One of a kind
On display in the Power of One Reading Room, in memory of Iris Chang, are three panels of photos and texts, showing Chang's life, her book, The Rape of Nanking and a memorial hall dedicated to Chang in Jiangsu province.
The reading room will introduce other people who share the same spirit of assiduously seeking truth in history like Chang, says Yuan.
"We plan to invite historians and those, or the descendants of those, who experienced World War II, to give talks. We will also organize museum tours for students in the Bay Area," she says.
Since it was opened to the public on Saturday, two groups of elementary school students have visited the reading room. Two of the students gave their Chinese calligraphy work－"remember the history and cherish peace"－to Florence Fang, founder of the memorial hall, as a gift.
"Iris Chang is a hero. She helps the world remember one of the darkest moments in human history. She tells us history should not be forgotten," says Jennifer Cheung, president of Global Alliance for Preserving the History of WWII in Asia, a nonprofit grassroots organization with dozens of chapters in North America.
Cheung also serves as the chair of the Rape of Nanking Redress Coalition, an organization of Asian Americans seeking redress from the Japanese government.
"She inspires me to retrace her footsteps and keep seeking justice for the victims," says Cheung. "We must fight for justice and make the Japanese government formally apologize and compensate the victims."
