Rights

Rights

According to the first amendment of the U.S. constitution, protesting peacefully is a right. In Hawaii those that were against the annexation spoke up through their protesting. Below are examples of the people of Hawaii exercising this right.

The Queen Protests

Queen Liliuokalani made her stance clear. She knew that annexation wasn't right to her nor to her Native Hawaiian citizens. It wasn't fair in general because it was by force. But it was her responsibility to advocate for her people, and she took that seriously. So she took the matter to the U.S. government. This isn't the first time that you would find the Queen protesting. She tried to protest against the overthrow too. 

Hawaii's ex-queen files a protest. Ex-queen Liliuokalani. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/92513972/>.

This is the letter that was sent by Queen Liliuokalani (shown in the picture) to the U.S. government in protest to the overthrow. 

“Annexation of Hawaii.” Annexation of Hawaii | University of Hawaii at Manoa Library, https://libweb.hawaii.edu/digicoll/annexation/protest/liliu5.php. Accessed 24 January 2025.