U.S. 7th Fleet flagship enters Osaka Port

Ignoring a local assembly decision calling for civil ports to be only used for peaceful purposes, the Blue Ridge (flagship of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet) made a call at Osaka Port on April 14. About 200 peace activists gathered at a park near the port's central pier and shouted "Go home U.S. warship!"

Since 1994, when the Osaka City Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution stating that Osaka Port must be used for peaceful purposes, this is the fourth port visit by U.S. military ships, and the first by a flagship.

Protesters from the Osaka Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the Osaka Council against A and H Bombs (Osaka Gensuikyo), and trade unions, including the dock workers' union, marched in demonstration against the port call which took place two days before the submission of wartime bills to the Diet.

Osaka Gensuikyo director Shinoura Ichiro said, "The Osaka city government is to blame for allowing the flagship's entry to the port."

Expressing determination to fight against the contingency legislation, the dock workers' union leader said, "We don't need any military ships at our workplace." (end)