Late last night, Maui Police arrested “at least 20” activists attempting to block trucks at the Maui Baseyard from carrying equipment to the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) atop Haleakala, Hawaii News Now is reporting.
“At least 30 Maui County Police officers also showed up at the site to assist in getting the trucks out of the gate. But when the trucks started their engines, several protesters lay down in the driveway, with their arms linked together with PVC pipes,” Hawaii News Now reported. “It took officers several hours to cut through the pipes with saws. Once the pipes were cut, the protesters were arrested and taken away.”
Earlier, on the afternoon of July 30, the MPD’s public information office sent out brief, cryptic news release that foreshadowed trouble. Titled “Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope Project,” it contained just two sentences:
“Maui Police Department respects the rights for people to demonstrate peacefully.
“We will respond in an appropriate manner.”
Click here for the Hawaii News Now story, which also includes photos and quotes from activists. Click here for Mauitime’s previous coverage of the controversy over the DKIST.
Photo of DKIST construction: Brett Simison
Comments
comments