Stryker protest success; Army announcement today

DMZ-Hawaii reported yesterday that the protest against the Army's proposed Stryker brigade in Hawaii was a success, including the delivery of the Community Impact Statement. Also, the Army is planning a press conference today to announce its decision on the Strykers; another protest is being held.

The Advertiser reports:

About 100 people opposed to the Stryker brigade, including the group DMZ Hawai'i Aloha Aina, yesterday delivered a 40-page-plus "Community Impact Statement" to congressional offices here, criticizing the Army plan and environmental impact statement.
"After reviewing the information contained in the Army's Stryker EIS and listening to the concerns of our community, we conclude that the Stryker brigade would be a disaster for the people and the environment of Hawai'i," the group's preamble states.
According to the group, the military controls 34 percent of the land in Hawai'i; its activities have resulted in significant pollution over the years, and a Stryker brigade would add to that.
If the Stryker brigade goes forward, said Ikaika Hussey, a DMZ Hawai'i spokesman, the group will continue to oppose it. "We're going to fight this thing," he said.

And the Star-Bulletin also has a Stryker story, with this photo from yesterday's protest, with upside down Hawaiian flags symbolizing a nation in distress:

Aloha Kakou

Mahalo to all who came out to the 'A'ole Stryker Demonstration at the Federal Bldg in Honolulu today! The statement of No Strykers was made loud and clear. A delegation delivered our community impact statement, a document eflecting the voices of resistance of many people from the affected communities, to the congressional delegation.

It was a powerful march and rally with around 75 people, including all ages from kupuna to keiki and representation from diverse communities and organizations including Wai'ahole, Wai'anae, Waimanalo, Kahuku, Haleiwa, Kaneohe, Hilo, Nation of Hawai'i, Ohana Koa, Ka Pakaukau, Kahea, NION, Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, UH student activists, Refuse and Resist! and others. There were statements of solidarity from Hilo, Vieques, Puerto Rico and the Military Toxics Project.

The chanting was energetic and the signs, banners, flags and kahili made a strong visual statement. A group of Kanaka Maoli men did a ha'a (Kanaka Maoli ritual challenge) in front of the federal building, and a group of poets and theater performers did street theater about the stryker threat.

After pule and chanting to fire up the group, we marched from 'Iolani palace down Mililani street, taking up a lane. When we got to the federal bldg, the security threatened us with arrest if people brought signs past the sidewalk. But the group pressed forward until we controlled the entire area in front of the cylindrical barriers as our stage. There were no arrests.

Our 'ohana in Hilo held a demonstration today in solidarity with the Honolulu action.

NEWSFLASH!

We have learned that the Army will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce its decision on the Strykers. We will protest!

Wednesday, July 7, 2004
at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
at Fort Shafter gate (the one facing Moanalua freeway)

Please come to the Fort Shafter to picket against the Stryker and the impending Army decision. We may send a delegation on to the base to deliver our statement. We plan to only picket for around an hour and a half.

If you are interested in caravaning there, call 542-3668. Or you can probably find on street parking in the Moanalua residential area just beyond the base.

Tell the world that the Army's public participation was a farce and that our community opposes the Strykers.

Protect the 'Aina
Protect the People
Stop the STrykers!

Kyle Kajihiro
DMZ-Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina
2426 O'ahu Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 988-6266
Email: kkajihiro@afsc.org

Posted: Wed - July 7, 2004 at 08:46 AM

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Stryker protest success; Army announcement today

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