To the U.S.military vehicles coming out of the base, a protestor held a placard that said, “BLACK LIVES MATTER.” Some U.S. marines on the truck bed found it and waved back with a smile. Most of the black Americans respond to this sign, and not a small number of white Americans also give a V sign. A movement to eliminate discrimination against black people in the U.S. has been spread to Okinawa because there are many U.S. soldiers in Okinawa.
Over twenty thousand U.S. Marines are stationed in Okinawa. It is often said that the marines have a lower status than the the air force, the army, or the navy. Their mission is “break-through”, landing on a battlefield before anyone else does with much higher life-threatening risks than that of any other branches of the military forces. Thus, many lives of marines were lost in Korea, Vietnam, or Iraq. Many of them were recruited in poor neighbourhoods in the U.S. to earn “living”
Black soldiers who have newly arrived at Henoko shoot a questioning look at Okinawans protesting against the military bases, but after a while, they show a concern for the protestors. The situation of Uchinanchu (indigenous people in Okinawa) who have been put down and marginalized by the government of Japan may overlap with the ordinary life of black people in the States. We want to protest in solidarity with the black people who are more sensitive to “discrimination” than anyone, telling them that Okinawa has also been discriminated by the government of Japan with an iron fist.
(In front of Camp Schwab Gate）
Under the strong sun, about 20 citizens resumed the sit-in at 8:30 a.m., declaring their will of protest. After having been removed by the riot police, and the construction vehicles entered the gate, they marched in front of the gate and chanted slogans, “Stop unnecessary construction of a military base” and “Use our tax for measures agaisnt the coronavirus, not for construction of a military base.” Construction material was delivered three times from the morning through the afternoon, and a total 239 vehicles went into the base. Mr. Nakamura (aged 64 years) who participates every day in the protest said suffering from the hot weather, “I have relocated to Okinawa to participate in the protest. I cannot stay at home although it is hot. I want to delay the construction, even for a second, together with my peers.”
(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier）
Carriers could not come alongside the pier due to big waves, and soil/sand brought in from the quarry has been added to the temporary storage place in the pier.
About 20 citizens continued the protest at the entry and the exit of the pier. 777 dump trucks delivered soil/sand.
(Motobu Shiokawa Pier）
The carriers could not come alongside the pier due to big waves, consequently no work was done for this day as well as yesterday.
Number of dump trucks to date and percentage against the total
The estimation calculated on the basis of the number of ruckloads serves only as a reference.
Number of dump trucks which made delivery from December 2018 to the end of December 2019 114,601(1.39%)
| 13（Sat） | 15（Mon） | 16（Tue） | 17（Wed） | 18（Thr） | 19（Fri） | |
| Awa | 0 | 691 | 782 | 804 | 1016 | 0 |
| Shiokawa | 0 | 319 | 285 | 122 | 0 | 0 |
| Number of dump trucks ※ |
Weightt of earth/sand
※① |
Converted to volume
※② |
Volume per Total
※③ |
| 186,153 | 930,765ｔ | 465,383㎥ | 2.257% |
