Okinawa Rally Protests Ongoing US Military Sexual Assault Crisis
Over 2,500 Okinawans rallied on December 22nd to protest recent sexual assaults committed by U.S. servicemen, holding both the Japanese and U.S. governments accountable for failing to prevent recurring incidents. Participants passed a resolution demanding an apology and compensation for victims and emphasized the need to prevent future assaults. The protest highlighted the government’s failure to notify local authorities of the assaults, despite existing reporting systems. Young Okinawans, some of whom have participated in similar protests for years, vowed to ensure such incidents never happen again.
John Q. Hosedrinker