thedrifter
06-27-07, 07:01 AM
Arrests made at war protest
Posted: Wednesday, Jun 27th, 2007
BY: TARMO HANNULA
CAPITOLA — Ten war protesters were arrested Tuesday for blocking the entrance to the U.S. Army recruitment office on 41st Avenue. Nearly 100 people took part in the protest against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in front of the U.S. Navy, Marines and Army offices near Clares Street.
Members from local groups including MoveOn.org, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Raging Grannies and the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition — many of them longtime peace activists — waved large signs, sang songs, read poetry and took turns congregating in tight packs at the entrance to the Army office between noon and 2 p.m.
Though the group did have a permit to protest, the permit reportedly expired at 2 p.m.
That’s when Todd Matthews, a property manager, begged the group to disperse.
“I ask you please, to move on,” he said. “I don’t want to see anyone get arrested. You staged your protest and I respect that. But now it’s time to move on.”
Few took his advice.
With about eight officers standing nearby, Capitola Police Officer Andrew Dally then read California Penal Codes 407 and 409 and told the group that they were an unlawful assembly. Several minutes expired and Dally read the codes again, followed by a two-minute warning.
No one budged.
One by one, Capitola police calmly led about six protesters away from the doorway of the Army office to a nearby room. Most of the protesters were members of the Raging Grannies. One woman used a walker as she was led away by police.
One protester spoke out, thanking Capitola police for their gentle approach to the event.
One statement, released by Raging Grannies member Ellie Foster, stated that the event was a “truth-seeking demonstration.”
“We’re raging because you (the military complex) lie,” her statement said. “You’re spending lives and trillions of dollars to kill other people … adding fuel now to this terrible war.”
Another Raging Grannies statement claims that members of the group want to enlist in the U.S. military forces “to make possible the immediate return of all U.S. troops. We plan to be peacemakers in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing empathy and support to those who have suffered so terribly by the U.S. invasion and occupation.”
MoveOn.org member Adele Gardner said she hoped the protest and rally Tuesday would bring a message of peace to area military recruiters and would encourage them to no longer enlist young men and women for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Ten people, including an 80-year-old woman, were cited and released.
Ellie
Posted: Wednesday, Jun 27th, 2007
BY: TARMO HANNULA
CAPITOLA — Ten war protesters were arrested Tuesday for blocking the entrance to the U.S. Army recruitment office on 41st Avenue. Nearly 100 people took part in the protest against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in front of the U.S. Navy, Marines and Army offices near Clares Street.
Members from local groups including MoveOn.org, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Raging Grannies and the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition — many of them longtime peace activists — waved large signs, sang songs, read poetry and took turns congregating in tight packs at the entrance to the Army office between noon and 2 p.m.
Though the group did have a permit to protest, the permit reportedly expired at 2 p.m.
That’s when Todd Matthews, a property manager, begged the group to disperse.
“I ask you please, to move on,” he said. “I don’t want to see anyone get arrested. You staged your protest and I respect that. But now it’s time to move on.”
Few took his advice.
With about eight officers standing nearby, Capitola Police Officer Andrew Dally then read California Penal Codes 407 and 409 and told the group that they were an unlawful assembly. Several minutes expired and Dally read the codes again, followed by a two-minute warning.
No one budged.
One by one, Capitola police calmly led about six protesters away from the doorway of the Army office to a nearby room. Most of the protesters were members of the Raging Grannies. One woman used a walker as she was led away by police.
One protester spoke out, thanking Capitola police for their gentle approach to the event.
One statement, released by Raging Grannies member Ellie Foster, stated that the event was a “truth-seeking demonstration.”
“We’re raging because you (the military complex) lie,” her statement said. “You’re spending lives and trillions of dollars to kill other people … adding fuel now to this terrible war.”
Another Raging Grannies statement claims that members of the group want to enlist in the U.S. military forces “to make possible the immediate return of all U.S. troops. We plan to be peacemakers in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing empathy and support to those who have suffered so terribly by the U.S. invasion and occupation.”
MoveOn.org member Adele Gardner said she hoped the protest and rally Tuesday would bring a message of peace to area military recruiters and would encourage them to no longer enlist young men and women for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Ten people, including an 80-year-old woman, were cited and released.
Ellie