Posted on: Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Union Mall chalk-protest case dropped

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

The city prosecutor's office decided yesterday to drop a misdemeanor criminal property damage case against a University of Hawai'i graduate student who was arrested last Wednesday for writing a statement in chalk on a public sidewalk during a demonstration.

Sebastian Blanco, 27, was arrested after writing "Remember Nagasaki" on the sidewalk of Union Mall across from the Longs Drugs store in downtown Honolulu.

A 17-year-old girl who drew a peace sign on the sidewalk was also arrested.

The two were participating in a demonstration organized by Not in Our Name-Hawaii against weapons of mass destruction.

Carolyn Hadfield, a Not in Our Name organizer who witnessed the two arrests, said Blanco and the girl were taken to the police station but were released about two hours later.

Jim Fulton, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said a motion to dismiss the case against Blanco was filed in District Court yesterday morning.

"After further review, a decision was made to dismiss the case due to insufficient evidence," Fulton said.

He said the police report did not indicate what substance the two had used to write their messages on the sidewalk. If it were paint, instead of chalk, the case might have proceeded, Fulton said.

Attorney Eric Seitz, a civil rights specialist, said yesterday that he may sue the city and the Police Department on behalf of Blanco and the girl.