Family, supporters pray at California Capitol for release of journalists jailed in North Korea

Lisa Ling, right, prays for her sister Laura and colleague Euna Lee on Thursday evening at the west steps of the Capitol in Sacramento. Sharron Price, left, was among more than 300 people who sang and prayed for the journalists' release by the North Koreans.

By Ed Fletcher

As the sun set Thursday over California's Capitol, more than 300 locals implored a capital 5,600 miles away to free jailed journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from a North Korean prison.

"Bring them home, bring them home," the crowd chanted at several points during the one-hour rally.

The vigil on the Capitol steps had two messages – that the North Korean government should release the women and the U.S. government should do more to intervene.

"She just needs the help of our government," said Lisa Ling, Laura's sister and a fellow journalist. "Only through the government does she have the hope of being released."

Lee, 36, and Laura Ling, 32, reporting for Current TV, were at the border of China and North Korea on March 17 to report on trafficking of women there when they were arrested by North Korean police and propelled into the international spotlight.

Ling and Lee were convicted of illegally crossing into North Korea by that country's highest court last month and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

After weeks of hoping that keeping a low profile would help bring the two home, Ling's family has changed strategy in recent days, launching a media offensive.

In addition to Thursday's rally, Lisa Ling has conducted local and national interviews, and supporters have launched a Web site, www.lauraandeuna.com/.

http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2014944.html