The easiest way to get it off (in my opinion) is to get some penetrating lubricant (insert you own joke here) Namely gunk or something that'll loosen rusted parts (WD40 would probably work too... Spray that stuff into the gaps at the top of the ebrake where the button is, and just wrench the handle from left to right while pulling forward... this took me literally 2 minutes.
If anyone has any tips on installing a Momo brake handle on a 97 civic could you post? The handle goes too far back on the shaft, and I can't put it down all the way.