November 15, 2015
In protest against the government’s arrogant move to construct a new U.S. base in Nago’s Henoko district in Okinawa, the student group SEALDs on November 14 held rallies in Okinawa and the three major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.
In Okinawa, SEALDs Ryukyu organized a rally in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab which adjoins the base construction site. The protesters chanted in rhythm, “This is what democracy looks like!” and “Protect the sea of Henoko!”
Using a microphone, a 21-year-old student at Meio University in Nago City said that the base construction matters a lot to people in not only Nago and Okinawa, but also the rest of Japan. A 19-year-old student at Okinawa International University in Ginowan City criticized the Abe government for pushing forward with the construction project in defiance of strong local opposition. He said, “Mr. Abe, this country is not yours. It is the people gathered here that represent Japan’s democracy!” and received enthusiastic applause.
In central Japan, a rally organized by SEALDs Tokai took place near JR Nagoya Station. Braving the rain, more and more people joined the protest rally over time and eventually 3,500 people filled the station square. This was the SEALDs’ largest gathering in Nagoya. A 24-year-old SEALDs member talked about her first visit to Henoko last week, and said that anti-base opposition parties in Okinawa had joined hands and beaten pro-base candidates in a series of elections. She called on opposition parties to work together in elections across Japan in order to bring down the Abe government.
Dietmembers of four opposition parties including Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo took part in the rally. Shii said, “The future belongs to young people. Let’s work together to establish a new government committed to defending Japan’s constitutionalism, democracy, and pacifism.”
Past related articles:
> SEALDs to foreign journalist: Opposition parties should cooperate in elections to repeal war legislation: [October 29, 2015]
> Scholars and students in joint symposium resolve to abolish war legislation [October 26, 2015]
In Okinawa, SEALDs Ryukyu organized a rally in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab which adjoins the base construction site. The protesters chanted in rhythm, “This is what democracy looks like!” and “Protect the sea of Henoko!”
Using a microphone, a 21-year-old student at Meio University in Nago City said that the base construction matters a lot to people in not only Nago and Okinawa, but also the rest of Japan. A 19-year-old student at Okinawa International University in Ginowan City criticized the Abe government for pushing forward with the construction project in defiance of strong local opposition. He said, “Mr. Abe, this country is not yours. It is the people gathered here that represent Japan’s democracy!” and received enthusiastic applause.
In central Japan, a rally organized by SEALDs Tokai took place near JR Nagoya Station. Braving the rain, more and more people joined the protest rally over time and eventually 3,500 people filled the station square. This was the SEALDs’ largest gathering in Nagoya. A 24-year-old SEALDs member talked about her first visit to Henoko last week, and said that anti-base opposition parties in Okinawa had joined hands and beaten pro-base candidates in a series of elections. She called on opposition parties to work together in elections across Japan in order to bring down the Abe government.
Dietmembers of four opposition parties including Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo took part in the rally. Shii said, “The future belongs to young people. Let’s work together to establish a new government committed to defending Japan’s constitutionalism, democracy, and pacifism.”
Past related articles:
> SEALDs to foreign journalist: Opposition parties should cooperate in elections to repeal war legislation: [October 29, 2015]
> Scholars and students in joint symposium resolve to abolish war legislation [October 26, 2015]
