Antiwar Protest Causes Mild Ruckus
Around 500 antiwar protesters marched on the UC-Santa Barbara campus Tuesday, the Daily Nexus reports—an event that led to the arrest of three, in addition to prompting a counterprotest and the formation of a dramatic-sounding "human barrier":
Although the march was initially peaceful, the demonstration quickly intensified when protesters responded to the arrest of two male participants. After police officers pulled the two men from the crowd and placed them under arrest, several demonstrators rushed to obstruct the path of three police cars. Forming a human barrier, they proceeded to link arms and assume a seated position, demanding the release of the persons in custody.
The protest was held in response to a military industry conference on campus and focused on both the Iraq war and the University of California's involvement in military research. Protesters accused police of excessive jostling ("Then he kicked me when I was on the floor"), but—according to the Nexus reports— activists, too, were less than well behaved—allegedly flipping tables, pounding on doors, ripping down posters (leading to the third arrest), and stealing food (really?).
Despite the mild disruption, police said the event was handled "professionally." It certainly was no University of Southern California "sit-in."
Tags: UC-Santa Barbara | USC
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Comment on "Not so peaceful"
It is funny how people who support war have something to say if the opposition is not so peaceful. The warlords have not been peaceful since day one. Why should the oppressed lay on their backs and wait for the blade to fall on their necks?
Your anti-American claim is also uncalled for and is not only disheartening but has no ground. Read the constitution and learn about our founding "fathers" before you make such uneducated comments.
-mike
WORLD AGAINST WAR
THis is a great history making event, thank you Alison for writing about it. There needs to be media affiliates that write more articles about social justice, even if the writings are biased. Also I wanted to add that my mother and I are going to this worldwide protest in a few weeks and still havent heard about it. I have counted over two hundred different places coordinating to protest the same time period around the world. This would be the largest in mankinds history. I feel that the world is heading for serious times ahead and my family and daughter are scared. My children feel the adults warring. I found the rally here http://worldagainstwar.org Its an organization called 'loose change' and seems they have supported quite a few protests in the past. Why dont we here about the people on the streets doing these things cause that seems important when millions of people volunteer for peace and love. Laura
Not so peaceful...
It's kinda ironic that these anti-war protesters are using aggressive, semi-violent means to get their message across. It makes you wonder, are they anti-war or simply anti-American?
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