Two sides clash at support rally

Ed Martinez turned out with several hundred other people at Ala Moana near Kewalo Basin in support of U.S. troops in Iraq. His nephew, Pfc. Michael Martinez-Roura, is with the Marines in Baghdad. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Some 800 supporters of America's troops in the Middle East and the Bush administration's war effort in Iraq lined the streets at three locations yesterday in a celebration of flag waving, blaring air horns, and big-band music of World War II.

Dan Thompson, left, confronts anti-war protester Travis Thompson at a rally near the convention center to support U.S. troops in Iraq. It was one of three rallies yesterday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Carrying a large sign saying "There's no glory in third world slaughter" and chanting "This war is unjust, immoral and illegitimate" over a bullhorn, the protesters waded into about 150 supporters at Kapi'olani Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue near the Hawai'i Convention Center.

"You're supporting a war where innocent women and children are dying," shouted protester Travis Thompson. "I've got to try and change something you don't understand."

Marine veteran Ed Martinez, 48, wrapped himself in a 6-by-4 foot American flag that belonged to his late father, also a Marine, and showed Thompson a photo of his nephew, Michael Martinez-Roura, 19, now with the Marines in Baghdad.

"My nephew is fighting so you can say these things," Martinez yelled at Thompson.

Supporters at times succeeded in drowning out the protesters with unison shouts of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! ..." as horn-honking motorists punctuated the sentiment as they drove by.

The scene was reminiscent of the social turmoil of the 1960s, as opposing sides pointed fingers and tried to outshout one another while police officers closely monitored the volatile situation.

The conflict came to a head when supporter John Fleener was promptly whisked away by police after he grabbed a protest sign and tore it to pieces. Moments later Fleener was wheeling his bicycle toward his home on Kapahulu Avenue.

"They told me to leave or they would have to arrest me," said Fleener, 42. "If they want to put me in jail, I'll be thinking about our POWs."

Order was restored when police separated the protesters from the supporters and kept them about 10 feet apart.

Otherwise, the day was marked by spirited throngs of flag-wavers dressed in red, white and blue loudly proclaiming their faith in the Bush administration and pledging their support for those fighting in Iraq.

"I just thought we need something positive instead of negativity," said Navy wife and organizer Teresa Page. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

What started out as a spontaneous impulse turned into the "Rally for Our Troops," the first of yesterday's rallies, which began at 10 a.m. at the entrance of Ala Moana Beach Park and stretched along the main boulevard.

Navy wife and organizer Teresa Page, 33, said she didn't get the idea until Tuesday morning.

"I got up, turned on the TV and saw the anti-war protesters, and I said, 'Enough,' " said Page, whose husband, Petty Officer 2nd class Daniel Page, is in the Middle East aboard the destroyer USS Paul Hamilton. "I just thought we need something positive instead of negativity. So, I just started making calls, drawing signs and passing out fliers."

Among the nearly 300 supporters vocalizing their support on Ala Moana was Blossom Ellis, whose grandson, Chaz Valentine, 20, is a Marine assigned to a tank unit in Iraq.

"I imagine he's about 50 miles from Baghdad right now," Ellis said. "Oh, yeah, it worries me. Can't eat, can't sleep — every time the phone rings or you hear about a Marine getting killed, you jump."

As the Ala Moana rally was winding down at around noon, "Support Our Troops" rallies were gearing up at the convention center and State Capitol. The larger of the second two comprised more than 300 supporters who lined South Beretania Street next to the Capitol. That gathering was augmented by hundreds more flag-waving motorists, bikers and truckers who circled the block with engines revving and horns blaring.

Two flags stood out in the sea of red, white and blue: a pair of red-and-white maple leaf flags carried by Hawai'i residents and Canadian citizens Susan Hansen and Cheryl Muth, both originally from Alberta.

"Most of western Canada is absolutely in favor of America," said Hansen, who carried a "Canadians DO Support America" sign and who referred to French Canadians "a different species."

"We're just here to set the record straight," Muth said. "Canadians love America."

Rally organizers Kathy Hashimoto and Jessica Mace were overjoyed by the turnout.

"It's great to see the silent majority finally speaking out," said Hashimoto, wife of Mark Hashimoto, a Marine major serving in Iraq.

"The silent majority spoke out clearly today in favor of liberating Iraq from a despotic leader and supporting our troops who are doing it," said Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Portlock).

Some supporters attended more than one rally. Bob Wells, who lives in Makiki, went to all three.

"It's nice to see the other side," Wells said. "I've seen what the protesters have done. They have a right to their opinion. But, so do I."