Peace Activist Albertini receives phone death threat over CIA/UHH phot ban flap

Press Release Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Re: Peace activist Jim Albertini receives phone death threat over a free speech photo ban flap of a CIA recruiting lecture at University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH)

 

further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622

 

Jim Albertini
Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB
`Ola`a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@interpac.net
www.malu-aina.org

 

     " An anonymous male caller left a voice message on my phone 10:31PM Monday, March 26, 2007 that is nothing less than a death threat political hate crime," says peace activist Jim Albertini.  Albertini said, "the threat appears clearly related to the flap over a photo ban at an advertised public UHH meeting by a CIA recruiting agent on March 8, 2007.

 

     The transcribed message reads: "You know what happens to traitors you fucking piece of shit, huh?  Do you know what happens to traitors who try to expose our people to the fucking communist like you are?  You piece of fucking shit.  You know uh?  You better watch out!"

 

     Albertini said, "the free-speech issue over the CIA/UHH banning photos and videos at the  publicly advertised CIA recruiting meeting on campus has gotten considerable press.  News articles have appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, the Big Island Weekly, and several web blogs. Press reports over the UHH/CIA flap reached Mills College in California that resulted in the CIA cancelling a recruiting event there after the college said the event had to be totally open, photos included.  A recent article in the March 21, 2007 issue of the right wing newspaper "Hawai`i Free Press." attacks CIA protestors and supports a ban on photos at the event."

 

     Albertini said, "I will be filing a police complaint over this death threat  political hate crime on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 during a 10:30 AM meeting by myself and a small community delegation arranged with Puna Police Captain Steve Guillermo in Kea`au to discuss this and other unsolved political hate crimes in Puna."  Albertini said, "political hate crimes go directly against the aloha spirit and the very rights that are suppose to be guaranteed in a democratic society -- free speech and respect for the dignity of all people, even those with whom we disagree."

 

                                                 -pau-