Anti-War Up - Stryker Protesters plead not guilty

http://starbulletin.com/2003/11/21/news/story12.html
Friday, November 21, 2003


Stryker protesters
plead not guilty



The defense attorney alleges
their arrest is a free-speech violation

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

Three protesters arrested last month at a public hearing on the Army's
proposed Stryker combat brigade pleaded not guilty yesterday in Wahiawa
District Court.

Attorney Wayson Chow entered the plea on behalf of Kekuni Blaisdell, a
native Hawaiian community leader, Terri Kekoolani-Raymond and Pete Doktor.
All three are charged with second-degree criminal trespass and were released
after posting $250 bail.

The three were arrested Oct. 29 at the Helemano Plantation outside Wahiawa.
The hearing was the second of a series of meetings held statewide by the
Army to obtain public comment on the environmental impact of basing a
Stryker brigade in Hawaii.

The Army plans to acquire more land on the Big Island and occupy more land
at Schofield Barracks to accommodate 310 eight-wheeled, 19-ton Stryker
combat vehicles.

At yesterday's hearing, Chow asked the court to dismiss the charges or
reduce bail.

"It's very clear the only alleged wrongful act was carrying signs into a
public hearing at Helemano Plantation," Chow said. The arrest is a clear
violation of constitutional free-speech rights, he said.

District Judge Clarence Pacarro denied the motion without prejudice, meaning
Chow can raise it again later, and returned bail to Blaisdell,
Kekoolani-Raymond and Doktor with the condition they appear for their trial
on Jan. 22.

Outside the courtroom, Blaisdell said their arrest was a violation of their
civil rights to free expression and protest. He and other protesters were at
the hearing to speak out against the "militarization of our kanaka maoli
homeland."

"The Army already has taken our lands and destroyed them, including
Kahoolawe, Makua (Valley), Waikane Valley and Pearl Harbor," Blaisdell said.
"The proper thing for the U.S. is to withdraw, but instead, they are taking
more of our land, destroying our land and arresting us when we protest."

Doktor, who received an honorable discharge from the Army and is now a
public school substitute teacher, said he feels an obligation to speak out
about how the Army is destroying the environment.

His students are concerned about damage to the environment but feel they are
not being heard. "I felt it's my responsibility to say something on behalf
of the youth."

Kekoolani-Raymond called the arrests "ridiculous" and said the protesters
were holding "educational signs."

Charges against four people arrested at the first Stryker meeting in Salt
Lake on Oct. 28 were earlier reduced to simple trespass. Trial is set for
Dec. 16 in Honolulu District Court.

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