Posted on 01/20/2005 7:30:43 PM PST by USArmySpouse
Edited on 02/04/2005 5:22:35 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
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; ...
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....
To: All
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
To: kittymyrib
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
The protester were like Hitler's borwnshirts. This was thuggery and intolerant intimidation.
The tactic is VERY VERY similar.
Hence the term 'fascists'. It's less about the political program advocated and more about the political means used.
hmmm, this shows how on the internet you can seem a different person entirely ... I thought you were a Russian guy, with that handle. I've read quite a few comments of your thinking it was a Russian perspective. LOL. now I see your bio says you are young, black, Christian, and sound like a very sharp guy.
Anyway, 'spetz", take care and if you are in Austin anytime, look me up. Cheers!
You just do not recruit for support or love our military in the greater King County area. They really hate that and these "peace" protestors will show their true colors every time.
Yup--they hate the military---right until their clueless a**ses need their protection.
FReep the college!
Anyone else think they should let them settle this a-la Heartbreak Ridge.
"The Pit"
From one soldier to another, Sergeant, I'll tell you why: We do it for the same reason my dad and my brother did, the same reason I did. We do it for my little girl. For your children. We do it because someone gave you and I a gift far greater than anything we deserved - the gift of growing up in a free country. Men and women far better than you or I died so that you and I could have the chance to grow up free. You and I took the chance that we might have to place our bodies between our homes and war's desolation so that our kids could grow up free.
That gift of freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We do it so that our grandchildren's grandchildren can grow up knowing and loving democracy and freedom as much as we do.
Thank you for your service, and for giving my daughter and I a free country to grow up in.
BTTT!!!
This makes me angry. The girl behind him is clearly flipping him off with both hands. *grrr!!!*
Thanks to you both.
Got it. Thanks. I've already got the emailer fired up and goin! Woo Hoo!
cool!
It was been my privilege
Thank you. I left two letters from myself and my spouse.
Thanks Daybreak! It is so good to see you, BTW! I am glad you did that for the good guys!
Mildred -
I don't know how to run a university, I am not as accomplished as you, so I hope you are not offended when I say you might want to teach those kids ...
1) some tolerance for other perspectives.
2) everybody has a right to speak freely
3) they were a mob
4) they are bullys
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20050120/capt.watw10201202221.inauguration_protests_wash_watw102.jpg
Maybe a debate can be organized. One that drills all the way down to the values of the opposing sides. Invite the media, and make sure it is at least 3 hours long, so there is plenty of time to drill all the way down.
They are young, they have the energy.
I don't expect that you micromanage your university, but I hope I don't hear of this happening at your university again.
[Signed]
I placed a call to the school and spoke to a woman that had a foreign accent. She was courteous BUT she could not understand my email address even tho I repeated it at least 5 times.
I want the students that participated in this mob scene suspended! The woman said she woud relay my message and I told her I would also like a response to my complaint. For her to take my email address and update me on what action the school was planning to take.
Finally,I hung up the phone in frustration but will call again today.
Yes, please add my name to your list.
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