‘March to Evict Monsanto’ Scheduled Saturday in Hilo

A protest is scheduled Saturday in Hilo against genetic engineered organisms and a company prominent in their development.

The “March to Evict Monsanto” will begin with sign-waving at 9 a.m. at the King Kamehameha statue near Hilo’s Bayfront. At 9:30 a.m., participants will move to the Mo`oheau Bandstand for a “non-GMO potluck,” entertainment, speeches and other activities.

Event organizers said those scheduled to speak from 11 a.m. to noon include Sen. Russell Ruderman, the owner of Island Naturals who represents Puna in the state Senate, “food sovereignty” activist Walter Ritte and University of Hawaii agriculture professor Hector Valenzuela.

Organizers said the event is designed to encourage Hawaii residents to support non-GMO foods and “investigate land-stewardship practices by landowners such as Kamehameha Schools” which is leasing land to Monsanto for GMO testing.

“Hawaii is the global research lab of the world for genetic engineered organisms testing with over 5,000 open-field experiments statewide,” they said.

Those in charge of the event are critical of practices employed in those efforts as well as the companies involved in the growing of genetically engineered crops in Hawaii.

Organizers said that this will be the third of five such events being held statewide.