Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Black Lives Matter!

Almost 100 people joined a loud and spirited march through Waikiki (Honolulu’s main tourist district) in response to the outrageous decision in Ferguson on Tuesday evening.  

As protesters arrived, a university professor who arrived early remarked:  “I thought there might only be 5 of us, but I was ready to march anyway because I just had to.”  

As protesters gathered there was an emotional speak-out.  A 76 year-old woman who had been the first Black girl to integrate an all-white Baltimore high school in 1954 choked as she said she didn’t expect that 50 years later she’d still be fighting for those rights.  A Vietnam Vet condemned the murdering police:  “This is not what we fought for!   No one should fight for this country!”  A Black youth denounced the racism he’s experienced in Hawai`i, where he’s been "called nigger more often than anywhere else” but then said how heartened he was to see such a diverse group standing up against the outrageous Ferguson decision. 
When the march left the park chanting “No Justice!  No Peace!” a Black man across the street tried to join up but was restrained by police.  The march crossed over and he joined.  As the march approached the police substation the shout went up:  “Hands Up!  Don’t Shoot! and protesters made chalk outlines of unarmed victims at the door of the station.


All along the march tourists lifted their cameras, go-pros and cellphones to snap pictures.    A protester remarked:  “I never come to Waikiki – but this is really the place to demonstrate!   Pictures are going to spread around the world!"    Others talked together about the gut-level anger they felt over the decision and the need they felt to be out on the streets to stand with people across the U.S. who are protesting the decision.    A woman said she was so sickened by the Ferguson decision that she couldn't sleep, but then was heartened when she received an e-mail at 2am announcing a protest.  

Many people along the route clapped or chanted along with the protesters and some joined the march.  Others appeared not to understand what it was all about and stood with mouths open.   A few yelled “fuck off”, made racist remarks, or fearfully shielded their children, but no one could miss that people in Hawai`i – of all races, ages and ethnicities, are outraged over the racist Ferguson decision.  

As the protest ended there was a sense of pride and comradery as people shared experiences and e-mails and talked about the need for strong movement of resistance against the epidemic of police brutality and murder.  
Following are photos from the protest:




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Monday, November 24, 2014

Ferguson Decision Expected at 4pm today Hawai`i time!

ANY FAILURE TO INDICT DARREN WILSON IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST BE MET WITH RESISTANCE. THEY MUST NOT DARE TO WHITEWASH THIS MURDER AND LET THIS KILLER COP WALK FREE WITH NO CHARGES!! AND THEY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT!!

IF THERE IS NO INDICTMENT -
    Build for a big protest on Tuesday evening!  Contact all of your friends and get your crew together.  Make announcements in class.  Get the word out on facebook.   Tweet everyone you know. 

Tuesday, November 25, 6pm
Gather in front of Honolulu Zoo at 6pm for a speak-out and march through Waikiki. 

Justice for Michael Brown!
Justice for All Victims of Police Brutality!

IF DARREN WILSON IS INDICTED FOR LESS THAN MURDER:
   Join a signholding on Tuesday afternoon from 4-6 at Thomas Square. 

  


Thursday, November 20, 2014

CALL TO ACTION!

TAKE TO THE STREETS WHEN THE FERGUSON GRAND JURY ANNOUNCES ITS DECISION!  


The grand jury investigating the police murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson will announce its decision soon. All indications are that it will let the killer cop, Darren Wilson, walk free.  If Darren Wilson is not indicted, people across the U.S. will be taking to the streets in protest -- and to shut the country down!   They will be blocking streets, staging sit-ins and performances. 


NO BUSINESS AS USUAL!  ON CAMPUSES AND IN THE STREETS! ANYTHING LESS MEANS WE WILL LET THEM GET AWAY WITH COLD BLOODED MURDER... after murder...after murder...after murder...after murder NO! NO MORE!


Prepare now!   Make signs.  Call friends.  Announce plans in classes.  Get the Call up on Facebook and out on Twitter.   Build for a mass protest on the day after the announcement.   But also make plans for what you'll do the minute the announcement is made. 


The minute the announcement is made stop everything you're doing.  Stand up in classes to make announcements.  Get on social media to express your outrage - and to connect people in Hawai`i with what's happening across the country.   Gather with your friends to stand a street corner with your signs.  Hang a banner.  


ON THE DAY AFTER, GATHER IN FRONT OF THE HONOLULU ZOO AT 6 PM FOR A SHORT RALLY AND THEN A PROTEST IN WAIKIKI!  


Governor Nixon of Missouri has declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard. The emergency we must act to stop is the murder of our youth by police.  Nixon’s “State of Emergency” is an outrage on top of outrages—it violates this system’s own Constitution, and is completely illegitimate suppression of righteous protest. And it must be OPPOSED by anyone with any sense of justice!   Nixon's actions underscore the need for us to step up and step out to say NO MORE to police murdering our youth. 


For more go to:
The Stop Mass Incarceration Network:  http://www.stopmassincarceration.net
Revolution Newspaper:  http://www.revcom.us/a/361/carl-dix-take-to-the-streets-when-the-ferguson-grand-jury-announces-its-decision-en.html
World Can't Wait:  http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/features/mass-incarceration/8619-michael-brown-s-death-what-kind-of-message-will-be-sent


For a list of protests that have already been called: 
National Ferguson Response Network:  http://fergusonresponse.tumblr.com/
October 22nd network:  https://sites.google.com/site/october22reports/home/dayofactions/gand-jury-announcment-actions