Not welcomed at rally
At the traditional Democratic Party’s Grand Rally at the Mo‘oheau Bandstand in Hilo on Sunday, Oct. 23, something simple happened that revealed to me how far we are from what the U.S. Constitution defines as an organized, socially active community.
The “Democratic” Party invited the public to attend. Malu ‘Aina, a peace group that I belong to, attended, Three of us each carried a banner expressing our concern about the preparation for war that is ongoing through the activities of our political representatives.
The three banners read: “DON’T GLORIFY WAR! CEASEFIRE NOW!” “SAY NO TO NUKES!” and “STOP BOMBING POHAKULOA!”
As we approached the bandstand, each of us was confronted by sheriff’s deputies who asked us to stand away from the public gathering. Simultaneously, a clearly identifiable group of men stood in front of two of our banners purposely preventing others from reading them.
To the sheriff, I asked why I was being asked to move away from the bandstand. He just insisted that I move away. To the group of men wearing jackets of the Somtin Simple MC, I asked why they were standing in front of our banners, with one of them responding that someone had told him to do that.
It was clear that this was a tactic designed to intimidate us. I took some pictures of the situation and called a friend to express my shock and dismay that we would be treated in such a manner. Upon overhearing my conversation, one of the jacketed blockers said to me, “You’d be better off not commenting on this.”
I was truly shocked by this retort and expressed my dismay that he would attempt to intimidate me even as he could see I was handicapped, having a plaster cast on my broken leg.
I began to chant, “Censorship, censorship, censorship …” and soon they moved away.
After that we were left alone. We stood with our signs through to the end of the rally.
This was an inappropriate effort to repress the message we brought to this public event. The Democratic Party officialdom stood by, including the prosecuting attorney, as this transpired. No one spoke to us in a welcoming way. Our message was unwelcome there, and someone there organized an effort to suppress it.
This speaks volumes about our state of political maturity. Isn’t the right of peaceful protest presumably one of the bedrocks of American “democracy”?
Shame on those who are responsible for this inappropriate behavior.
Stephen Paulmier
Hilo