Following the call to action raised at the Kanagawa meeting of the November Palestine Solidarity Tour, ZENKO Kanto organized a half-day action on December 17, the final day of the Diet session, calling for solidarity with Palestine and protest against the Takaichi government.
A total of 77 people participated in the actions, which included protests at the Israeli and U.S. embassies, negotiations with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare demanding that pension funds not be used for genocide, and a free-speech protest action in front of the Prime Minister’s Office opposing the Takaichi government.
Protest Actions at the Israeli and U.S. Embassies
At the action in front of the Israeli Embassy, participants delivered bundles of short solidarity and protest messages collected on the streets.
At the U.S. Embassy, groups of twenty participants at a time approached the vicinity of the embassy and raised their voices in protest.
Negotiations with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
“Do Not Use Our Pensions for Genocide”
Approximately 50 people, including members of the Diet, participated in the meeting held inside the Diet building.
In response to repeated claims by ministry officials that they were “investing in accordance with the law to generate profits,” participants challenged them by insisting that, when pension funds are being used in connection with genocide against Palestinians, human rights must be prioritized over profit and such investments should be withdrawn.
After the negotiations, participants exchanged reflections and opinions, leading to lively and meaningful discussions.
In Front of the Prime Minister’s Office:
“Stop the War! Lively Action”
The action then moved to the front of the Prime Minister’s Office, where the “Stop the War! Lively Action” was held.
After powerful chants, messages of solidarity sent to ZENKO’s November initiatives were introduced, including messages from Aloush in Palestine, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and supporters in Taiwan.
This was followed by free speeches of up to two minutes per person.
Voices criticizing the Takaichi government’s statements about intervention in a Taiwan contingency, as well as anger toward the government and corporations that support Israel while refusing to recognize the State of Palestine, were delivered one after another toward the Prime Minister’s Office.
Based on this action, participants reaffirmed their commitment to continue actions that directly convey the voices of the people to the government.