The Hawaii chapter of the NAACP and several other civil rights groups marched in Waikiki yesterday to protest the continued employment of the state's top tourism executive.

 
• Demonstration In Waikiki Against Johnson

 

 

 

People that wanted Rex Johnson out protested in Waikiki with signs to let aware the public.

 

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  About 27 protesters, representing a variety of ethnicities, waved signs calling for the removal of Rex Johnson as head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority for forwarding pornographic, racist and sexist e-mails from his government laptop.

Johnson and the HTA have been under public scrutiny since he was flagged in June by a state auditor for sending pornographic e-mails. In August, the HTA board reduced Johnson's salary to $200,000 and cut his contract to one year.

The issue ignited again this month when racist and sexist jokes denigrating African-Americans, Hispanics and women were found in the recovered files from Johnson's state e-mail account. One e-mail called Sen. Barack Obama a “;coon”; and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton a “;beaver.”;

HTA members, who were unaware of the details of the e-mails when they meted out Johnson's earlier punishment, will revisit the issue at a special board meeting Thursday.

Johnson has repeatedly apologized for his actions and met with Alphonso Braggs, president of the Hawaii branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“;As I've said before, first and foremost, I again want to apologize to the people of Hawaii,”; Johnson said yesterday. “;Forwarding offensive e-mails was a lack of judgment on my part and a terrible mistake. While it is not a reflection of my character or beliefs, I understand the seriousness of my actions. I am truly sorry for offending anyone as this was not my intent.”;

That's too little, too late, said Jewel McDonald, president of the African-American Association of Hawaii.

“;I was already outraged about the porn,”; McDonald said. “;The (HTA) needs to really think about what they are doing. He's not fit to represent Hawaii.”;

McDonald and other protesters loudly chanted, “;Rex Johnson has to go, just say no,”; and sang “;We Shall Overcome”; as they walked past Waikiki Beach.

Although many bikini-clad, camera-toting tourists were oblivious to the commotion, Regina Hinton, a visitor from Chicago, was moved to sign a protest petition.

“;This state should be the most diverse state in the country, but how can that be if the person promoting this destination is encouraging racism?”; Hinton said.

Protesters netted more than 300 signatures to give to the HTA, Braggs said.

John Penebacker, a state Board of Education member, said he supports Johnson.

“;I have never experienced any racism from him or seen him engage in any racist behavior,”; Penebacker said. “;I've known him for more than 20 years and my experience has been quite the opposite. He's a dedicated worker and a family man.”;