LIHU’E — With the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Rice vs. Cayetano now in hand, organizers of Aloha March 2000 announced Wednesday they will be protesting the Supreme Court decision. The Aloha March 2000 will take place along Pennsylvania Avenue
LIHU’E — With the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Rice vs. Cayetano now in
hand, organizers of Aloha March 2000 announced Wednesday they will be
protesting the Supreme Court decision.
The Aloha March 2000 will take place
along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol Building to the White House on Aug.
11 and 12.
March organizer Butch Kekahu said the Aloha March 2000 is now a
critical part of achieving Native Hawaiian self-determination.
“I
call upon all Hawaiians and all of our supporters in the cause to come to
Washington, D.C. this August and march with us. We must show the United States
that they cannot dictate our future to us. Enough is enough. Let us all march
in unity in August and deliver our message to America and the
world.”
Kekahu also said the case should not have come before the high
court in the first place.
“For us, the political, spiritual and
cultural significance of being Hawaiian is very important. We do not desire or
need the permission of the U.S. Supreme Court or the United States itself to
tell us what our rights as Native Hawaiians are.”
Responding to those
that are down-playing the court decision, Kekahu stated, “Hawaiians are
sick and tired of being told to forget their culture and to assimilate. What I
want for my people is the basic human right of
self-determination.”
Kekahu went on to state that those that disagree
ignore more than 100 years of racially motivated oppression and political and
economic exploitation of Native Hawaiians.
For more information on Aloha
March 2000, call Butch Kekahu and the Koani Foundation, (808) 822-7643, or
e-mail him at: alohamarch2k@yahoo.com.
Or visit the website:
www.alohamarch2000.org
