About 130 Hawaiian Sovereignty activists marched from Ala Moana Beach Park to the Hawaii State Convention Center today in protest of Hawaii’s 50th Observance of Statehood.
The small but loud mob carried their usual signs, shouted slogans and chants into bullhorns at passing cars and anyone else who cared to listen. Their loud protests were marginalized by the amount of space they were given in front of the main entrance of the Convention Center. The protesters destroyed an effigy of “Uncle Sam” and allegedly burned the 50th star cut off from an American flag. Despite that, police reined them in fairly well.
Of course the shouting was really played up for cameramen and reporters who showed up to cover the protest. The protesters themselves had their own media crew stationed across the Convention Center on Atkinson Blvd. recording every minute of the protest with state supplied Olelo TV cameras for broadcast on the taxpayer supported public access cable channels later.
Inside the Convention Center the State sanctioned “New Horizons for the Next 50 Years” conference was taking place featuring a number of speakers from the political, business, academic and media communities. The conference was a timid, subdued affair that was a far cry from the raucous celebrations held at Iolani Palace and elsewhere in Hawaii on the first day of Statehood in 1959.
The Hawaiian sovereignty movement seeks among other things to secede from the union and turn the clock back more than 100 years to the days of kings and queens.
Meanwhile most residents spent Hawaii’s 50th Statehood Day by going to the beach, working, or shopping at the malls and big box stores.
It is a shame that there were no free, large scale, state sanctioned, public celebration such as a parade to commemorate the milestone of statehood and revel in patriotism for being a part of the United States of America. The reason why there was no large celebration is because the state did not want to upset the pro-sovereignty groups. Such a blow to good ol' American, flag-waving patriotism.
Hopefully there will be celebrations for statehood in the next 50 years.
Top Photo: About 130 protester line the front of the convention center to protest against Hawaii Statehood. Photo above: This efigy of Uncle Sam was torn apart shortly after this picture was taken. Below: Sovereignty activists use state taxpayer funded cameras to record the event.
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