Officials in Hawaii said Friday that they will not call up additional National Guard troops or use force on peaceful telescope protesters blocking access to the state's highest peak.
Governor David Ige said that his priority is to keep everyone in the community safe, including the activists at the base of Mauna Kea. The 80 guard members on the Big Island since the start of the protests will remain, state officials said.
"We will not be utilizing tear gas, as some of the rumours have been (saying)," Ige said. "We are looking for the best way forward without hurting anyone."
"This failure and a history of broken promises has resulted in the standoff that we are seeing today."
Earlier in the day, Sanders said in a tweet that has since been deleted: "We must guarantee native people's right to self-determination and their right to protest. I stand with Native Hawaiians who are peacefully demonstrating to protect their sacred mountain of Mauna Kea."
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