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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

30,000 people rally against U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Chants against making Yokosuka the homeport for a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on July 9 echoed across a park near the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

About 30,000 protesters took part in a rally under the slogan, "Stop deploying the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Yokosuka! Withdraw the agreement on U.S. military realignment!"

On behalf of the organizer, the president of the National Federation of Traders and Producers Organizations (Zenshoren) Kokubun Minoru emphasized that it was the largest national rally after the final agreement on the U.S. military realignment, and called for more struggle to prevent Japan from being turned into a U.S. attack stronghold by the deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in his speech (see separate item) revealed deceptions by the Japanese and U.S. governments claming the "safety" of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and pointed out how dangerous the U.S. military realignment is.

Yamazaki Masanori whose wife was robbed and beaten to death by a U.S. sailor said, "How scared she was! How desperately she wished to live! Whenever I think of her, I want revenge." His remark moved participants to tears.

Yamazaki said, "She was killed because a U.S. military base exists in Yokosuka. I want the U.S. base removed so no more victims like my wife may emerge."

Representatives of anti-military base movements in Okinawa and Iwakuni expressed their opposition to the U.S. military realignment.

Sano Shigeri, who participated in the rally with her three children from Yokohama City, said, "I got encouraged by such a big rally held for the first time in 22 years in Yokosuka. To protect my children, I reject wars and the stationing here of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier."
- Akahata, July 11, 2006