For the 9thyear, concerned citizens of Hawaii held a vigil at President Obama’s Holiday Compound in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii on Saturday, December 17 at 9am.
The vigil began in December 2008 before he was sworn into office in January 2009 on the issue of the 27-day Israeli attack on Gaza. The vigil has continued for the 8 years
President Obama has been in office on issues of importance: Continuing Israeli attacks on Gaza; Closing Guantanamo; Assassin Drones; US militarization of Asia and the Pacific; US military construction at Henoko, Okinawa; Jeju Island, South Korea; Illegal Government Surveillance; and Chelsea Manning; and Ed Snowden, among many others.
Those attending the vigil are from social justice organizations in Honolulu including Veterans for Peace, Hawaii Peace and Justice and World Can’t Wait.
In the 8 years we have held the vigil, neither President Obama nor Michelle have stopped to talk with the group about their concerns. We hope he will stop and talk this year, the 9th year he will be seeing us. The Secret Service and Honolulu Police have talked with us each year—so they know who we are.
-submitted by Ann Wright, retired US Army Reserve Colonel and VFP member
