HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Before 29 year old Federal Agent Christopher Deedy even walked into court, and before any testimony was given, protestors outside the courthouse already had him pegged as guilty of the murder of Kollin Elderts.
"We think it's just really important to be out here holding signs of Kollin Elderts and demanding justice for him," said Liz Rees, World Can't Wait.
The demonstration was organized by a group called the World Can't Wait. Members compare the case to the Trayvon Martin murder trial in Florida saying a white agent used excessive force on a local minority.
"We see a real connection between the whole injustice in the racist system," said Rees.
As for the evidence in the case, it didn't seem to matter.
"For me personally I don't really care who started it, who said what, who called what names. It speaks for itself that you have an unarmed person in McDonald's, two men, one is a federal agent carrying a gun who shot and killed Kollin Elderts. For me that speaks for itself. The rest of the facts should come out but they're not really crucial to me," said Rees. "You have two men, one is a murderer with a weapon, a federal agent and he shot and killed him so what else do people really need to know."
The demonstrators didn't know Elderts personally, but a childhood friend of the victim expressed thanks for their support.
"It's sad because I don't think anybody no matter what they do or what they have done in the past shouldn't deserve to die under a gun or under anything," said Pe'a Howard, Victim's family friend. "Just because he's a federal agent you know they probably walk around with a chip over their head and they think they can do whatever and get away with whatever. I don't think it's right."
Defendant Christopher Deedy had his wife, family and friends by his side for today's first day of trial, however none of them wanted to comment at this time. Families on both sides are going to let it play out in court.
The demonstrators did not plan to be out here every day for this trial that could go several weeks, but they may be back at the conclusion.
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