Posted on 08/20/2005 8:18:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) About 400 alumni and supporters of Hawaii's Kamehameha Schools rallied in San Francisco on Saturday to protest a recent court ruling that struck down the schools' policy of giving admissions preference to students of native Hawaiian ancestry.
Donning red and black T-shirts reading ``Ku I Ka Pono,'' or Justice for Hawaiians, the protesters marched past the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, home to the three-judge panel that handed down the ruling.
In its 2-1 ruling, the appeals court said on Aug. 2 that the schools' Hawaiians-first admissions policy violates federal anti-discrimination laws.
``We will not we will absolutely not give up our mission no matter what stands in our way,'' Dee Jay Mailer, the schools' chief executive officer, told the crowd at the rally. ``Kamehameha Schools is a symbol to the Hawaiian people of hope. It is a symbol of native people's heritage and culture and continues to be a tool for native people.''
The schools have until Tuesday to request a rehearing of the case by the full court. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a boy identified only as John Doe.
The decision struck down a century-old policy established under the 1883 will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who created a trust now worth $6.2 billion that funds the schools' main campus in Honolulu and other campuses on Maui and the Big Island. The schools, which receive no federal funding, educate 5,000 students each year in grades K-12.
Retired Santa Clara Superior Court Judge William Fernandez, a Kamehameha alumnus, said Saturday that the court's ruling incorrectly applied laws aimed to protect blacks in the wake of the Civil War, not prevent Native Hawaiians from preserving their heritage.
``It is not Congress' intent to apply an anti-slavery statute to a private person who uses her Hawaiian ancestral land to provide education to Hawaiian children,'' Fernandez told the crowd.
A similar rally in Honolulu on Aug. 6 drew more than 10,000 people. Organizer Noelani Jai, of Huntington Beach, Calif., said alumni now living in California, as well as other Hawaiians now living on the mainland, also wanted to voice their support for the schools at the site of the court's ruling.
``The decision over Kamehameha has drawn a lot of attention, and we hope to use this attention so that folks can know that ... there are people that have Hawaiian blood and that we're an endangered species. And decisions like this very much impact our ability to survive as a people,'' Jai said.
Many of those who attended the rally Saturday did not attend Kamehameha Schools, but said they were upset over what they considered an attack on Hawaiian heritage.
Denise Teraoka, 56, who grew up in Honolulu but now lives in San Francisco, said she didn't qualify for admission to the schools because of her racial identity, but still respected their mission.
``We grew up knowing we would never be eligible, but I think a lot of people here are not of Hawaiian blood, but they know it's really important to the native Hawaiian people,'' Teraoka said
``We grew up knowing we would never be eligible, but I think a lot of people here are not of Hawaiian blood, but they know it's really important to the native Hawaiian people,'' Teraoka said
Wonder how she'd feel about a school dedicated to preserving the existence of an ethnic group other than Hawaiian.
See how long your school lasts if you charter it for whites only. The courts will not allow it
I think it's unfortunate about the loss of culture but someday they'll have to realise that the clock can never be turned back. Just be happy that you're not a tribeswoman in Sudan or something. I know I am.
I agree.
I have no problem with this school's policy. IT'S Not taxpayer money.
But liberals always have problems with people's right of association.
Well put. But, it is gratifing to have the libs served notice that their version of racism is just as repugnant as anyone elses.
Native Hawaiians are racist. Period.
Just remember folks, discrimination is OK if the lefties do it. After all they are just lookin' out for the little guy.
The anti discrimination laws are meant to stop systematic, widespread discrimination.
No one should care if a white person wants to rent a room in his house and refuses a person because he is black, gay, asian, or other. No one does care.
The problem arises when the discriminated person has a hard time finding accomodation almost anywhere.
Here we are talking about 5000 slots. That is very small and really has very little impact and the ineligible have a ton of viable options.
Further, we are not talking about liberals either.
Further, we are not talking about govt. funding
This is a wrong application of anti discrimination.
bookmark.
This is neither public money, public land, nor a public facility, and the administrators should be left to their own devices.
I have no problem with private enterprise setting its own standards, and the Government should butt out in this case.
Just my Haole (sp?) opinion.
Been to the deep South lately? They got those segregation academies with the whites while the blacks go to public schools. Still, its private so they can let anyone in they want.
I doubt the charters of those academies say whites only. I don't doubt that blacks are not welcome to enroll but there is no legal enforcement. Why don't you check it out!
Now there is a term that I have never heard a conservative use before.
I'm not sure what you're insinuating but if you are familiar with areas in the Deep South, you would know exactly what I'm talking about. I won't call the schools anything other than what they are, which are segregation academies. Convenient and inexpensive membership for any white students who want to join yet somehow blacks seem to not be able to get in. I think it's more than coincidence
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.