Stryker protesters
plead not guiltyThe defense attorney alleges
their arrest is a free-speech violation
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 Peter Doktor. All three are charged with second-degree criminal trespass and were released after posting $150 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.
