UPDATE: Military Recruiter Chased Off by Protesters (Seattle)

Yahoo News ^

[USArmySpouse]

A picture's worth a thousand words. My question: Why didn't the security guards escort the PROTESTERS out of the building??? Disgusting.

Updates:

To: StarCMC; trussell; Brad's Gramma; Howie66; speedy; Hondo1952; Lando Lincoln; ...

URGENT ACTION BY ANY WASHINGTON STATE FREEPERS NEEDED ASAP!>>>>>

AND- Would you like the number to call someone at Students against the War who organized this stunt? Well here you go!

This is an email which I received regarding the latest in the case of the students who broke the law and ran the Army recruiter off the Seattle Campus. Please ping anyone who you think would be interested. Perhaps someone can freep their press conference????

________________________________________________________ This is the email

hi, this is a follow up email concerning the press release sent out from Students Against War, a Seattle Central Community College student association.

In protest of George Bush's inauguration on January 20th there was a walkout on the Seattle Central campus. During the walkout a group of well over one hundred students gathered around the table of two military recruiters. The recruiters were then escorted off campus by security. Some actions taken by participants have brought about disciplinary threats against Students Against War. An ultimatum was presented by the school administration - "If we do not receive a copy of your apology letter by Thursday, February 3, 2005, your club will cease to be in good standing on campus," said the letter from the Administration.

Students Against War along with members of the outside peace community will be holding a press conference tomarrow at 12:00 noon on the south plaza of SCCC.

if you have any questions please contact Gerald, a SAW representive, at: 1-206-329-2276 ___________________________________________________

spelling errors belongs to the stupid students against the war....

291 posted on 02/03/2005 6:37:56 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 290 | View Replies ]

To: All

Here is some more:

Students Against War will hold a press conference regarding threatened disciplinary action by the Seattle Central Community College administration on Thursday February 3rd at 12 noon on the south plaza of Seattle Central Community College.

In protest of George Bush's inauguration on January 20th, students walked out on the Seattle Central campus. During the walkout a group of well over one hundred students surrounded a table of three military recruiters and chanted anti-war slogans until they were escorted off campus by security. Some actions taken by participants have brought about disciplinary threats against Students Against War. An ultimatum was presented by the school administration - "If we do not receive a copy of your apology letter by Thursday, February 3, 2005, your club will cease to be in good standing on campus," said the letter from the Administration.

SAW's official statement in response to the Seattle Central Administration:

The group Students Against War is not responsible for the actions taken against the military recruiters on the 20th of January. We do not have the authority to speak on behalf of the individuals involved.

Any disciplinary action taken against Students Against War is without precedent or basis. SAW engaged in two permitted actions on that day, which included the rally in the south plaza and the student march to Westlake Plaza. The congregation around the military recruiters was a spontaneous event carried out by people on their own accord. SAW cannot represent these individuals or their actions, and cannot be legally held accountable.

As to the actions themselves, students were expressing their feelings about the intrusion of the military into our schools. Military recruitment on campuses nationwide has been stepped up along with military spending, while funding for education has been repeatedly cut. Military recruiters on our campus prey on the lack of options for low-income students. SAW does not support sending our low-income youth to fight and die in a war that is unjust and unfair.

Students Against War is sorry, but not about the actions of the 20th. SAW is sorry that soldiers in Iraq are dying. SAW is sorry that billions of public tax dollars are being pumped bullet by bullet into foreign soil while increasing numbers of Americans live near or under the poverty line. SAW is supporting the troops by working to bring them home.

These are our sisters and brothers. If Sgt. Due was in Iraq, one among three military recruiters asked to leave, SAW would support his right to life and human decency by bringing him home. When our friends are sent to kill and die because they didn't have the money to pay for college, we say bring them home. Why should American soldiers face death and mutilation for the lies of the Bush administration? We say bring them home. We, as Students Against War, ask you as friends and families of soldiers, to defend those troops by bringing them home NOW.

To contact Students Against War, please call our spokesperson Gerald at 1-206-329-2276

294 posted on 02/03/2005 6:59:55 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 291 | View Replies ]

To: kittymyrib

School is dropping it's demand for apology and student group is pushing for removal of all recruiters. This is the first article I have seen with Sgt. Due's statement of what happened.

Anti-war group targets recruiters Effort launched after campus clash By JAKE ELLISON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A mob of Seattle Central Community College students chased military recruiters off campus last month, after a tense confrontation. Now a student anti-war group is stepping up efforts to keep them out for good.

Students Against War has launched a petition drive aimed at persuading administrators to order a halt to on-campus military recruiting.

The group points to a November ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Philadelphia-based court held that a college opposed to the policy barring gays and lesbians in the armed forces has a First Amendment right to protest by blocking access to military recruiters.

Central students opposed to the war in Iraq have been fighting the presence of military recruiters all year. The group organized a protest to coincide with President Bush's inauguration Jan. 20, but it started sooner than scheduled when several hundred students surrounded two Army recruiters.

The students hurled insults and water bottles, according to witnesses, forcing the recruiters to flee under the protection of campus security officers. There were no reports of injuries.

Administrators initially threatened to take disciplinary action against Students Against War, which denied any responsibility for the incident.

Yesterday, however, officials backed off their demand that the group apologize to the recruiters or be stripped of their affiliation with the college.

Central President Mildred Ollee said she dropped the ultimatum after discovering that members of other student groups were involved in the confrontation.

"I'm not prepared to go on a witch hunt," she said. "We did the best we could do in this, and I believe the students have learned something and we're going to move forward."

Leaders of the anti-war group told a small crowd of students yesterday that they intend to press for the military recruiting ban.

"We do not want the military in our schools asking our friends and family to fight for a war that is wrong," Nicole Thomas said. "We want recruiters out of our schools."

The incident was captured in a newspaper photograph that has made its way into conservative Web blogs. That spurred a wave of e-mails to Central administrators denouncing the conduct of the students.

One of the recruiters involved in the confrontation, Sgt. Jeffrey Due, said he was stunned how quickly things got out of hand. "I was in outright shock that they were protesting me," he said.

Due had been warned about the student walk-out demonstration, but said he didn't expect that kind of trouble. "They were all going by making off-hand comments and saying 'no war.' We just waved at them," Due said. "Five minutes later, there was just a mob of 500 people surrounding the table."

Due said he was hit in the head with newspapers, and water bottles whizzed by, pounding the vending machine and wall behind him.

The flap has energized Central's anti-war effort, sparking the petition drive. The group's goal is to get recruiters off campus "by legal means," said spokesman Gerald Lisi.

He argued that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is in conflict with the college's code barring discrimination on campus. While petitions circulate, the group is consulting with attorneys and researching the issue.

But Ollee pointed to a government rule that allows federal money to be withheld from any college that refuses to give military recruiters access to students and student-contact information.

"I am under the law and will comply with the law as long as it is the law," she said.

P-I reporter Jake Ellison can be reached at 206-448-8346 or jakeellison@seattlepi.com

301 posted on 02/04/2005 5:09:06 AM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 300 | View Replies ]

URGENT ACTION BY ANY WASHINGTON STATE FREEPERS NEEDED ASAP!>>>>>

Here is some more:

School is dropping it's demand for apology and student group is pushing for removal of all recruiters. This is the first article I have seen with Sgt. Due's statement of what happened.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

ACTION NEEDED-MAKE SOME NOISE FREEPERS!!!

If this photo upsets you please call the President’s Office at Seattle Community College at (206) 587-4144 and ask that something be done about this. This story hasn't made any National News (MSM looks the other way.) The public relations person at the Seattle Army recruiting office has heard nothing more about this story getting covered. I contacted Sean Hannity to see if he would cover the story and force the school to get the students to apologize.

Of course even though they broke the law here- there is no talk of prosecuting them ... YET! How long before one of these bratty students spits on one of our troops?

I read on a blog, where they were bragging about the victory of the students, that this actually happened on two of Seattle's campuses at about the same time. So don't let them get away with it! For heaven's sake...we have the photo of one mob. Why are they allowed to break the law and have their photo on the internet doing so?

Nothing will done unless a bunch of people make some MORE noise about this.

CONTACT SEAN HANNITY HERE

Thank you!

If you would like to be on the "Freepers for action for our military men and women" ping list please freepmail me. Don't mess with our troops or vets."

[StarCMC]

Here's my message to Hannity:

What is going on in Seattle?? Why are students at Seattle Central Community College permitted to run an army recruiter out? Why were the STUDENTS not run out on a rail? This country is going back to vietnam war days unless we stop it!!! PLEASE cover this story. Those soldiers - as well as the rest of our military - need to know the majority of Americans are outraged by the behavior of a few idiot morons who will most likely be drawing unemployment after their stint at the community college is over. Thank you!

[StarCMC]

Why do I even bother defending this country?

Because you a real man. They are idiots. And what you and others have done gives them the right to be idiots. It also gives the rest of us the right to call them idiots. Thank you.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good work Star!!

[mlc9852]

I wonder where they think their rights come from? From namby pamby left-wing wussies? No, from the blood and sweat and tears of those who understand that Freedom is never free, there is a price to be paid. Why weren't they arrested?

[GATOR NAVY]

Several hundred students walked out of classes at several Seattle colleges and universities to protest the inauguration of President Bush

LMAO!! Yeah-that'll show him! Freaking morons...

[canadianally]

Would someone please find the email of the municipal and state police? Then, email them the picture of the vermin with the criminal code relevant to said activities and demand that charges be laid.

What criminal code hath the vermin violated when they destroyed property of the federal government (literature)?

[Charlespg]

lets give the dammed place to the taliban

[The Grammarian]

Why didn't the security guards escort the PROTESTERS out of the building??? Disgusting.

Easier to escort one out than twenty.

[reformed_democrat]

lets give the dammed place to the taliban

I think they've already got it.

Actually, there's a very simple solution to this -- cut off Federal funding.

This college, like almost every other school in this country, receives Federal funds through Pell Grants and guaranteed student loans. If the school cannot control it's inmates, the Pell Grants and loans go away.

Let the little b@stards flip burgers for their tuition.

[LtKerst]

Seattle Central Community College

Seattle...Washington State

Home of the Crooked Governor's Election.

I am convinced that Students cease to improve their IQ's
when they enter a Liberal Arts College.

Where's the Diversity of Ideas?

Marx,Lennin,PolPot,Chomski, Castro...thats the Variety you get.

[LtKerst]

Those Students are Just Bitter Loosers and can't believe they didnt win this last Election.

[El Gato]

The scum of Seattle usurp the right of this Sgt's rightful work assignment and duty to do his job. Where was the Seattle Police Department and their duty to protect Sgt. Due's rights???

Not to mention destruction of government property, that is the brochures and other literature.

[El Gato]

Since he's Army, you should be able to email him at"

hisfirstname . hislastname @us.army.mil

Yes, his email address is jeff . due @ us.army.mil (without the spaces)

[edfrank_1998]

Fine. Cut Federal funding from that place (Pell Grants, etc.).

[gimme1ibertee]

Round The ba$tards up & ship their butts to Iraq!!

[gimme1ibertee]

Why do I even bother defending this country?

Because you love your country,and you are a good and decent person (although I don't personally know you, I take that on faith)...;)
Anyone who's a Free Republic Award Winner is AOK in my book!

[Texas Termite]

Disgusting! They don't realize that they can be idiots because our armed forces are protecting their rotten selves!!

Nana

[GOP_1900AD]

The recruiter is trying to keep a straight face. Talk about rolling with the punches. I'd love to have a beer with this guy.

[DennisR]

Okay, everyone, here is the number to call at Seattle Central Community College, which is ground zero in the most liberal part of Seattle: 206-587-4133. Let them know how you feel and that you want charges pressed.