Even the sun seemed to shine in solidarity as it reached a group of yellow-clad protesters through the open ceiling of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol building. Dozens gathered in mourning and solidarity to honor the lives of Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and all who have died in ICE custody over the past year.
The color yellow was chosen as a nod to the People Power Revolution of the Philippines, the series of peaceful mass demonstrations that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Organizers said they were inspired by the color as a symbol of hope and peaceful resistance to dictatorship, calling the color a symbol of solidarity.
The event opened with an oli (chant) and land acknowledgement for the Nuʻuanu ahupuaʻa in which the Hawaiʻi state capitol sits. The oli was followed by prayer and a moment of silence.
“The current administration has allowed fear to permeate our daily lives,” said Gov. Josh Green, who was one of the event’s speakers. “In Hawaiʻi, this is a place of aloha … but aloha does not mean weakness, and that is what we’re seeing today. Aloha is strengthened in this case, and it’s rooted in our accountability.”
Green promised to use “every tool available to make sure that people are treated with dignity and respect” in Hawaiʻi. He continued to speak on growing fear of gun violence in the U.S., sharing that his own daughter had recently been “touched by the threat of gun violence.”
Green praised Alex Pretti as a healer, stating that he spent his life caring for others, including veterans, and lamenting on the fact that he was trying to help another person and prevent harm during his final moments.
The event continued with remarks from co-hosts and community members, along with legislators including Mayor Rick Blangiardi and House Speaker Representative Nadine Nakamura.
Blangiardi said that he had been invited to speak at the event only the day before, Neribel Chardon, senior staff attorney at The Legal Clinic, shared that organizers had been working “nonstop” on the event since Saturday.
“It was very short notice because the unexpected happened,” Chardon said.
This community vigil and rally took place Tuesday morning, co-hosted by the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights (HICR), the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, and The Legal Clinic. The event was part of the ACLU’s Campaign for Immigrant Justice, a legislative campaign ahead of Hawaiʻi’s legislative session with priorities including criminal legal system reforms and increased protections for Hawaiʻi’s immigrant communities.
As the event ended, attendees draped leis and yellow flowers over photos of Alex Pretti and Nicole Renee Good. Dozens of white flowers were donated by the Hawaiʻi Nurses Association, honoring Alex Pretti as an ICU nurse. Many attendees wore yellow shirts identifying them as part of the Hawaiʻi Nurses Association.
“It’s always good to see that people are affected the same way that you are and that sense of community,” said Robert Coombes, a member of the Hawaiʻi Nurses Association from Minnesota.
Representatives from The Legal Clinic offered a call to action and encouraged attendees to continue to organize, protest, and act in solidarity, remarking that if Minnesotans can get out and protest in below freezing temperatures, Hawaiʻi residents should be doing the same.
Many attendees seemed to echo this sentiment. Multiple attendees shared that they had been protesting what felt like the same actions since Donald Trump’s first election in 2016.
“It’s so horrific that’s probably about the only way I could spell it,” said Kainani Kai, an 80-year-old attendee who shared that she had been protesting “ever since Trump’s first round.”
“We have seen this before, but the escalation is so terrifying,” said Gabrielle Clark, a Gen-Z attendee dressed in a hand-made t-shirt that read ‘F–k ICE’. She described how it felt to see the crowd gathered in collective action.
“We’re not just going to have words, thoughts, and prayers,” said Clark.
She expressed that while she sees many young people speaking out on social media, she is at times disappointed by their lack of presence at community events.
“It’s our ancestral duty to be able to do this [protest] now,” Clark said. “I think being able to empower, encourage, and mobilize each other to come out is what needs to happen.”
Chardon offered ways to do just that for those who were unable to attend the event.
“Legislators are open to visits from constituents every single day,” Chardon said, encouraging those who want their voices heard to speak to their representatives.
She also encouraged interested individuals to volunteer with organizations like The Legal Clinic and the ACLU, protest, and take affirmative action, including attending training on legal observation and giving financial support through non-profit organizations who assist with legal representation.
Immigration court observer training is offered by The Legal Clinic to teach interested parties how to be a Hawaii Immigration Court observer in order to support immigrant families. Their next training is to take place on March 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church. Interested parties can reach out to [email protected] with questions.
Resources offered included the Oahu Rapid Response Coalition hotline, which can verify and document ICE sightings and share verified information: (808) 824-4707. The Immigration Detention Hotline was also included, a resource for individuals detained at the Federal Detention Center of Honolulu and their families. This hotline is (808) 204-5951 and can be called or texted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Legal Clinic instructs callers to have the full name of a detained individual ready at the time of a call, and advises that calling the hotline does not guarantee legal representation for the detained individual.
More information available @hi_cir on Instagram, @acluhawaii on Instagram, and @thelegalclinichawaii on Instagram
