Question of Civil Rights Infringement Spawns Protest

The Johnson Center came to life on Thursday when a protestor refused to comply with requests to leave the premises and was arrested by university police.

According to eyewitnesses in the J.C., sociology major Tariq Khan, wearing a variety of signs, was standing beside a kiosk housing representatives from the U.S. Marines. Among other things, the signs read, Israel Out of Palestine,? U.S. out of Iraq, U.S. out of North America and Recruiters Lie, Don't be Deceived. Senior communication major LaTasha Durrett said that "the recruiters were just kind of looking at him." Margo Scheinhaus, a graduate student studying communication, said Khan was asked repeatedly to leave and refused, motivating someone to call university police. After Officer Theodore Reynolds arrived at the scene, Khan allegedly tried to avoid him and ran up onto the stage, where he was apprehended by the officer, according to eyewitness Mitch Miller, a senior business major. A post on dc.indymedia.org tells a different story, saying that Khan walked away after telling the officer that he was not doing anything wrong.

Aaron Hayes, Assistant Director of Building Services, said that Khan was asked to leave for violating University Policy number 1110.

"He was handing out information inside the facility, which is against university policy," Hayes said.

The problem was not his protest, but the fact that he was inside the building. Director of the Office of Events Management Barbara Lubar said that the JC North Plaza has been designated as a free speech zone and students wishing to protest may at this location without prior permission. Chief of University Police Michael Lynch said that J.C. operations called "for the police to assist with someone who was passing out literature" and that the confrontation resulted in an arrest. The indymedia.org post also raises the question of whether Khan was mistreated by the officer, saying that Khan "was taken to the police station on campus where the police asked him if he needed any medical treatment (as a result of their brutal handling of [Khan]).

"He replied that yes he did, and Officer Reynolds said he'd get him some, but never did." Attempts to reach Reynolds were unsuccessful. Lieutenant Norman Barnes, Assistant Operations Bureau Commander for the Fairfax campus police, said that is because Reynolds was out of town over the weekend. Barnes also said that ?until [Khan] has his day in court, we?re not going to comment.?

In response to these events, a counter protest has been scheduled in the J.C. plaza by the clock tower. History major David Curtis is one of those spearheading the event, which he said is addressing four issues: 1) the presence of military recruiters on campus, 2) freedom of expression, 3) freedom of expression especially in relation to expressing anti-war sentiment and 4) the charges against Khan.

"We'?re looking for the university to drop all charges against [Khan]....what I understand [from university authorities] is that they really didn?t have a basis for asking him to leave the Johnson Center," Curtis said. Curtis and Khan will be among the speakers at the event, which will take place from 12-1 p.m. Monday.

A short note was sent out earlier today to all George Mason students, reading:

To the campus community:
An incident occurred last Thursday in the Johnson Center which involves the University’s commitment to the freedom of speech and the related freedom of nonviolent protest. A student protesting the war in Iraq was allegedly stripped of a protest sign, was asked to leave the building, and was later arrested.
George Mason University reiterates its deep commitment to the freedom of speech. We must work to avoid attacks on expressions of free speech, including destruction of signs and other written statements.
Disagreements about exactly what occurred are inevitable, and the University is not currently in a position to establish responsibilities. Pending further inquiry, including into police behavior, we will commit to review Johnson Center and other relevant policies, to make sure they are compatible with freedom of speech, and we will work to identify those individuals responsible for any alleged violations. We reiterate our position in principle, and at the same time seek to learn from the incident how better to maintain this principle in practice.
Peter N. Stearns
Provost

Of course, this event occurred in the Johnson Center, which houses a food court, the GMU Bookstore, a part of the school Library, and on the upper floors, some study areas. Notice the typical Islamist tactics in the article: Claims of being "mistreated," claims of being refused help for "injuries," etc. Standard Operating Procedure, even in minor events like this? Also notice that the reaaal brain trusts of the school (see bolded passages) are running the show here. ;)

As usual, the school folded like a cheap suit before the Islamist lobby. When will we, as a nation, have the balls to call "SEDITION" by its name again, rather than cowing to the COWARDS that inhabit our "halls of learning?"

Virginia residents, feel free to e-mail the esteemed Provost at: pstearns@gmu.edu

As a Virginia taxpayer, and having tossed more than my fair share of tuition payments to these guys, I demand the GMU President's head (or at least his employment rights) on the proverbial pike.

It is necessary to begin standing up to the Islamofascists in this community even if all we can do is toss the school administrators at them!

They've already used up all the chances Northern Virginians can give them to attack America.

The well of our sympathy is dry.

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