerge a better country and a stronger ally in our 244-year experiment in democracy.”     Ambassador Harris was nominated by President Trump on May 23, 2018 and confirmed by the United States Senate on June 28, 2018 as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK). Ambassador Harris commanded the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), now known as the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), from May, 2015 to May, 2018.  He is the first Asian-American to hold four-star rank in the U.S. Navy and the first to head USPACOM.  Prior to USPACOM, he commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

 U.S. Embassy Seoul Hangs Rainbow Flag That Celebrates LGBTQ Pride