Four protesters arrested at Stryker meeting
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
Four protesters were arrested last night at Honolulu Country Club during the first of six public meetings scheduled by the Army to discuss its planned $1.5 billion Stryker Brigade.
In an escalation from the sharp words that sometimes are directed at military expansions, last night's meeting saw Royal Guard Security Inc. personnel stop a group of about 15 individuals with protest signs from entering the exclusive Salt Lake golf course.
After repeated warnings not to come onto the private property with the signs, four individuals were arrested and handcuffed by Honolulu police.
Police said they would be charged with trespassing.
A group member said last night that all four posted $250 bail and were released. A hearing date has been set for Friday, she said.
At the first meeting on the draft environmental impact statement for a Stryker brigade of 300 armored vehicles, Army officials said protesters were welcome — without the signs and banners.
"Our intent is to make sure that everyone in here can feel comfortable to make their public comments," said Maj. Stacy Bathrick, an Army spokeswoman. "We don't want anything in this forum that would be a distraction to the purpose of what we're here for."
At about 7:15 p.m., with one Honolulu police cruiser present and three others arriving with lights flashing, Rags Scanlan, the owner of Royal Guard, repeatedly told group members they could not carry the signs past the front entrance.
"This is private property, (and) you folks are welcome to go in there, but as far as demonstrating and the signs, they are not going to allow that," Scanlan said.
"This is our testimony. Are you denying our First Amendment rights?" responded Kyle Kajihiro, program director of the American Friends Service Committee Hawai'i Area, one of those arrested.
Kajihiro, who held a "Stop the bombing" sign, was the first to attempt to walk past several security guards and a police officer.
Other individuals with the DMZ-Hawai'i/Aloha 'Aina Network and other groups held signs that said "Stryker is a bully's tool," and a bed sheet painted with "Stop military expansion, strike out the Strykers."
Gwen Kim, who described herself as a "professional" and said she was against military expansion in Hawai'i, stood unmoving as Scanlan and police warned her that she would be arrested.
"What are they so frightened about — the will of the people?" Kim said as she was led to a squad car. "This is quite an amazing thing that I would be arrested for holding a sign."
Some group members complained about the use of the private country club as a setting for the public meeting. Kajihiro earlier called the choice of Honolulu Country Club a "big problem."
"We're very upset about that because it's not a place for regular folks in the community to come," he said.
The Army said it picked the country club because the meeting could run later than if it had been at a school or similar location.
More than 75 people attended, but fewer than 15 made comments.
Col. David Anderson was interrupted by hecklers as he made closing remarks.
Most speakers expressed concern about plans for a Stryker brigade, which would require the acquisition of 1,400 acres south of Schofield Barracks and 23,000 acres on the Big Island.
A Nature Conservancy representative noted how the Army worked with the organization to ensure access to Honouliuli Preserve near the Schofield expansion area.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
