Over 5,000 Japanese people have signed a petition to remove a public monument in the U.S. commemorating women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II.

The petition was set up by a man identified as Yasuko R, who claims the Japanese military's involvement has recently been proven false. He calls for the monument in Palisades Park, New Jersey to be removed because it not only states false history but insults Japanese people’s ancestors.

Two delegations of Japanese officials visited Palisades Park earlier this month asking for the monument to be removed, but the local authority demurred, saying it reflects historic facts and concrete data.