Ige denounces threats against state employees, officials

Gov. David Ige urged people to remain civil during the ongoing TMT standoff after calling out threats and harassment against state employees.

At a press conference today in Honolulu, Ige and state Attorney General Clare Connors highlighted a series of social media posts that urged violence against employees and officials involved in the state’s efforts to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea.

Connors criticized language used in some social media comments that “falsely characterize law enforcement as ‘out to get people,’” saying that language leads to more dangerous rhetoric.

In particular, Connors pointed to an image circulating on social media offering a $5,000 bounty for the identity of a law enforcement officer who destroyed a Hawaiian flag while dismantling an unpermitted structure at Maunakea Access Road last week.

Nolan Espinda, director of the state Department of Public Safety, said he stood by the actions of the officer who destroyed the flag, explaining that the flag was affixed to a barricade across the structure’s entrance and could not be quickly removed.

Connors said other state employees have had their identities, addresses and contact information leaked online, leading to harassing and threatening messages. She played a voicemail reportedly left to one employee, wherein a man told the employee “I hope you die.”

Ige said he calls upon anyone engaging in such behavior online to stop immediately, and also denounced racist language used against TMT opponents as well.

See Saturday’s Tribune-Herald for full story.