Okinawa, Japan — Kareem El, an African American former United States Marine Corps captain, was body-slammed by U.S. military police in Okinawa, Japan, after refusing to show ID, a legal right for civilians. He later challenged their authority, forcing the officers to release him.
The encounter happened in a crowded entertainment district and was captured on video by a friend, according to Atlanta Black Star. The 32-year-old was handcuffed, slammed to the ground, and shouted at, despite not breaking any law. The footage quickly went viral after being shared on his brother’s Instagram.
In the video, El calmly questioned the officers. “You have no right to detain me,” he said, pointing out that he was no longer under military rules. The MPs insisted on jurisdiction, but when El asked to be handed over to Japanese police, they eventually removed his handcuffs and let him leave.
El’s brother shared that Kareem was in Japan for business, promoting a new social media app. He noted that most Black men in the area are active-duty service members under strict curfew, which likely led to the confusion. As a former Marine with multiple honors, El was wrongly profiled as active-duty.
The incident drew widespread online attention, with many condemning the officers’ actions as excessive. Stars & Stripes reports the U.S. military is investigating, and solo patrols in Okinawa have been paused. Commenters highlighted the overreach and called the body slam unnecessary.
Kareem El is a Howard University graduate, the son of a decorated Marine, and now a CEO building a social platform. His brother says full video footage will show he committed no crime and was targeted solely because of mistaken identity.
