October 7, 2026
On behalf of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, I write to inform you and others across Okinawa that we utterly condemn this latest heinous murder. We cannot bring back Anna Yagi’s life, but if there are any ways that we can support your and others’ efforts to see that Devin Ballard is tried and severely punished for his brutal crime, we will certainly do so.
Brutality is inherent to militaries and militarism. So too for militarily occupied communities and nations. One has to wonder how long it will take for the U.S. people and our government to learn that the lesson of our Declaration of Independence applies to all people: the presence of foreign military forces always result in the “abuses and usurpations’ of the occupied people.
And now the eight decade-old history of thousands of U.S. military crimes must surely and once again teach that the only way to ensure Okinawans safety and security is to oust the military bases.
With the loss of the Denny Tamaki as governor, the outrageous militarism of the Takaichi, and the coming Keen Sword 27 joint military exercises directed against China, when diplomacy would better serve the Taiwanese, Japanese, and US people, new strategies and creative actions are required of all of us. We trust that you and others in Okinawa will inform us of ways that we can take more concrete action in solidarity with your campaigning for the safety of the Okinawan people, the withdrawal of the occupying U.S. military forces, and for regional peace.
For the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, and with friendship and solidarity,
Joseph Gerson