'Standing up for our rights': 28 of those arrested at TMT protest plead not guilty

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Twenty-eight of the 38 people arrested on Mauna Kea during the first week of the Thirty Meter Telescope protest in July made their first appearances in court Friday.

And it’s clear the legal battles — just from these arrests ― will be long and complicated.

All 28 in court Friday pleaded not guilty. And attorneys for several defendants said they were basing their not guilty pleas on their right to freedom of religion, which is protected under the Constitution.

In a Hilo courtroom, each defendant ― most of whom are kupuna ― faced the judge on charges of obstruction, a misdemeanor crime.

Read more: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/09/21/kupuna-who-were-arrested-tmt-protest-july-plead-not-guilty-obstruction/