With the passing of legendary activist Yuri Kochiyama, we lost a giant. The past week has seen a number of moving tributes, including an online art exhibition and a Tumblr of personal reflections.
In honor of her lifetime of revolutionary activism, 18 Million Rising has launched a campaign to salute Yuri Kochiyama's legacy with her very own U.S. postage stamp. They've launched a petition asking the United States Post Office to create a stamp in honor:
United States Postal Service: Create a Yuri Kochiyama stamp
Yuri Kochiyama's death this week marked an incredible loss for AAPIs, and for the racial justice movement as a whole.
During her 93 years, Yuri changed the lives of innumerable people. She is widely known for her deep friendship with Malcolm X and her commitment to the Black Liberation Movement. While she stood in solidarity with revolutionary Black leaders, Yuri also fought to end militarism, free political prisoners around the globe, decolonize Puerto Rico, build cross-racial coalitions, and gain reparations for the incarceration of Japanese Americans.
Postage stamps have long been used to feature public figures for notable talents and accomplishments. In our opinion, Yuri Kochiyama is as notable as they come. Will you join us to salute her contributions to human rights and racial equity?
Tell the United States Post Office: Commemorate Yuri Kochiyama’s life and legacy with a postage stamp created in her honor.
It seems symbolically appropriate that Yuri Kochiyama's image should grace a postage stamp, considering that letter-writing was such an integral part of her lifetime of activism. Sign the petition here.