Protesters stand against military over lack of public hearing for training range

Prutehi Litekyan - Save Ritidian and numerous other community organizations held a peaceful protest last week after the Department of Defense denied them the opportunity for a public hearing to further discuss concerns related to the surface danger zone for the U.S. Marine Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field.

"I offer myself to protect and to defend the beliefs, the culture, the language, the air, the water and the land of the Chamoru" are lines translated from the Guam Pledge. The rain didn't stop peaceful protesters from raising their voices about the denial of participation in public hearings and forums to discuss the surface danger zone over Ritidian. recently,  Prutehi Litekyan- Save Ritidian and numerous other community organizations called upon island residents to join them in protest at Adelup and at the ITC intersection.

Fifth generation Litekyan landowner and member of the group Maria Hernandez said, "We also are advocating for our fresh water aquifer this firing range is being built above the northern lens aquifer which provides about 80-90% of our island's drinking water so we are you know that's scary it's really scary that our main water source is being compromised we have in past public hearings spoken to officials that kind of the aquifer in regards to the build up and they couldn't even answer some questions that our community was asking."

The protest was in response to the department of defense's decision to not hold a public hearing for the upcoming Marine firing range surface danger zone at Northwest Field, which would also impact Ritidian and the surrounding areas.  According to Hernandez DOD denied Prutehi Litekyan's request for another public hearing because they said they already have enough information on the matter.

But Hernandez says that if the top experts that are supposed to have knowledge don't even know the potential dangers that the firing range will pose, how can we trust that our aquifer will be safe.

"To stand for our land, for our water, our northern lens aquifer, this firing range is being built above our main water source," she explained. "We should all be very concerned about for the potential contamination to our aquifer."

Prutehi Litekyan, so far, has received 24,000 signatures on their petition page, 2 resolutions have been passed calling for a pause on the construction of the range which would extend over ritidian and almost 3 miles into the ocean. For more information, you can visit their Facebook page at Prutehi Litekyan - Save Ritidian.