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UPDATE: Military Recruiter Chased Off by Protesters (Seattle)
Yahoo News ^

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; ...

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!)
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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!)
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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!)
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Washington
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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!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Well, the Seattle P-I is now on it.

And I just e-mailed Mike Adams of Townhall.com about it.


302 posted on 02/04/2005 9:38:30 AM PST by Josef1235 (My blog: http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com)
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To: Josef1235
Have you heard anything yet? Check out this site.. WARNING it is disgusting!

LOOK HERE

303 posted on 02/08/2005 6:21:30 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: StarCMC; Josef1235
Here is some more.. THE LEFTISTS LOVE THIS STORY

MORE HERE

Here is a letter from the faculty ad visor for Students against the war RE: the Demand for apology.

From: Knutson, Peter Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 8:45 AM To: Central; North; Siegal; South; SVI
Subject: SCCC demands student group apologize to the U.S. Army To: GNA Garcia
Coordinator of Student Involvement
Student Leadership Division
Seattle Central Community College

In re: Your letter; Public Disclosure Request

I write in response to your emails of 1/27/05. You state that the student organization, Students Against War, of which I am the faculty advisor, will be disbanded as of February 3, 2005 unless the group sends a formal apology to representatives of the United States Army regarding “the events of Friday, January 21, 2005.” Should they refuse your demand, Students Against War will be denied the use of public facilities at SCCC by the college administration.

I assume you actually refer to the Inaugural Protest of Thursday, January 20. I further assume that you write this letter in your official capacity as a functionary of the SCCC administration in the Division of Student Leadership.

You allege that Students Against War engaged in “intensely alarming behavior” in the presence of Army recruiters. You claim that members of the organization Students Against War menaced people in the hallways, disregarded civil rights of others and touted such behavior as “admirable” at the subsequent Westlake Center counter-inaugural demonstration. You provide no sources or names of witnesses. Based on hearsay, you would deny this campus group their voice on our campus, without benefit of due process. Consequent to your allegations I therefore append to this letter three legally binding Public Disclosure Requests to which you and your supervisors are required to respond.

I was teaching during the time in which you allege that Students Against War was harassing U.S. Army personnel. I have subsequently spoken with SCCC staff and students who were directly present in the Atrium during the time you reference. The following are the facts as I have been able to ascertain them:

1-Students Against War was permitted to conduct a rally on the South Lawn. This rally of nearly a thousand individuals was conducted peacefully.

2-Students Against War did not promote or orchestrate the events in the Atrium. You are correct when you state that Students Against War did not plan to harass recruiters or behave in an uncivil fashion towards the military recruiters who, in your view, had “equal rights to be on our campus” along with students. Not only did the group not plan such actions, but the group did not commit such actions.

Students who demonstrated against the presence of military recruiters in the Atrium did so as a matter of individual conscience, not as members of an organized student group. As faculty advisor to many campus organizations since 1996, I have never been instructed by your office that any student group is to be responsible for policing the entirety of the SCCC campus.

3-U.S. Army recruiters were informed by SCCC staff prior to their activities that a large protest was scheduled for Inauguration Day and it was politely suggested that their visit be postponed. The recruiters ignored this request and proceeded to set up shop with knowledge of the campus context.

4-Seattle Police officers and SCCC security were in communication during the Atrium incident. SCCC security was immediately present and informed the SPD that their assistance was not necessary. Despite the immediate presence of security and nearby SPD, who presumably would have witnessed the menacing behavior and civil rights violation you allege, there were no citations made. If enforcement personnel on the scene did not witness violations of law, what specific institutional standards did the students violate?

I am troubled that the SCCC administration would force our students to write an apology to the U.S. Army under duress. What kind of a lesson does this teach them? If the group’s conduct violated the law or well-defined institutional standards, then give them due process, and if found in violation, apply sanctions. But don’t force them to write false words that violate their integrity . That smacks of dictatorship. I didn’t think we were teaching that.

Peter Knutson, Ph.D. Faculty Advisor, Students Against War Anthropology Instructor Seattle Central Community College

Now there is a guy who needs a good freeping.

Anthropologist Humanities and Social Sciences
Office 4102
Phone: 206-5876978
Email: pknuts@sccd.ctc.edu

304 posted on 02/08/2005 6:44:17 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

What an effing moron - hello!!! There's a stinking picture. Oh - wait!! He must be BLIND so he can't see the picture.


305 posted on 02/08/2005 7:05:03 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross
I am SO honked off. Now I won't be able to sleep.
306 posted on 02/08/2005 7:06:48 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Thank you for your vigilence. If not for more Democrap from BroILst, I'd be able to open fire on them.

As it stands, Josef's Public Journal is currently engaging other critical targets for a revote in WA St. Sound Politics, however, is providing our grunts w/ some cover. Go see http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/003701.html for the latest.

Let's keep this thread alive. There's more work to do here.


307 posted on 02/08/2005 8:53:48 PM PST by Josef1235 ("KVI is ri...KVI is ri...KVI is right" Ken Schram (and BTW: M-E))
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To: StarCMC
Sorry Star...Get some sleep.

Perhaps tomorrow someone in the mainstream media will pick this up- and show why these losers push so hard to have recruiters off campuses- all the while taking tax payers money for their own aid.

Seattle Community College is a land grant college-and the administration allows this behavior. It is just a political move by the smelly hippies.

Apparently they are allowed to break laws and accost our service men and women.

And it makes our enemies feel really good to see it!! It looks like the left has big plans to target our military here on our own shores...

Let's see what the US Supreme Court says about it.

Seriously- no matter what they say about it- the left has claimed war on our military.

I like how they "support the troops.. just not the war". The students in that photo hit this man,SGT.Due, in the head with garbage. (No wonder they love John Kerry so much-sick!)

308 posted on 02/08/2005 9:05:12 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

I just can't believe that with a freaking PICTURE of the students readily available this guy can say "no one saw it happening!" Good grief - it's "I didn't have sex with that woman" all over again!! Well, the DNA doesn't lie -- and neither does the film. What a total freaking moron!!!


309 posted on 02/08/2005 9:10:06 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: StarCMC
How about insinuating that Sgt, Due is a liar. Due states that he was harassed and hit in the head at Seattle Community College on the that day, with garbage and water bottles. They have witnesses that say that recruiting material was ripped up and thrown in the recruiters faces.

They have people on record bragging about the "victory" later in the day at the school.

So I guess that everyone is lying.... except for the Students Against War people- who say they don't know if they represent the students responsible for the harassment of Sgt.Due--- but then go on to explain the students motives for the outburst against him.

310 posted on 02/08/2005 9:17:45 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

It's certainly not passing my smell test!!

As a parent of 4 future college students, when my kids are ready to hit higher education I will be sniffing around their choices for this stuff. My money will NOT go to school that allows this kind of bad behavior to continue.


311 posted on 02/08/2005 9:21:49 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: StarCMC

PING!


312 posted on 02/16/2005 6:54:53 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Can you believe how ignorant they were?? Wait - yes - I can!


313 posted on 02/16/2005 6:57:24 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross
Did you see those Students? I couldn't believe what I was watching! I got a call from a friend to watch Hannity and Colmes! (*wink)

The students defense it seems, is that the military recruiters were told not to be on campus that day because of a planned protest. WHAT?!?! They imply it was Sgt. Due's own fault things were thrown at him? They imply he is a liar???!!! They get to change the laws because they want to protest???

Philosophizing here: So if the KKK wanted to have a rally at that school they would be right to tell all African American students to stay home?

DISGUSTING!

314 posted on 02/16/2005 7:02:02 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: StarCMC
#314 is of course to you.. I haven't taken up talking to myself.. Yet!
315 posted on 02/16/2005 7:04:01 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Ugh! Are we allowed to say they were typical liberal?? Couldn't answer questions asked of them and gave a lame excuse. How coud they say that a soldier hadn't given them the right to go to college and to protest. They were definitely candidates for Jay Leno's Battle of the Stupid All-Stars or whatever it's called.


316 posted on 02/16/2005 7:10:02 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: RepublicanMensan

It's too bad our troops fight for everyone in the United States instead of just those who appreciate it. I think a student trip to Iraq is in order for these liberals. Let them see how well our enemies appreciate them and fight for them and how many would kill them. I don't understand these people, the brainwashing that goes on at these college campuses must be something right out of the twilight zone.


317 posted on 02/16/2005 7:13:16 PM PST by TheForceOfOne (Social Security – I thought pyramid schemes were illegal!)
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To: StarCMC
No kidding. They were an embarrassment to college students... even Colmes was going after them for being such idiots!!

This must be what finally got the Main stream Media's attention...LOOK HERE

Another case of the Bloggers and Freerepublic getting the story first and not letting it go. MSM should be ashamed of themselves.

318 posted on 02/16/2005 7:13:24 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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To: StarCMC
Just wanted to update the thread: Sgt. Due has returned to work at the Seattle Community College campus:

LOOK HERE

Prayers for him!

319 posted on 02/21/2005 6:57:09 AM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Just say no to the ACLU!)
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