Anti-War Groups Threaten Disruptive Action Tuesday, March 18, 2003 NEW YORK — Anti-war demonstrators plan to dramatically ramp up their protest tactics when the shooting begins in Iraq, with a range of action that runs from the humorous to the dangerously illegal. Protesters say they will block federal buildings, military compounds and streets in what they consider appropriate acts of civil disobedience. Others plan to walk out of college classes, picket city halls and state capitols. "People will step up their actions, there will be active civil disobedience," said Simona Sharoni, of United for Peace in Thurston County, Wash. Organizers claim acts of civil disobedience have been planned in more than 50 cities. "When you get to the point that the war actually begins, that's a point when many ... feel they have to take the strongest action they can personally take," said Gordon Clark, national coordinator of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance. But some groups plan more dangerous and illegal action. Anti-war activists in the San Francisco area have drawn up list of protest areas that includes 70 economic and other targets in that city alone, including power plants, water systems, the Federal Reserve, oil companies, the Pacific Exchange and the Transamerica Building. "The bare bones of the plan is to basically shut down the financial district of San Francisco … we basically unplug the system that creates war," said organizer Patrick Reinsborough. Elsewhere, protesters plan to block traffic at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., and sit at the gates of Truax Field in Madison, Wis., which houses state guardsmen. Others will train to breach security at Camp Vandenberg Air Force Base north of Santa Barbara, Calif., and vandalize some of its equipment, according to reports. Protest leaders describe the military base as "the electronic nerve center" for some military operations. Base authorities said they would use deadly force if necessary to keep the base secure. The No Blood for Oil campaign, meanwhile, wants protesters to converge in Times Square in New York City around 5 p.m. on Wednesday and in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington — where five different actions are scheduled to disrupt activity. The anarchist Black Bloc — which organizes for a particular protest action and first showed up in the United States to protest the first Gulf War in 1991 — will reportedly lead demonstrators in carrying out those actions. The group caused major disruptions and damage during anti-globalization riots in Seattle and other cities in recent years. Other groups like Not in Our Name, United for Peace and Justice and International ANSWER are planning walkouts and other events the day after the war starts. Others prefer less disruptive protests. In Baltimore, anti-war protesters plan to wash off an American flag splashed with red paint and oil to symbolize the blood that could be shed in war. A vigil in Ann Arbor, Mich., will include Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayers. And students at Swarthmore College, in Pennsylvania, will lower campus flags to half-staff, among other events. Counter-demonstrators will also be in force, voicing genuine solidarity with the troops. Michigan State's College Republicans will rally to back President Bush and the troops. Their counterparts at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York will hand out American flags. In some cases, the anti-war rhetoric will take a lighter tone. Activists in Columbia, S.C., plan to poke fun at the government's homeland security directives to homeowners by plastering a federal building with duct tape and plastic sheeting. In Portsmouth, N.H., protesters plan to make noise by banging pots and pans. Tim Kingston, a spokesman for the San Francisco-based Global Exchange, said civil disobedience and other disruptive tactics would likely stir more resentment than sympathy. But, he says, "What else are we supposed to do? Sit and say nothing ... and be silent? That's not very American." Fox News' Liza Porteus and Dan Springer and the Associated Press contributed to this report. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81448,00.html At the post where I'm stationed, deadly force has been authorized to protect the base from any infiltration or sabotage. Hope these idiots know what they're getting themselves into...
Just when you think the anti-war movement could gain some steam and move into the mainstream, they do stuff like this and blow it...thank goodness!
It is their right to protest. We live in the United States of America, don't we? If they break the law, arrest them. Otherwise, they have the right.
I don't have a problem with dissent, but this is just silly. March on Washington? ok. Break into or block entries into military compounds? I say arrest them, or if unable to do so the use of deadly force is a responsible response to deadly stupidity. And I really don't see what the point of causing economic chaos is, except to hurt everyone in the country. I sure hope their No War for Oil people don't drive their cars out to the military bases.
Protesters say they will block federal buildings, military compounds and streets in what they consider appropriate acts of civil disobedience.[/I[ this is what the article is about, though, RocketMan. people protest peacefully all the time. this is communication ahead of time saying they plan on taking it a step farther.
I agree with you. They may consider these appropriate acts of civil disobedience, but if they are breaking the law, they should be arrested, and they ought to be prepared for that cold hard fact. This is much different than the Friday night candlelight vigils at Mecom Fountain, which are completely legal and peaceful protests against the war. If those people began to block Main Street, it would be a different story altogether.
That's the point. We do not have a 'right' to protest in any way we can possibly imagine. Our 'right' to protest is limited just as every other 'right' we have is limited. Some of these suggestions are not within our 'rights' to protest, hence should not be supported nor glamorized. Straight out to attempt to sabotage a facility used for electronic communication with our military apparatus is treason, and should be dealt with swiftly, ruthlessly, and as violently as possible.
Well, I wouldn't call blocking the entrance to the facility "sabotage". If they tried to blow it up or mess with the communication equipment, that would be different. However, blocking the entrance is still illegal, and if they do it, they should be arrested for it.
I also hope the leaders of our Armed Forces remember how quickly the tide of public opinion can turn when unarmed protesters are shot by their own military. Kent State, anyone?
Caption: "Anti-War groups held demonstrations today to protest potential Iraqi conflict. Sponsored by the No Blood For Oil Group thousands took to the streets in their brand new Hummer H2's to block military and government offices in protest."
Interfering with the military in any way during war IS treason any way you look at it. If they want to protest they need to do it in appropriate places. Vital military institutions are and should be off limits.
