Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Several hundred students from the Japanese radical Federation of Self-Managed Students (ZENGAKUREN) protested in front of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on Saturday voicing their outrage over the massacre and starvation of Palestinian civilians caused by the Israeli military occupation, as well as criticizing what they described as “America’s confrontational attitude toward China.”

The protesters distributed leaflets denouncing the American President Donald Trump and the remarks made by US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth during the recent Asian Security Summit. He stated that Japan would be an “important country” in the event of a military confrontation with China over Taiwan. The protesters argued that the United States’ increasing military presence in Japan poses a serious threat to peace in the region.

The demonstrators also showed their support for the protesters in Los Angeles who are working to prevent the deportation of foreigners by American immigration agents. They view this situation as a violation of human rights and believe it is a global issue that requires international solidarity.

Hundreds of riot police attempted to control the marchers, causing stampedes each time the protesters moved closer to the U.S. Embassy in the area. The police altered the demonstration route, preventing the demonstrators from following their originally planned path.

A journalist had his cell phone crushed during the stampede. A female student participating in the demonstration fell after being restrained by a police officer. She was subsequently arrested, and the protesters demanded her immediate release.