Aloha e Friend,
Thanks to all your efforts, calling, emailing and spreading the word, the Senate Public Safety (PSM) committee has scheduled the Hawaiʻi Ceasefire Resolution (
SCR13/
SR6) for a hearing at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol this Friday at 3 p.m. This is our chance to raise our voices in support of Palestine, Gaza and collective liberation for all oppressed people and share our manaʻo directly with elected officials. Below we provide instructions and sample testimony.
Friday, March 8, 2024
3:00 PM
Conference Room 225 & Videoconference
State Capitol, 415 South Beretania Street
- Create an account or log in at capitol.hawaii.gov.
- Type “SCR13” in the search bar to bring each measure up.
- Click the orange “Submit Testimony” button in the top right.
- Click “Continue” on the next page.
- Fill out the form that appears making sure to check “Support”
- If possible, please check “In Person” and show up to the hearing to provide oral testimony.
- Type in your written testimony in the text box at the bottom or attach it as a PDF or word document.
- Click “Submit” at the bottom.
- Repeat these steps for “SR6.”
Sample Written Testimony
You can copy this testimony and use it on both measures (which are identical) if you are short on time, but we strongly suggest you modify it to share your own personal perspective on why a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is an imperative, and why Palestinian liberation must be achieved. Please note, the sample testimony is designed for the legislators as its recipients and our language is reflective of that.
Aloha members of the committee,
I am testifying in strong support of [SCR13/SR6]. The unparalleled escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other armed groups has taken a devastating toll on civilians. The level of casualties is unprecedented. Some 40,000 civilians have been killed since Oct 7, and the majority of them are women and children. Another 70,000 have been wounded, and many thousands more are missing under the rubble of Gaza.
At the same time, some 200 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and other armed groups and held in Gaza remain in danger, and ongoing indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel places its own civilians at risk.
Israel’s tightened siege of Gaza has blocked the entry of goods, including water, food and fuel leaving the 2 million people in the Gaza Strip struggling to survive. The humanitarian catastrophe stemming from Israel’s 16-year-long illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip will only get worse if the fighting doesn’t stop immediately.
A ceasefire would put a stop to unlawful attacks by all parties, halt the mounting death toll in Gaza and enable aid agencies to get life-saving aid, water and medical supplies into the Strip to address the staggering levels of human suffering. It will also allow hospitals to receive life-saving medicines, fuel and equipment they desperately need and to repair damaged wards.
A ceasefire would also provide opportunities to negotiate the release of hostages detained in Gaza and for independent international investigations to take place into the war crimes committed by all parties in order to end long-standing impunity, which will continue to breed further atrocities.
Tackling the root causes of this conflict, by dismantling Israel’s system of apartheid imposed on Palestinians is now more urgent than ever. That cannot be accomplished as long as the violence continues.
Tips for In-Person Testimony
- You will need to speak your mind in 2–3 minutes max, so focus on just a few things to say.
- You will need to maintain “decorum” while in the hearing—please, no booing or clapping, and no signage will be allowed inside.
- It’s OK to get emotional, but try to remain calm and don’t shout or curse at the lawmakers.
- Say it from the heart—you can read off a page if you need to, but nothing beats looking lawmakers in the eye. You know what you need to say. Don’t be afraid to speak your truth.
Note: Parking at the capitol is not free, and is often tight. There is a Chinatown municipal lot that is affordable about a 5–10 minute walk from the capitol located
here that we recommend. Another option is ʻIolani Palace or street parking.
