On this day in 1970, a spontaneous uprising against U.S. military occupation broke out in Koza, Okinawa, Japan after an American drunk driver struck a local pedestrian. Approximately 60 Americans and 27 Okinawans were injured, and dozens of cars with American license plates were torched.

Following Japan's defeat in World War II, the country was occupied by Allied forces and governed under martial law. While most of Japan regained its independence in April 1952, the Okinawa Prefecture was to remain under U.S. military occupation for another twenty years.

Prior to the events of December 20th, three Americans had been acquitted via court martial after striking and killing an Okinawa civilian. This incident fueled the growing discontent of Okinawans with the standard status of forces that exempted U.S. servicemen from Okinawan justice.

On December 20th, 1970, a drunk U.S. serviceman struck an Okinawan pedestrian in the city of Koza. A crowd quickly surrounded the car and the policemen who had arrived, demanding that this incident not also be swept under the rug.

When American MPs arrived and attempted to pull the driver away, the protest turned violent, with thousands gathering to try to prevent the driver from leaving. By the end of the night, dozens of cars with American license plates had been torched and approximately 60 Americans and 27 Okinawans had been injured.

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  • Moss [they/them]
    ·
    9 months ago

    I have approximately 19 hours before my exam tomorrow. I have 8 hours of lectures to watch (at 2 time speed, there are 16 hours total). I have never seen about half of these lectures because I didn't show up. So essentially I must learn a semester's worth of material in less than 24 hours. Lol lmao

    • Moss [they/them]
      ·
      9 months ago

      This is the third time I've done this in the past week

      • FumpyAer [any, comrade/them]
        ·
        9 months ago

        Are you severely depressed or something? If so, get some help. If not, show up to classes...

        And if you seriously don't value your degree this much, don't waste money on an overpriced American education.

        Sorry for assuming but the point still kinda stands.

        • Moss [they/them]
          ·
          9 months ago

          Are you severely depressed or something?

          Yes lol

          don't waste money on an overpriced American education.

          I'm not American

          • Frank [he/him, he/him]
            ·
            9 months ago

            I'm sorry, yo. I struggled through college with untreated bipolar and ADHD and it was nightmarish. If you have access to mental health care please, please try to get help.

    • 2Password2Remember [he/him]
      ·
      9 months ago

      i will never understand why people enroll in courses and then don't show up to the lectures

      Death to America