Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

Civil Beat reporter Chad Blair posted a comprehensive article this afternoon which includes copies of the Kokua Council and League of Women Voters complaints: Sen. Roz Baker Blasted Over Hearing Conduct (Civil Beat, 3/27/2012).  It even has a picture of me!

Speaking of pictures, the shadowy and out-of-focus figure at left is the Senate Sgt. At Arms, lurking in the hearing room on Friday. Sorry about my cheap cameraphone. Now, I doubt that he has much of a personal interest in who sits on the Hawaii Health Connector board. It’s also the first time that I’ve seen “protection” called to a committee hearing. And while generally a nice guy, afterwards several of us discussed our feelings of intimidation—he was obviously there to control us advocates. Why intimidation? The news of a settlement for an assault situation he was involved in was fresh in our minds:

BREAKING NEWS! State settles suit by protester for $100,000

On April 29, 2010, activists Mitch Kahle and Kevin Hughes were assaulted by Ben Villaflor, the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, and State Sheriff's Deputies, for objecting to unconstitutional Christian prayers used to begin each session of the Hawaii State Legislature.

[Left Rite Left quoting Star-Advertiser, Activists Assaulted At Hawaii State Capitol, 3/15/2012]

So who called him in?? Hmm?? And why did Senator Baker need this kind of protection? Would he have violently removed any of us if she asked him to? (Actually, I could use a nice settlement like that…).

I submit that the presence of the Sgt. at Arms contributed to the hostile conditions of the meeting that two of us complained about.

Permalink posted by Larry @ 3/27/2012 07:07:00 PM