Report on speaking at Hilo High School
Aloha peace ohana,
I spoke at Hilo High School on Wednesday, March 6th and today, March 8th to several classes of students each day. It all went well. I was told that the security presence on campus was three times the normal, in anticipation that the right wing “Gathering of Eagles” might protest my speaking. The Eagles were a no show. All went smooth. I spoke on the ongoing wars, the military presence in Hawaii, the use of DU weapons at Pohakuloa (PTA), increasing use of drones and drone training at PTA, and the role of non-violent resistance for justice and peace. I handed out lots of literature to the students on the above issues plus literature to counter military recruiting propaganda. Hilo HS has a junior ROTC program, recruiters regularly visit the campus, and there is military recruiting material in the school library. To counter my presentation, the same classes will be hearing from Mr. Bill Moore, a Big Island civilian aide to the Army coming to the school next week.
During my presentations, I showed various slides on the issues (too big of file to include here), and video clips of “Living Under Drones” http://livingunderdrones.org/ done by Stanford University and New York University documenting civilian drone deaths. Also an Air Force video clip about the next generation of what’s called “Swarm drones” which combine surveillance and killing capability. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_5YkQ9w3PJ4
The students had good questions and seemed quite interested. The Hilo HS principal, Robert Dircks, sat in on all the classes and took notes. The teachers had to call each of the parents to get permission for their students to hear my presentation. At least one other teacher’s cancelled bringing his students. I’m not sure of the reason but I suspect the extra work required to call all the parents. I’m not sure if parents will also have to give permission to hear Mr. Moore –the Army’s representative. I made clear the Army has been stonewalling the community by refusing to answer questions on DU contamination for years and that the Army has ignored the Hawaii County Council’s resolution 639-08 passed by a vote of 8-1 in 2008 calling for a halt to all live-fire at PTA until there is a comprehensive independent assessment and clean up of the DU present there.
I made clear to the students that just to get me into the school to speak after being invited by a teacher, required the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union and attorney Eric Seitz along with a possible civil rights federal lawsuit based on equal access to schools where there is a military presence. I especially thank Hilo H.S. teacher, Joseph Watts, who had the courage to issue the invitation for me to come and speak to his students. He is the one responsible for the students learning an important lesson on free speech for peace and non-violence. My gratitude and aloha to him and all of you who have shared your letters and solidarity.
Mahalo! Mahalo! Mahalo!
Jim Albertini 10:40PM friday, March 8, 2013.
