On May 18, the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, the Anti-US Struggle Headquarters, and the People’s Democracy Party held a memorial service and rally under the slogan “Inheriting the Spirit of the Gwangju People’s Uprising! End the Civil War! Realize People’s Democracy!” at Mangwol-dong Cemetery in the “ROK (Republic of Korea).” Attending the rally were Dimitrios Patelis, a member of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform and representative of Revolutionary Unification in Greece, and Thierry Deronne, vice president of the public television channel Vive TV, and political activist.
The event began with a silent tribute to the spirits of those who fought to the end against imperialist and fascist forces during the Gwangju People’s Uprising and to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for independence, democracy, and reunification. Attendees then sang the iconic protest anthem, March for the Beloved.
Lee Mi-sook, head of the Gwangju city branch of the People’s Democracy Party, stated, “Forty-five years ago today, U.S. imperialism, through the military fascist forces led by Chun Doo-hwan, massacred the Gwangju people striving for independence and peace. Today, U.S. imperialism is once again using pro-American fascists in an attempt to expand World War III—starting in Eastern Europe, spreading through West Asia, and now targeting East Asia and the Western Pacific. Imperialism is the common enemy of all peoples yearning for independence, peace, and democracy.”
She continued, “We will inherit the anti-fascist, anti-imperialist, and people’s democratic spirit of the Gwangju Uprising to root out the civil war-fomenting fascist forces and expel the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces behind them. We will accelerate the arrival of a new world of people’s democracy. Furthermore, we will unite strongly with global anti-imperialist and self-determination forces to defeat the imperialist aggressors led by the United States and realize a peaceful world.“
Dimitrios Patelis remarked, “Greece, like the “ROK”, lost the fruition of its national liberation struggle after World War II and has lived under the control of U.S. military bases—essentially occupation forces. The similarities between the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek and the “ROK” peoples, and the deep internationalist bonds between our revolutionary forces, are undeniable. We must preserve and strengthen these bonds, especially at this critical moment as World War III intensifies.”
Quoting lyrics from a Greek revolutionary song, he added, “Our fallen comrades remain with us, watering the earth so that the seeds of freedom’s struggle may take root. Glory to the fallen! Long live the anti-imperialist struggle!“
Thierry Deronne stated, “Gwangju is still alive today, connecting all of us with every martyr. No matter how much imperialism tries to dominate, humanity deeply understands that true life is found in simple acts—reaching out a hand, planting a tree, writing a song, embracing a neighbor. It is not ‘Time is money’ that reigns there, but the ‘season of cherries’; not the violence of beasts, but the power of magicians.“
He continued, “As President Chávez often quoted from Liberator Simón Bolívar: ‘Any soldier who turns his weapon against the people shall be cursed.’ Based on this principle, he removed the Venezuelan military from the U.S. School of the Americas, known as the ‘School of Assassins.’ For both of us, Gwangju is not a memory of the past—it is a living future.”
The head of the Seoul branch of the People’s Democracy Party commented, “After a winter heated by anti-fascist resistance, we are now entering a spring of anti-fascist and anti-imperialist struggle. Since the dismissal of the civil war ringleader Yoon Suk-yeol, the dying remnants of fascist and reactionary forces have been desperately plotting civil war through riots, terror, and fabricated events. But our people in the “ROK”, awakening to the true nature of these forces and their imperialist backers, are rising in new resistance.“
He emphasized, “Because of the courageous martyrs who defended the provincial government building with their lives against the Chun Doo-hwan coup forces that carried out the massacre 45 years ago, our struggle for independence and democracy continues without pause. The cries for independence, peace, and a people’s democratic society that echoed through Gwangju on May 18, 1980, have yet to be realized. Nothing will change while the true perpetrators of the massacre—the U.S. imperialist aggressors—continue to support pro-American fascists and escalate their push for World War III in East Asia.“
In conclusion, he declared, “Today, the Gwangju People’s Uprising is a struggle against fascism and imperialism. We will punish the reactionary forces who serve as imperialism’s agents and end this civil war as soon as possible. By inheriting the will of our national democratic martyrs and the spirit of Gwangju, we will devote all our strength to the anti-fascist, anti-imperialist struggle—eradicating the internal traitors and defeating U.S. imperialist aggressors.“
All participants together shouted powerful slogans such as, “Inherit the Gwangju People’s Uprising and Win the Anti-Fascist, Anti-Imperialist Struggle!” and “Carry Forward the Spirit of the Gwangju Uprising and Advance a People’s Democratic World!” They then sang the “Song of the People.“
Afterward, they moved to the New Cemetery to pay their respects.
