Occupy Honolulu Joins City Lights Parade
Occupy Honolulu protesters unexpectedly joined the Saturday.
The protesters took advantage of a cleared King Street and the presence of large audience waiting to see the parade to get their message across.
The surprise march appeared to confuse spectators and police. The protesters marched just minutes before the formal event.
About 30 Occupy protesters walked from their encampment at the Thomas Square Park to Richards Street before sneaking onto King Street, which was blocked for the annual parade.
Police on Richards Street let the protesters walk onto King Street. Officers declined to comment on the protest.
Protesters who were on bikes, skateboards, scooters and on foot shouted, 鈥淲hose streets? Our streets鈥 鈥淗awaii鈥檚 needs not corporate greed鈥 and 鈥淲e are the 99 percent, you are the 99 percent.鈥
Some spectators flashed shaka signs and applauded in support while others yelled, 鈥
Get lost, go back to the mainland,鈥 and 鈥淕o get a job.鈥
While protesters were shouting, 鈥淪ay no to Bill 54,鈥 Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle was busy lighting the 50-foot Christmas tree at Honolulu Hale. Bill 54, which is under consideration by the City Council, would ban keeping personal possessions on city sidewalks for more than 24 hours, threatening the future of the Occupy Honolulu encampment at the corner of Beretania Street and Ward Avenue.
After five minutes of marching on the parade route, a handful of officers on bikes followed the protesters for another five minutes until the march ended on King Street and Alapai Street.
Protesters, who were unsure about the legality of the demonstration, said they hadn’t planned to march. They said it was an impromptu decision to raise awareness of their movement.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 get the people to come to us, so we came to the people,鈥 protester Lucas Miller said.
