She said that whenever there's a crime in the news involving someone who is Micronesian, there's an uptick in hateful comments, but “they never fully go away."Īfter the shooting, some local media outlets reported about Sykap's criminal history as a juvenile. citizens who are born in the United States - calling for us to be deported, calling for the parents of minors to be incarcerated, you name it.” What might be difficult for a priest to repeat, Ongelungel doesn't hesitate to describe: “People talking about killing cockroaches, calling for a purge on Micronesians, calling to have us - even those of us who are U.S. She returned to Hawaii nearly 15 years later. “I didn't have training to fight people who looked like my actual blood relatives," she said. mainland against those who are not white. Ongelungel said she felt equipped to deal with the racism on the U.S. She wasn't prepared for the racism in Hawaii, and so she left after a year. “If you tell them you're Micronesian, you won't get a job,” she said her cousin told her. When she first got here, a cousin advised her to tell potential employers she was from Oregon. seems to make people in Hawaii incorrectly believe that Micronesians are a drain on social benefits, said Sha Merirei Ongelungel, a Honolulu resident.Ī Palauan born and raised in Oregon, Ongelungel came to Hawaii “because all I wanted to do was to fit in and be around Pacific Islanders and know what it was like to not stand out like a sore thumb.” Located about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii, the Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 islands with a population of about 107,000. military to control strategic land and water areas in the region. The Compact of Free Association allows citizens from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau to live and work freely in the United States in exchange for allowing the U.S. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Micronesians in Hawaii, who began migrating here in bigger numbers in the 1990s in search of economic and educational opportunities, said Josie Howard of We are Oceania, which advocates for the Micronesian community. She said Sykap’s age will limit what police will be able to release.Īfter a critical performance evaluation from the city’s police commission last week, Ballard said she will resign and retire effective June 1.‘Trump Bucks' Promise Wealth for MAGA Loyalty. She didn’t offer any new details Thursday, saying the shooting is under investigation and that police are reviewing footage from more than 50 officer body cameras. Iremamber Sykap was driving a stolen car that was linked to a burglary, purse snatching, car theft and an armed robbery, Ballard said. Last week, police shot and killed a 16-year-old boy during a car chase. This was the second time this year that police shot and killed someone. This person seriously injured the officers, and their lives were in jeopardy.” “I think what we need to remember, this had nothing to do with race,” she said. mainland over police brutality, Ballard said race wasn’t a factor. When asked how she would address the shooting with the community given protests on the U.S. The medical examiner’s office had not yet released his name. The man doesn’t appear to have a criminal record and appeared to be Black, Ballard said. Police will review footage from cameras the officers wore. The two officers were released and suffered various injuries, she said. The first officer remained hospitalized Thursday with multiple facial fractures, a concussion and injuries to his limbs, Ballard said. The three officers were taken to a hospital. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. “This all happened in less than one minute from Officer One’s arrival,” she said. The second officer fired three rounds, and the man fell to the ground, Ballard said. “But the suspect continued and tackled Officer One, straddled him and began punching Officer One again,” Ballard said. The man then began running and charging at the first officer, who fired one round. The man charged at the third officer and punched him, she said. A third officer then arrived and tried to deploy a stun gun, which Ballard said was ineffective.
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