More than 2,500 protesters gathered at the Okinawa civic center on December 22 to voice their opposition to recent sexual assaults committed by U.S. military service members stationed in the prefecture.
The rally, which drew crowds that spilled outside the venue, focused on holding both Japanese and U.S. governments accountable. Protesters passed a resolution demanding prevention of future incidents, formal apologies, and compensation for victims.
The demonstration came after the Okinawa Prefectural Government learned through media reports in June about two sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel since March. Despite an established 1997 agreement requiring the U.S. to report public safety incidents to Japanese authorities and local bodies, neither case was properly communicated to prefectural officials.
The protest was organized by a coalition of 21 women's groups, labor unions, and peace organizations from across Okinawa. Among the speakers was 22-year-old Sorane Sakihama, a Keio University student who previously attended a similar rally at age 13 following the 2016 murder and sexual assault of a woman by U.S. military personnel.
"Will we have to have children in junior and senior high schools now stand here again after another series of incidents a few years later? We will never let such things happen again," said Sakihama, representing younger generations at the protest.
The rally highlighted ongoing tensions over the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and renewed calls for stronger measures to prevent sexual violence by service members against local residents.