HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — While Guam Delegate James Moylan discussed various initiatives during a press conference Monday, he also took the time to address some concerns that occurred during a demonstration at his district office in Hagåtña last week.
Images and videos of the demonstration can be found on social media. Demonstrators are seen holding signs reading “Peace for Palestine” and “Palestine will be free,” which refer to the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.
According to media reports, more than 10,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the beginning of the war, which was initiated by brutal attacks carried out by Hamas forces against southern Israeli communities in early October. Those initial attacks killed 1,400 people, while around 240 were taken hostage, media reports have stated.
But now, as the death toll continues to rise in Gaza, many in the international community have called for a ceasefire. Demonstrators appeared to be calling for Moylan to do the same.
One video, posted on Instagram by “marianasforpalestine,” showed a group of women waiting at the doors of Moylan’s district office.
According to the caption for the video, a group of four youths accompanied by one organizer stood outside the locked building for several minutes before a staffer came out to receive a joint statement. The staffer indicated that people inside the building were nervous, the post stated.
Bobby Shringi, Moylan’s chief of staff, acknowledged no violence actually occurred at the demonstration, but said there have been protests in Washington D.C. involving groups “who have supported a very similar position of this group last week.”
“And unfortunately, they have not been very friendly,” Shringi said.
“There was some complaints about the fact that we had our doors locked, that we had our elevators locked. It actually was a decision by the landowner of the building. But it was after a discussion that we had with her to make sure that everybody is safe. One general rule … is that, the way you de-escalate the issue, is you avoid the confrontation. And our goal was to ensure that nobody comes in here and injures somebody. Fortunately for us, it was a very smooth and clean protest,” Shringi added.
He stated that documentation left behind by the demonstrators is in Arabic, and will need translating.
Moylan said they’re free to talk, but that’s usually done through “a simple appointment.”
“In the meantime, I’m not going to stop what we need to do for our island, like H-2B workers, (the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act), like military housing, missile defense. We’re already focused on things that will bring positive aspects for the island. We have other conversations of course … There’s a lot of places you can come to meet me and talk to me freely. First thing is don’t protest. Talk to my office, we’ll be happy to help you,” Moylan added.
The delegate clarified that he and his office “stand with the nation” and support Israel.
“There’s information that was provided for congressional members, and videos that we’ve seen that is very – it’s terrible. To avoid all that, that’s very important. And a peaceful way is to stand with the ones that represent democracy. And that’s where we stand as well,” Moylan said.
In this file photo, people are seen gathered in front of the Governor’s Complex at Adelup, as they demonstrate in support of Palestine and the end of violence in that region.
