GLENDALE (CNS) - A Glendale monument commemorating Korean “comfort women” from World War II has been vandalized for the second time this summer, police said today.
Someone on Monday used a black marker to vandalize the Korean Comfort Women Peace Monument at Glendale Central Park in the 200 block of Brand Boulevard, according to Glendale Police Department Sgt. Dan Suttles.
Several nearby flower pots were also knocked over, Suttles said.
The hoodie-clad vandal was recorded on surveillance video, which was released to media and was being reviewed by investigators, the sergeant said.
On July 22, someone smeared a substance on the monument and smashed some of the flower pots, police said.
The monument was installed in July of 2013 with the cooperation of the Korea-Glendale Sister City Association, officials said.
The term “comfort women” refers to women and girls who were treated as sex slaves in areas conquered by the Japanese. The monument, which depicts a so-called comfort woman, was paid for and is maintained by the Korean American Forum of California.
“The City Council supported the installation of the Comfort Women Peace Monument as a lasting tribute to the suffering of women and girls of many nationalities during World War II and to promote peace between all. The city of Glendale takes this incident very seriously and will take all measures to apprehend the perpetrators and hold them accountable in court,” according to a statement issued by Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian after the July incident.
Anyone with information about the vandalism was urged to call the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or lacrimestoppers.org.