Suffocating World Today Seeks for a Crack to Open　Report from the scene in the U.S. by Oogesa Tarou 1: Minneapolis

On the morning of May 25th, 2020, George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. A video showing a police officer’s knee digging into his neck and the light in his eye gradually fading away went viral on social network, which led to the riot. The police station in which the police officers who caused the incident were stationed was set on fire.

The repeated police violence against African Americans and the continued structure of discrimination for several generations; this pent-up emotion became #blacklivesmatter , and quickly turned into a protest that spread all over the US and now the whole world.

Ten days after the incident, Oogesa Tarou, a contemporary record writer headed over to Minneapolis, began recording the current state of America.

写真1: People praying for George Floyd at the site of the incident

“I can’t breathe”

While the people in Tokyo were gazing at the sky and waving at the Blue Impulse (Aircraft used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force), the people of Okinawa muttered, “If we’re encouraged by looking at fighter planes, medical staff in Okinawa would be full of energy every day”. Around that same time, large-scale protests against national security laws resumed in Hong Kong, and police stations were burning in Minneapolis. Different reactions for different events around the world. Chaos was spreading so much and it was hard to believe it was in the same era.

While protests in Minneapolis were being covered, many Japanese media used terms such as “mobs” and “riot”. At that moment, a curse was cast on these words, and the essential meaning of this protest is conveyed in a twisted manner. This is how I felt last year in Hong Kong and also in Okinawa where I currently live (although the Okinawa movement is completely non-violent).

As soon as the protesters are labeled as “mobs”, many Japanese pretend to be “neutral” on the topic and stop thinking altogether. They tend to only focus on the principle that illegal act is bad and shut off any thought process that leads to the nature of the story. While this is especially noticeable among Japanese people, many people do not understand that violence is a relative value (this also applies to beauty, but this is another story).

First of all, being "neutral" does not mean standing in the middle of the two opposites. When individuals and nations with asymmetrical power balance conflict one another, I feel the need to re-examine where the midpoint is. Can you even be “neutral” when it comes to racism? I want to end the era in which the word “neutral” is used to shift blame on others.

The same goes for the relativity of “violence”. It is easy to understand that fighting against robbers is self-defense, but fighting against “people who rob human rights” is not understood for some reason. The tendency to develop “both sides are the same” mindset just with a single night of “riot” fighting against history of violence and human rights violations caused by absolute power is problematic at most. Sadly, turning away from people who have been stepped on and are shouting “move your feet” and instead thinking, “angry people are the real problem, not what’s actually happening” is the reality of current Japan.

“Only leftists and the mob must be rampaging in Gwangju”

This is a line said by a character watching TV, from the movie “A Taxi Driver” that depicts the Gwangju incident. The taxi driver (played by Song Kang-ho) trembles with frustration which triggers him to return to Gwangju. He already knew in his mind that what he will see in Gwangju is neither “mobs” or “leftists”, but just normal civilians just like himself.

This overlaps with how I feel living in Okinawa.

“Activists in Takae and Henoko (Okinawa) belong to a certain group or have certain belief. They get paid on daily basis for doing this”

I myself took such statement for words four years ago. Stories about Chinese spies are still being told. However, once I visited the site and saw with my own eyes, my perception changed completely. Protesters were labeled as if they were aliens from outer space. They were, in fact, just individuals like anyone else. Each individual had their own motives and backgrounds and happened to gather in one place.

I realized the same thing in Hong Kong last year. Unique individuals are categorized into specific groups. Fake politicians labeling people and the media joins in on this. People speaking up for injustices of society and the current state of this country are always subject to manipulation of their image, and are cut off from society as foreign bodies and lose their voice. People have been screaming “I can't breathe”.

And this time, even president Trump has obviously contributed to it through his Twitter. He began labeling things that are against him per usual by saying “ANTIFA will be labeled as a terrorist organization”. ANTIFA is an abbreviation for Anti-fascist, which is anti-totalitarianism. It is merely a concept of belief and does not refer to a specific organization.

We all live in democratic country so we usually consider anti-totalitarianism like any other belief system; however, Trump advertised such belief as being an organized group. Fake news swapped the points around and blew “dog whistle” towards an easy-to-understand target (the dog whistle here is an Internet slang. It signals attack in a way that only certain people can see. Mainly used by racists, although it was way too obvious this time……).

The statement itself may be against the first amendment of the United States Constitution in the first place. Even if ANTIFA is defined as an “organization”, it is impossible under current US law to recognize a domestic organization as a terrorist organization.

But for some reason, Japanese “Netouyo” or Japanese Internet rightists gladly rode along this fake news. Diet members taking pictures next to a person wearing ANTIFA T-shirt was targeted. This is truly amusing. Around the same time, a Twitter post saying, “it’s like Tsuneo Watanabe (Editor-in-Chief of the Yomiuri Shimbun) recognizing anti-giants (baseball team) as a terrorist organization” went viral.

From an analytical point of view, black bloc is believed to have caused confusion during the initial stages of this “riot”. They are general group of anarchists, and they are troublemakers who appear in protests around the world, ride along, and repeat the destruction. Several videos tell this story.

Some videos show a Caucasian individual believed to be a part of the black bloc being caught by the black protestors and handed over to the police. Still, black bloc is an ambiguous existence that cannot be called an organization (we will touch on the existence of an instigator who stirs up demonstrations and creates chaos next time).
Going to Minneapolis
On May 29th, around when Trump was insinuating shooting down protesters on Twitter and then Twitter reported the post as violation of terms, I was on my way to Minneapolis traveling for two whole days from Nago to Naha, then Narita to Dallas.

Minneapolis.
This is where George Floyd was murdered by a police officer ten days ago.
People gathered around with messages against racism. People of various ethnic background of various generation was mourning his death. Music, dance, and flowers. It was peaceful sight which is rarely covered in Japanese media.

ミネアポリス。
10日前にジョージ・フロイドさんが警察に殺害された現場です。
レイシズムに対する抗議のメッセージを持ち寄り。様々な人種、そして世代の人々が彼の死を悼んでいました。
音楽、ダンス、そして花束。
日本ではあまり報道されることのない、平和的な光景でした。#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/0FCejMygGN

— 猪股東吾/大袈裟太郎 𝕆𝕆𝔾𝔼𝕊𝔸 𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕆 (@oogesatarou) June 3, 2020

I took the taxi from the airport to head to the location where George Floyd was murdered. On the taxi, the driver all of a sudden asked me “are you Chinese?” to which I answered, “I’m Japanese”. He then asked, “are Japanese language and Chinese language similar? Or different?” so I answered, “very different”. In the eyes a taxi driver in Minneapolis, there’s not much difference between Japan and China. This is understandable. With a bitter smile, I arrived the site in about 15 minutes.

The first thing I noticed was how quiet the neighborhood was. I was embarrassed of myself of thinking that the incident occurred in a ghetto neighborhood just from the overview of the story. The residential area looked as if Macaulay Culkin in the movie Home Alone would have lived in. No trash to be seen in the area.

I noticed that there were signs with the text “black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe” and paintings of George Floyd on windows and doors.

写真２: Message hung on houses near the scene

I see more and more of these texts as I get closer to the intersection where the incident occurred. I regret wearing long sleeved shirt in the hot weather over 30℃（86℉）. Civilians were occupying the area around 300m radius near the intersection of the grocery store “CUP FOODS” where the incident happened. The four roads leading up to the intersection was blocked by trucks parked on the road. The defense guards with their automatic rifles were standing by beside the trucks. Myself not used to seeing guns, this sight made me feel anxious.

写真３: Intersection was blocked by civilians

 Civilians guarding with automatic rifle

From what I’ve heard, the defense force was placed fearing retaliation from white supremacists. Many discriminatory movement have happened for the past few years, and white supremacists, or Trump supporters have acted in retaliation. They say it’s the same thing over and over again. In actuality, in the U.S., two people have already died when demonstrators were shot from a car and FBI has pointed out the possibility of further terrorist act.
Apart from the unfamiliar shiny weapon being nearby, the area had a sense of free region or territory like at a festival or a music festival. You hear music everywhere and the street was full of flowers, art, and messages. Break dancers spinning around, free drinks, free food, burgers and hot dogs were being prepared on the grill. The area was far more friendly and peaceful than expected.

写真5: People break dancing at the scene of the incident

 Mountain of flowers and message boards placed at the scene

 Many children were seen, perhaps to properly show the reality

Many resources were being distributed for free at the scene

A woman taking photos in front of the huge portrait of George Floyd at the scene

Many brought along their family members and children’s smile lit up the scene. I was also surprised that the people gathered consisted of not only black people but of various ethnic background. A huge portrait of George Floyd was displayed on the site of the incident and many flowers were placed beside it. People took turns sending prayers. Some took photos together.

There was a huge “Against Racism” text on the ground. The scene was full of smile, but it’s only been ten days. There was a sense of sadness behind these smiles. “I can’t breathe”. This was, of course, the last word of George Floyd but there are more to this for being shouted out loud. I wonder how many meanings are hidden in these twelve characters.
“I can’t breathe” written on a mask suggests many layers of ironic messages.

The current society itself can’t breathe. This wasn’t started from the corona virus. It was only exposed after the society became distorted from the virus.

I thought back to what my friend living in New York said when I visited him fifteen years ago.

“People who have been oppressed tend to listen to uplifting music. The oppressor tends to prefer dark and gloomy music”

Why are the people at the scene smiling? Why are they dancing along cheerful music? Perhaps dancing, singing, praying, and smiling may have been their only way to protest for the past few hundred years. They have been holding back until now.
A New Battle in the Era of Social Network Has Begun
History of being taken as a slave and being exploited. In order to understand this challenge, we must face its history.

The overwhelming power balance of the white supremacy based on wealth built by exploiting black people as slaves. They were “released” by being told “you are free from today” and was thrown into the governing structure that was already established. They were suddenly forced to join this hopelessly unfair game.

Is it really okay to call this current structure as “free” and “equal”, even if it’s considered equal by law? It shouldn’t be okay to dismiss it by leaving it up to self-accountability. It could be said that translating the phrase, “NO Justice NO Peace” being shouted as “without justice, there is no peace” is misleading at most. They are really saying “without fairness, there is no peace”.

This overlaps with the system in which Okinawan people are held. In 1972, when Okinawa was returned to the mainland, Japan had already finished the blue-ocean-type era experiencing reconstruction after the war. It was toward the end of high economic growth and the economic foundation had already been established. The returning Okinawa had no choice but to be at the end of the economical hierarchy. Most companies in Okinawa never experienced the period of high economic growth. They started from red ocean on top of having a risk factor of having the military base. I can’t help but to think this awareness is lacking in many Japanese people.

Going back to where it all began, it was 400 years ago that black people called out to police violence and Okinawans called out to stop further construction of the military base. This is not just a coincidence.

Colonialism that originated in the age of discovery. This is the beginning of racism. In order to justify colonialism, the invaders exploited the unscientific superstition of racism for their own good. This was also apparent in the Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea when I visited Korea last year. This was done by the Japanese empire in this case. Colonialists consider people of the target land as inferior and barbaric, making it a reason for invasion, and further justify slavery, exploitation, plundering, and even massacre. By defining the life of the subject as “light”, the soldiers won’t feel as guilty. Historically, colonialism and racism have been codependent.
Being in the distant past, some might think it’s ridiculous. However, it all connects to the present while still being cursed for the past 400 years. It’s already year 2020. The Japanese empire should have been abolished. We need to break this curse that has been cast by the people 400 years ago. The cursed are not the people being discriminated. It is us, the aggressor who dismiss the discriminatory foundation and benefit from it.

In addition, being silent or even participating in racism would be the same as admitting discrimination against one’s own attributes. If you think logically, as long as we allow discrimination, we are allowing it to be targeted to ourselves. In the end, racism would be like digging our own graves.

While being the top economic country, Japan thought to have laundered itself by establishing a disgraceful “honorable Caucasian” position, but why was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago happen in Japan and not Germany or Italy? Belonging to a race of color, we must once again think about the background.

The more cheerful their dance and songs are, it seemed the deeper the history of sadness is dug up. It was shivering. I forced myself to smile, looked up to the sky, and took a deep breath. The American sky is different from Japan or Okinawa. It was pale and vague color.

Some women called out “free drinks!” It’s unprofessional for a reporter to consume resources from the report subject, but I was thirsty from the long journey and the heat. I looked inside the cooler box.

They asked, “water or Gatorade?” and without intension, I replied, “Watergate?” and everyone clapped their hands and laughed. I have accidentally made a so-called American joke. Haha.

I was asked where I was from, and when I answered, “from Japan”, they once again burst out laughing. An elderly black woman who could be three times the size of me approached me with tears in her eye. She asked, “I want to hug you and thank you! But we have to watch out for COVID-19, so is it okay to shake hands with you?” I said, “of course” and we shook hands. Her hand was hard and rough, but warm and gentle. I could somehow imagine what kind of life she has been through. The warmth of this hand. I felt it was necessary to pass this onto the world.

 People blasting music and dancing near the scene where the murder occurred

Minneapolis, the scene where #GeorgeFlyod was killed.
The local star Prince’s song, Purple Rain was played on loud speaker.
Amazing variety of people struggle to change the society.

Reminds me of the time beyond was played in Hong Kong. Come to think of it, today (tomorrow in the US) would be 31 years after the Tiananmen incident.

ミネアポリス、#GeorgeFlyod さん殺害現場。
大音量で地元のスター、
Princeのパープルレインが流された。
驚くほどに多様な人々が、
社会を変えようと奮闘している。

昨年、香港でbeyondが流れた瞬間を思い出す。想えば今日(米国では明日)、
天安門事件から31年をむかえるのだ。#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/7OjBdBgUBy

— 猪股東吾/大袈裟太郎 𝕆𝕆𝔾𝔼𝕊𝔸 𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕆 (@oogesatarou) June 3, 2020

Many people placing flowers in front of the portrait of George Floyd

Someone started blasting “Purple Rain” by Prince. Needless to say, but a super star born in Minneapolis. People quickly became resolute, as if they were reminded of something. The anthem connects people, empowering the protest. I thought back to when “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies” by Beyond was played in Hong Kong last year.

Personally, these two songs reminded me of the dancer named Yuki Senba who retired the Asakusa Rockza. Twelve years ago, that day, I was working as a lighting crew and I was crying while lighting the stage. It was her last stage after twenty-one years of dancing. I felt my destiny that these two songs that are also important to my life is also played as anthems in Hongkong and Minneapolis; I sunk into the music for a while and then took another deep breath.

I left the site. It was before I checked into the hotel, so I was exhausted carrying around my suitcase. Counting on my luck, I decided to take a bus. As the bus was headed toward downtown, scenes of the aftermath of the protest and the military vehicle patrolling around the city stood out.

U.S. military vehicle patrolling downtown Minneapolis

However, that vehicle was something I was used to seeing, and tired of seeing in northern Okinawa where I live. It’s strange to face them in this city again after flying for two whole days......I felt sad that it even felt nostalgic.

After traveling to Okinawa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan for the past year, one common thing I felt was that the protests spread through the social media. I have been saying for the past few years, “the reason why social network is banned in many totalitarian countries is because the social network has the potential to defeat a dictator and it would be an ideal method to use in political movements”. For me, it felt like we have caught up on time and our era has finally reached the starting line.

It’s an era in which it’s hard to think of a protest without social network.

Furthermore, there’s another thing in common that is rarely pointed out; that is, there’s no clear leader. The online demonstration that forced the Japanese prosecution office bill to be abolished also had no clear leader. The same thing is happening in the current America. The possibility of a new type of protesting that starts from social media with no leader. I will continue following this on the front line. The suffocating world today seeks for light within.

Report, text, photo/Oogesa Tarou=Togo Inomata

(To be continued)

Profile
Oogesa Tarou/Real Name Togo Inomata 

 Real-time documentalist/contemporary record writer. Rapper, Rickshaw driver. Moved to Okinawa when Akie Abe caused an affair in Takae in 2016. Continued covering Takae and Henoko from the viewpoint of the perpetrator, Yamatonchu (mainland people). Known as “the man reporting inside the restriction line” during the report on Osprey crash incident and Kagoike family. Reporting in the front line of the East such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Okinawa and fighting against the era of “fake news”.

This article is a translation of Taro's serialization in Shueisha.

Translated by Hiroko Matsuda
窒息しそうな世界は今、風穴を求めている
大袈裟太郎のアメリカ現地レポート①ミネアポリス
https://shinsho-plus.shueisha.co.jp/news/9433

通信1982