(BIVN) – Tulsi Gabbard, the Congresswoman representing Hawaiʻi Island in Washington, released a video statement on Friday, urging Governor David Ige to delay construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, withdraw his emergency declaration, “and bring leaders together from both sides in the spirit of aloha to hoʻoponopono and determine the best path forward.”

Gabbard, who is a Democrat, said “it is wrong” that state leaders approved the development of the TMT on Mauna Kea, “without first ensuring the timely removal of decommissioned facilities along with full restoration of those sites.”

According to the Tulsi 2020 campaign, Gabbard today arrived in Puerto Rico “in an act of solidarity with the citizens of Puerto Rico who are exercising their first amendment rights to protest government corruption.”

Gabbard’s statement on Mauna Kea followed a tweet from Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), in which he stated: “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.”

However, Sanders later deleted the tweet, apparently, without explanation.

Gabbard endorsed Sanders for president in 2016.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also tweeted:

There is something special and powerful happening in America.



From PR to Hawaii, people are coming together to protect their dignity, rights, + sacred land w massive, peaceful, collective action.



It is something to behold.

Ocasio-Cortez also tweeted a link to the Hawaii Community Bail fund.



State Senator Kai Kahele, who is running for the Congressional seat currently held by Gabbard, told the Hawai’i Trubune-Herald the day before that he will ask Governor Ige today “for a moratorium on the construction of (Thirty Meter Telescope) for the next 60 days.”

Here is Gabbard’s full statement: