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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Bugger my life, 10 months of waiting later and the NHS finally choose to call about my blood tests for HRT while I'm out Christmas shopping.
There were people at home, but they might as well've been a chocolate teapot for all they could help in the circumstances what with not having a clue about anything going on an' all.
The NHS would've been able to reach me on my mobile if they hadn't lost the number for the third time this year.
There's a letter coming in the post now though. And I'm happy that I'm closer to getting my anticistamines/antiboyotics/titty skittles/[other joke name for oestrogen].