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Honolulu Says Stop the Occupation

Submitted by davidswanson on Sun, 2008-03-23 15:26.

At 2pm about 20 supporters of World Can't Wait and AFSC-Hawai`i gathered at the front of the Army Recruiting Station on Kapiolani Blvd chanting: "Murder, Rape, Torture, War! That's What they're Recruiting for!" Several went into the recruiting station to deliver the eviction notice. Two 3'x4' eviction notices were taped to the front window, along with color photos of Iraqi war victims. Activists then sat down in front of the station's door, effectively closing it, while others chalked the sidewalk and held signs along the street. The Marine Recruiting Station less than a block away locked their doors and turned off their lights in an effort to escape similar attention.

Channels 5, 8 and 9 covered the action and there was good coverage on the 5pm, 6pm, and 10pm news that evening. They even changed the coverage at the various news times. One channel carried an excellent interview with Darlene Rodrigues, whose cousin and good friend was killed in Iraq. Another channel added a piece on the "cost" of the war in money and lives. The 10pm news added coverage of actions in D.C. and San Francisco. One station ended by announcing that the activists would be back on April 19th to enforce the eviction notice. And we'll be there! Mark your calendars!

More than 50 people joined a silent candlelight vigil organized by MoveOn in front of Honolulu Hale that evening.

On Kauai about 60 people gathered in front of the U.S. Army recruiting Office on Kuhio Highway and were greeted with honks of support from the pau hana crowd. (Kauai's newspaper, the Kauai Garden Island News, also carried one of the best print media articles in Hawai`i that we've seen.)

On Maui protesters stood at the entrance to Maui Community College in Kahului to hold signs against the war. Someone was even wearing an orange jumpsuit (see photo).

Across the U.S., in cities and towns large and small, the 19th was marked with direct action, vigils and signholdings. More than 200 people were arrested. Streets were shut down and lockdowns happened at the offices of some of the major war profiteers. Many groups held actions at recruiting centers. For detailed accounts of some of what happened check out the World Can't Wait website. The events in the SF Bay Area and Washington D.C., in particular, reflect an increased spirit of defiance and resistance.

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