Native Hawaiian protesters have condemned an emergency proclamation by the governor of Hawaii, as a protest at the state's largest mountain enters its fourth day.
The protectors camp at #MaunaKea pic.twitter.com/IPrj8lqOS5
— saltphoenix (@saltphoenix) July 18, 2019
The protests at Mauna Kea flared yesterday when 34 people were arrested by police in riot gear.
Many of those who were detained were native Hawaiian elders, who have since been released.
Many of them have since returned to the mountain.
The protesters are trying to halt the construction of a $US1.4 billion telescope on the mountain's summit, which is considered sacred to many native Hawaiians.
But yesterday, Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation, giving the authorities special powers to clear the area.
If I had to guess who the good guys were in this situation, it would definitely not be the ones carrying riot gear to threaten folks in wheelchairs #MaunaKea pic.twitter.com/k5GzLHI5VW
— Christine Convery (@chrismichcon) July 18, 2019