The members of a long-running "Occupy" movement have a new name — (de)Occupy Honolulu — and new objectives as they prepare to enter their second year of existence.
Blade Walsh, 23, sat at a table Monday just outside the University of Hawaii at Manoa, trying to educate passers-by about UH’s work with genetically modified organisms, which was part of a day full of (de)Occupy efforts that included a rally at the state Capitol in celebration of the effort’s first anniversary and a similar anti-GMO protest at Thomas Square.
The name change from the original "Occupy Honolulu" — following the first "Occupy Wall Street" movement — came about "to show respect and solidarity with the Hawaiian community, with other people here of occupied nations, such as Micronesians who have been displaced from where they once were," Walsh said. "The name ‘de’ in front of ‘Occupy’ is our way of recognizing their struggle and being with them."
While similar "Occupy" efforts around the world have stalled or been swept out of existence by law enforcement, members of (de)Occupy Honolulu say their ongoing presence at Thomas Square since Nov. 5represents the longest sustained Occupy encampment they know of anywhere.
"Some days it’s five people; some days it’s 10 or more," Walsh said.
Supporters celebrated the first anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement Sundayby joining other Occupy supporters in a live-streaming countdown to midnight in time zones across the country.
The city has passed legislation that allows officials to remove the belongings of the people who regularly camp out at Thomas Square.
But despite occasional arrests and confiscations of personal possessions on government land, Hawaii law enforcement and elected officials in general have a long history of tolerating public protests and sit-ins without using force to remove protesters.
"We don’t have a line of police in riot guards beating our heads in," Walsh said. "Rather than trying to squash us and get us out ASAP, it’s almost like seeing who can last longer. We get swept regularly but we still maintain a presence. That’s a big part of why we’re the longest continual encampment."
Sam Tanigawa, 21, said police have confiscated his artwork at Thomas Square. But he maintains his support for the (de)Occupy Honolulu movement "to continue fighting against corporate greed."
"A bunch of people think we’re just a bunch of stupid haoles on the street," said Tanigawa, who described himself as "hapa." "But a lot of people are interested in what we’re doing."