Protesters demand justice for the ‘comfort women’ of World War II on Global Action Day

Shiwei Zhang holds a sign that reads “comfort women” in Chinese, while holding the hand of a replica of the “Statue of Peace,” or “Sonyeosang” in Korean, Wednesday at the 10th annual Global Action Day for Justice for “Comfort Women” on the Near North Side. (Elizabeth Rymut/Sun-Times)

Dozens of protesters rallied Wednesday on the Near North Side to raise awareness about the injustices suffered by “comfort women” at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army.

Before and during World War II, the Japanese government forced women from Korea, China and other Asian countries occupied by Japan into sexual slavery in brothels that served the nation’s military.