Hawaii Is Settling Suit By Activist Who Was Roughed Up After Protesting State Senate's Opening Prayer

Courthouse News Service reported yesterday that the state of Hawaii agreed last week in federal court to settle a lawsuit brought against the president of the state Senate and various security officers by Mitchell Kahle, founder of Hawaii Citizens for Separation of Church and State, and by a cameraman who accompanied Kahle to a Senate session at which Kahle stood up and peacefully protested the prayer that was being offered in opening the session. The complaint (full text) in Kahle v. Hanabusa, (HI Cir. Ct., filed 4/27/2012), subsequently removed to federal court, alleged that Kahle and camera man Kevin Hughes were roughed up by security personnel as they were removed from the Senate galleries after Kahle stood up and protested the invocation. The Hawaii Senate Finance Committee is considering a bill to appropriate $100,000 to implement the settlement in the case.