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Abe and his ministers give anti-foreigner rallies tacit green light

Freedom of hate speech: Members of the anti-Korean Zaitokukai rightist group demonstrate in March outside Tsuruhashi Station in Osaka. Tsuruhashi is a largely Korean district that straddles the city's Ikuno and Tennoji wards. | KYODO

Aug 19, 2013

To the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe:

I read with sadness The Japan Times of July 11. In it, an article ("Politicians silent on curbing hate speech" by Eric Johnston) spoke of the demonstrations taking place, largely in Osaka and Tokyo, which demonize foreign residents in Japan [and in particular Koreans] and openly speak of their murder.

However, my sadness turned to alarm when I read of the middling, noncommittal response of the ministers of your government.

Abe and his ministers give anti-foreigner rallies tacit green light

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