Demanding Justice for Kollin Elderts in Waikiki

On Monday, August 25th, Judge Ahn announced that the jury in the trial against U.S. Special Agent Christopher Deedy was deadlocked and declared a mistrial.  A protest was called for the following day.

By 5:30 pm people were gathering at the Kalakaua Statue at Triangle Park in Waikiki and began holding signs reading "Justice for Kollin Elderts" at the Kuhio/Kalakaua intersection.  By 6:15 pm about 40 people had gathered and after a short rally the group, led by several activists with Pū, headed down Kalakaua Avenue into central Waikiki.   The sound of the Pū , alternating with chants demanding justice for Kollin, grabbed everyone's attention.  Tourists were curious and many took leaflets.  Many residents voiced support and a few reactionaries jumped out to run out their racist shit: 

After reaching Seaside Avenue the march looped back along Kuhio, stopping for a short rally at McDonald's.   A number of the marchers stepped to the bullhorn to speak - some speaking to the sadness they felt at being at the site where Kollin was murdered and others voicing their rage that the jury had failed to convict an armed and drunk Agent of the U.S. government who had murdered an unarmed young Hawaiian man.   World Can't Wait spokesperson Liz Rees linked the murders of Kollin Elderts and Trayvon Martin; several put the murder of Kollin Elderts in the context of the APEC meeting, which was itself an intensification of the militarization and occupation of Hawai`i and the Pacific. 

The group was diverse and there were a lot of opinions, but there was a great spirit of unity and determination to continue the fight for justice for Kollin Elderts and other victims of this racist system.  

There will be a hearing to determine the date of the retrial on September 13th.   The Federal Government is determined to fight for acquittal and there will undoubtedly be a lot of maneuvering before an actual trial happens,  A much stronger movement to fight for justice for Kollin Elderts must be built and sustained.   The defense is hoping that the memory of this outrageous murder will face by the time Agent Deedy is re-tried.  Just the opposite must happen!

The coming together of several organizations to call the Waikiki action was a good beginning and there's great potential to strengthen that unity and determination!   Watch for upcoming plans.

Mistrial Declared in Trial of U.S. Agent Christopher Deedy

Call to Action!  Justice for Kollin Elderts
Tuesday, August 27
Gather at the Kalakaua Statue at Triangle Park
at the Intersection of Kuhio and Kalakaua at 5:30pm
March into Waikiki and to McDonald's where Kollin Elderts was murdered begins at 6:30

Today, Monday August 26th, the Judge announced that the jury had failed to agree on a verdict in the murder trial of U.S. State Department Agent Christopher Deedy, and that another trial will be held next year.  

This is an outrage!   Agent Deedy is guilty of murder!   Join this action on Tuesday evening to renew your commitment to fight for justice for Kollin Elderts!

For more information read earlier blogs on this site or go to the "Justice for Kollin Elderts" facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/371576282968436/,

Bradley Manning Sentenced to 35 Years!

Support Rallies Respond to the Sentence of Bradley Manning!

     

Press Release from World Can't Wait
“On behalf of the millions affected by the illegitimate, unjust, immoral wars and torture carried by the Bush regime, and continued by the Obama administration, we are outraged at the 35 year prison sentence just put on Bradley Manning. In light of the complete refusal of the Obama administration to investigate or prosecute those responsible for torture, rendition and secret “dirty” wars, Manning’s sentence is an indication that people who expose such crimes must fear losing their lives, while those who conceive, legally justify and carry them out them receive immunity. We remain committed to supporting whistle-blowers Manning, Edward Snowden, and the work of Wikileaks and other journalists who courageously expose war crimes and injustice.”

For a list of support rallies go to:  http://www.worldcantwait.net

Justice for Kollin Elderts

Justice for Kollin Elderts!

The defense in the trial of U.S. Special Agent Christopher Deedy is expected to close within the next few days and the jury will then begin to deliberate. When a verdict will come down is unpredictable.

The facts of the case are simple. Kollin Elderts, a Hawaiian young man, is dead. Christopher Deedy, a U.S. State Department Special Agent murdered him. Deedy is guilty!

If Christopher Deedy is acquitted, or the verdict is anything less than manslaughter, gather at the King Kalakaua statue (at the triangle park near the entrance to Waikiki and across from Fort DeRussy) at 5:30 the day after the verdict for signholding and a pre-march rally. A march to McDonald's and into Waikiki will begin at 6:30pm.  

Bring signs, noisemakers, whistles.

From Florida to Hawai`i - It's the Same Racist System!

It was late Thursday afternoon and demonstrations protesting the "Not Guilty" verdict in the Trayvon Martin case had been called in more than 100 cities.   None had been called in Honolulu and there had been little open outrage about the verdict.   At the same time the trial of U.S. Special Agent Christopher Deedy, who had murdered Kollin Elderts, a young Hawaiian man, at McDonald's Restaurant in Waikiki in November 2011 was in its second week; the Honolulu police had murdered another young local man only the week before.   On Thursday evening World Can't Wait-Hawai`i put out a call for a protest through Waikiki to protest all three murders by the same racist system. 

We arrived at the convergence point wondering whether anyone would be joining us.  We displayed our signs and waited while people slowly joined us.   By 7pm there were more than 30 of us holding signs, beating on noisemakers and preparing to march down Kalakaua Avenue where thousands of tourists were lining the beaches, waiting in front of restaurants, or shopping.  People registered surprise as our noisy group approached.   Some gave us thumbs up, grabbed leaflets, or shouted their approval.   Some asked for a sign and joined us.  The polarization quickly became clear.  One guy ran up and yelled "You're racists;" another pointed his finger in a white demonstrator's face and yelled "Race Traitor!"   Black tourists, in particular, were overjoyed to see that even in Hawai`i people were demanding justice for Trayvon Martin.   In a short time our march included more than 50 people. 

As we approached, tourists stood to the side to read signs and take pictures, allowing us to march through the middle of the sidewalk,  It felt we were in a sea of lifted cell phones capturing an unexpected image from their "vacation in paradise."  

When the march ended some asked how they could be informed of any future protests. Others stood with new friends to take photos.   Energy was high, and many were sharing.  A Muslim family told the group how it effected them when their 16-year old son was called a "terrorist," and of constant profiling.   A young Black woman shared her fears for her 3-year old son.   A man from Europe spoke about his disappointment that more people weren't on the street, but then added how proud he was that he had participated.   One shared how one guy along the way turned to his companion and said "I thought we came to Hawai`i to escape all this shit!."   We all agreed that the march was a big success but wished we had called it earlier and spent more time building for it.

 

March for Justice!

Rally and March for Justice!
Saturday, July 20, 6:30pm
Waikiki, corner of Kapahulu & Kalakaua
(near the Zoo entrance)

Justice for Trayvon Martin!
Justice for Kollin Elderts!
Justice for Stephen Dinnan!

Short rally at 6:30pm; march at 7pm. Bring signs.

* Demonstrations have been called in more than 100 cities this weekend to protest the "not guilty" verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman. This verdict slammed home the legacy of centuries of slavery and racism in the USA and has provoked much-needed rallies and marches, vigils and prayer services, town hall meetings and debates. We refuse to accept this verdict. Now is the time to act! We must continue to demand justice for Trayvon Martin!

* This is the second week of the trial of U.S. Special Agent Christopher Deedy, who was here to provide security for the APEC meeting in Honolulu. On November 5, 2011 Agent Deedy, after having been warned about "locals" by another Agent, got into an altercation with Kollin Elderts, a 23-year old Hawaiian man, at McDonald's Restaurant in Waikiki. Agent Deedy, who was drunk, pulled out his service weapon and shot Kollin in the chest. The facts are simple, but carry with them the history of more than a century of U.S. occupation, racism, and oppression. 

 * On June 5, 2013, Stephen Dinnan, a 35 year old local man was beaten and choked to death by a Honolulu police officer who was "investigating" a report of a stolen vehicle. On July 17 the Honolulu Medical Examiner ruled his death was a homicide(Star Advertiser, July 18). Stephen Dinnan had no prior record and there is no evidence that he was involved in the theft of the vehicle. No charges have been filed against the police officer, and the Honolulu Police Department has refused to comment. How many times will we allow a cop to go free after brutalizing and/or killing yet another person?

WE SAY NO MORE! We call on people of conscience to join us on Saturday night to demand justice!

Signholding Monday at the Deedy Trial!

JUSTICE FOR KOLLIN ELDERTS
Monday, July 15, 8am - 10am
 Signholding at 1st Circuit Court
Punchbowl & Halekauwila

This past Monday ten of us held signs demanding justice for Kollin Elderts outside of the 1st Circuit Court where the trial of U.S. Special Agent Christopher Deedy was being tried for murder.

Many family and friends stopped to thank us and we were happy with the general support. However, just going out once isn't enough.  Let's swell our numbers this coming Monday!   World Can't Wait will have some signs and you're invited to bring your own.

Can't take two hours off of work? Take one and be there at 8am. Can't make it at 8? Then come at 9am. But be there!