New York demonstrators protest Henoko base, call to acquit Yamashiro
On February 24 in New York, demonstrators call for the acquittal of Hiroji Yamashiro and speak out against the new base being built in Henoko, Nago City.
February 25, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition
By Washington Special Correspondent Yukiyo Zaha
On February 24 Okinawa Peace Appeal, a group comprised of Okinawan people who live in the United States, held a demonstration in New York supporting Chairman Hiroji Yamashiro of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, and opposing the new base being built in Henoko, Nago. ]
The demonstrators declared their opposition to the Henoko base, and called for the acquittal of the arrested and indicted Yamashiro and two other activists who were involved in the protest movement against the base being built in Henoko.
Participants in the demonstration marched to Trump Tower, calling for solidarity and passing out leaflets on an international signature campaign for Yamashiro and his co-defendants along the way.
About 40 people representing various peace organizations, including Veterans for Peace (VFP), attended the demonstration.
Participants met in front of the Mid-Manhattan Library and raised awareness for Okinawa’s current circumstances by holding up placards and banners with slogans to the effect of: “No U.S. bases in Okinawa,” “end U.S. militarism now,” and “save dugongs.”
Okinawa Peace Appeal representative Noriko Oyama of Nakijin Village, who now resides in New Jersey, said: “Since the symposium I attended in Baltimore in January which called for the closing of U.S. bases around the world, awareness for Okinawa has been spreading even throughout American NGOs. As someone living in the United States, from here on out I want to do all I can to spread the word.”
On February 24 in New York, once the demonstration has reached the front of Trump Tower, Okinawa Peace Appeal members call for Yamashiro’s acquittal and speak out against the Henoko base.
Juyeon Rhee, a member of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development based in New York, said, “It’s strange that the U.S. is increasing its military budget, while cutting the budgets for things like education and welfare.”
Furthermore, she voiced her desire to come together in solidarity with others to oppose U.S. military bases in Okinawa and South Korea, and such things that can provoke war.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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