Anti-War Up-Charges Against Anti-Stryker Activists Dropped

DATE: DECEMBER 11, 2003

CHARGES AGAINST ANTI-STRYKER ACTIVISTS DROPPED

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

On Thursday, December 11, 2003, the Prosecution dropped charges against all

seven activists who were arrested at public meetings for carrying signs

protesting the Army's Stryker Brigade.

"This is a win for the people and the 'äina, and vindicates our right to

dissent," said Kyle Kajihiro, one of the defendants and Program Director for
the

American Friends Service Committee in Hawai'i. "Arrest and intimidation only

strengthened public opposition to the Army's destructive Stryker force."

Terri Keko'olani Raymond with DMZ-Hawai'i / Aloha 'Äina said "We have a
right

to raise our criticisms and objections in an environment free of fear."

Kajihiro added "The environmental review process should be invalidated due
to

the Army's gross violations of civil rights and environmental regulations.

The Army and certain politicians predetermined that there would be a Stryker

brigade in Hawai'i despite its harmful impacts on health, culture and the

environment, and they tried to use the environmental impact statement to
justify

their decision."

Gwen Kim, a member of 'Ohana Koa / Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific said

"The Stryker brigade represents the largest military expansion threat to

Hawai'i since World War II, and people need to know."

She added "We had to take a stand. If today the military can get away with

saying 'no signs', what's next?"

The Army banned signs at the first two public meetings for its proposed

Stryker Brigade, then reversed its decision for the third meeting. On
October 28,

Kyle Kajihiro, Steve Tayama, Gwen Kim and Bokdong Yoon were arrested at the

Honolulu Country Club for carrying signs into an Army public meeting. The

following night, Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, Terri Keko'olani Raymond and Pete
Doktor were

arrested for carrying signs into an Army public meeting at Helemano

Plantation.

Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, a reknown Kanaka Maoli physician said "We're relieved

that they have respected the fundamental human right to freedom of speech,

assembly and protest."

He added "We continue to protest the Army Stryker Brigade and the

militarization of our homeland. The struggle goes on. Step up. Don't be
afraid."



-PAU-



P.S. The fundraising event 5:00 - 9:00 pm on Sat, 12/13/03 at the Center for

Hawaiian Studies is still on! Come celebrate our win and support ongoing

organizing efforts to stop the stryker invasion.



MAHALO NUI TO OUR ATTORNEYS WAYSON CHOW AND ERIC SEITZ FOR STEPPING UP TO
OUR

DEFENSE. Also mahalo to Bonita Chang, Carrie Ann Shirota and Marty Townsend

for their help with the case. Mahalo to all the people who came to our

support! Ku'e military expansion. Ku'e racist attacks on Hawaiians. E kupa'a
i ke

aloha 'äina!

"redvet" wrote in message
news:vtile0rvm4bnb3@corp.supernews.com...
> DATE: DECEMBER 11, 2003
>
> CHARGES AGAINST ANTI-STRYKER ACTIVISTS DROPPED
>
> THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
>

Just curious. Do you use Mao's little red book or Stalin's Blood Red Book?

It's a freeking truck fer Christ's sake!

--
Dave Thompson
(The Other)

>the Prosecution dropped charges against all
>
>seven activists who were arrested at public meetings for carrying signs
>

redvet,

Sure they dropped the charges! The officials have a lot more important things
to do than mess around with a bunch of pansy lightweight sign-carrying
irritants (aka pests). Damn! redvet, you go right ahead and celebrate your
right to dissent. Meanwhile, the bullies (aka government/officials/military)
will risk everything (with some things a bit more potent and lethal than signs)
to preserve your freedoms. You should be ashamed and embarassed at your feeble
protest.

They will know you by your determination and resolve. Where is the sacrifice
for your cause? Whew! it must be hell standing there with a sign. You poor
babies must be totally exhausted from your herculean effort. I can only imagine
the emotional outpouring of gratitude when your troops return from protest.
Gawdamnit! redvet, I'm welling up here.

- LMAO

Greg

"redvet" wrote in message
news:vtile0rvm4bnb3@corp.supernews.com...
> DATE: DECEMBER 11, 2003
>
> CHARGES AGAINST ANTI-STRYKER ACTIVISTS DROPPED


I'm so pleased for you all. I guess this means you can all go back to your
dangerously wilful, kick-ass chalk-ins on the sidewalk.


>
> THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES........


............to recruit new members....

>> THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES........
>
>
>...........to recruit new members....
>
>

Saigon Sal,

- LMAO

Best Regards

Greg

>
> redvet,
>
> Sure they dropped the charges! The officials have a lot more important
things
> to do than mess around with a bunch of pansy lightweight sign-carrying
> irritants (aka pests). Damn! redvet, you go right ahead and celebrate your
> right to dissent. Meanwhile, the bullies (aka
government/officials/military)
> will risk everything (with some things a bit more potent and lethal than
signs)
> to preserve your freedoms. You should be ashamed and embarassed at your
feeble
> protest.
>
> They will know you by your determination and resolve. Where is the
sacrifice
> for your cause? Whew! it must be hell standing there with a sign. You poor
> babies must be totally exhausted from your herculean effort. I can only
imagine
> the emotional outpouring of gratitude when your troops return from
protest.
> Gawdamnit! redvet, I'm welling up here.
>
> - LMAO
>
> Greg

You won't be joining us then at the fund raiser?....redvet

(Aloha Kakou - While the prosecutors dropped the charges against the 'A'ole

Stryker 7, there is still much work to be done to stop the Stryker invasion.

Come to celebrate this win and let's rededicate ourselves to the struggle
ahead.

Mahalo. kk)



Support the Fight to:

Demilitarize Hawaii - Keep the Stryker Brigade OUT!

Drop the Charges Against the A'ole Stryker 7!



HELP RAISE FUNDS TO STOP THE STRYKER INVASION

Sat, Dec. 13 from 5 - 9 pm

Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH

On Dole Street next to Kanewai Park

Prepare for Upcoming Trials Dec. 16 and Jan. 22

Hear speakers including some of the A'ole Stryker 7

Enjoy jazz performances by:

Keahi Conjugacion Del Negro

with Dan Del Negro & Steve Jones

Also music by Streetdogs

Poetry readings

Heavy pupus and drinks will be provided

Suggested Donation: $20 for Stryker 7 Defense Fund

Keep the Stryker Brigade Out!

What is a Stryker?

The Stryker is a 20-ton urban assault vehicle, part of the "New Army" and

built to be a highly deployable 8-wheeled armored tank. Because it is

lightweight, it can travel much faster than a conventional tank, up to 60
miles per hour

and can carry a maximum of 11 Army personnel.

Hawaii has been chosen to field one of 6 Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and

approximately 300 such vehicles could arrive here, scheduled to be
headquartered

at Schofield Barracks. Just one brigade team costs taxpayers a whopping $1.5

billion.

These assault vehicles will be deployed against the people of the Middle

East, the Philippines, Korea, Okinawa, etc. where ever the U.S. military is
sent

to put down resistance to U.S. dominance of the world.

What does this mean for us?

In addition to the 200,000 acres of land they already control, the military

now needs to grab 23,000 more acres at Pohakuloa on the Big Island, and
1,400

more acres near Schofield Barracks to support Stryker training. With one
hand,

the Navy gave back 29,000 acres of tainted land that is Kaho'olawe, while

with the other hand the Army is trying to take away more land.

We already have much experience with the military's track record on care for

the land: 26% of Kaho'olawe's surface has still not been cleared of

ordnance; the Marines themselves have declared that past use of leased land
in Waikane

Valley has made it too dangerous for their own troops to train there.

The Army Stryker Brigade, according to its own environmental impact

statement, will have "significant but mitigable long term impacts" on water
quality,

air quality, soil (due to erosion and wildfires), endangered species of
plants

and animals, etc.

Toxic chemicals like RDX that can cause cancer, TNT an explosive

compound, and arsenic that affects the nervous system, will be released into
the

environment.

Dust emissions caused by off-road vehicle use will have a net increase of

780 tons per year at Schofield and 429 tons per year at Pohakuloa. This will

negatively affect those with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Historic sites may be destroyed, and access to the land for hunting and

other cultural practices will be denied.

Resistance to the Stryker Brigade Plans

Senator Dan Inouye considers the Stryker Brigade an already done deal. The

government hopes to bribe us with the promise of more federal money, jobs,
and

income. But at the recent hearings around the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement regarding the Strykers, the vast majority of the people attending
stated

a resounding opposition to the Strykers and U.S. military policy around the

world. In fact, the military tried to shut out the voice of opposition by

having 7 people arrested outside 2 of their hearings. The charges against
these 7

must be dropped. Come out to the trials: Dec. 16 1:30 at District Court and

Jan. 22 in Wahiawa.



Organized by:

A group of friends who came together around the fight to end the war in Iraq

and to stop U.S. militarism and expansion throughout the world. One of our

activities is to help raise funds to defend the A'ole Stryker 7.

>You won't be joining us then at the fund raiser?....redvet

Nope,

But you better check this out:

Congress pushing for larger military

"Fifty-four of the 61 members of the House Armed Services Committee, joined by
the top Republican and Democrat on the House
Intelligence Committee, have sent President Bush a letter urging him to expand
the U.S. combat force."

http://tinyurl.com/yw9n

"GrgLnsctt" wrote in message
news:20031212161435.15374.00000778@mb-m04.news.cs.com...
> >You won't be joining us then at the fund raiser?....redvet
>
> Nope,
>
> But you better check this out:
>
> Congress pushing for larger military
>
> "Fifty-four of the 61 members of the House Armed Services Committee,
joined by
> the top Republican and Democrat on the House
> Intelligence Committee, have sent President Bush a letter urging him to
expand
> the U.S. combat force."
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yw9n

If they had done that a year ago we wouldn't have the problems we got now.
My understanding is that administration is fighting those efforts. Perhaps
Halliburtion could help - for a price..redvet

>If they had done that a year ago we wouldn't have the problems we got now.
>My understanding is that administration is fighting those efforts. Perhaps
>Halliburtion could help - for a price..redvet

redvet,

Rummy is saying he doesn't want a draft. He's lying his ass off (propaganda).
Rummy's BS is politcal cover for Bush's re-election. If Congress says expand
the military it will most certainly mean the return of the draft. draft + war +
college campuses = ? (you fill in the blank)

Greg

"GrgLnsctt" wrote in message
news:20031212170810.15459.00000732@mb-m03.news.cs.com...
> >If they had done that a year ago we wouldn't have the problems we got
now.
> >My understanding is that administration is fighting those efforts.
Perhaps
> >Halliburtion could help - for a price..redvet
>
> redvet,
>
> Rummy is saying he doesn't want a draft. He's lying his ass off
(propaganda).
> Rummy's BS is politcal cover for Bush's re-election. If Congress says
expand
> the military it will most certainly mean the return of the draft. draft +
war +
> college campuses = ? (you fill in the blank)
>
> Greg