Posted on 03/21/2007 8:20:20 AM PDT by MotleyGirl70
Some predict violent protest may be sign of things to come
One day after 21 people were arrested during a demonstration that vandalized a U.S. Army recruiting office on Milwaukee's east side, Wisconsin peace activist groups on Tuesday said some protesters might increasingly turn to destruction as their frustrations mount.
 Violent Protest |
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Photo/Rick Wood It's the third time in about two years that Doug Mack, a glass installer for T&L Glass, has had to replace broken glass at the Army recruiting office on Oakland Ave. Mack replaced the glass Tuesday. |
| Related Coverage |
 Editorial: Protest just plain juvenile
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Monday night's violence was an anomaly, said Judy Miner of Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, who noted protesters were peaceful at dozens of demonstrations, marches, rallies and vigils held Monday throughout the state.
"That's what impressed me," said Miner. "People have been very respectful of the fact that violence doesn't get us anywhere."
Nine of the adults arrested Monday were from Milwaukee, six were from West Bend and one each from Waukesha, Wauwatosa and Madison. Arrested were: Kelsey M. Kazik, 20, Sara Keiza, 17, Jillian Duckwitz, 21, Richard A. Ketcham, 22, Thomas P. Buckholt, 17, Andrew L. Ortlieb, 24, Kathryn E. Jacobs, 20, Keith Crum, 20, and Andrew Smart, 19, all of Milwaukee; Craig R. Barringer, 20, of Waukesha; Jonathon W. Wilson, 17, of Wauwatosa; Amy M. Barger, 19, Jessica L. Brooks, 18, Derek W. Johnson, 17, Nathan J. Bartelt, 20, Jeffrey G. Lavato, 18, and Kyle Sawson, 21, all of West Bend; and David W. Clerkin, 21, of Madison. The three juveniles were not named.
Johnson, of West Bend, denied participating in any vandalism.
"I wanted to protest military recruiting in our schools and the war itself," Johnson said. "A recruiting office seemed, symbolically, like an important place" to protest, he added.
Johnson said that he regularly attends Thursday afternoon meetings of a "radical discussion group" at the West Bend library and that Monday's protest was discussed at last week's meeting.
"We were under the impression going there that it would be a peaceful protest," Johnson said. "We knew it would be loud and boisterous, but we didn't know there would be vandalism."
Regarding a police report that human excrement was smeared on the recruiting center, Johnson said he wasn't aware of such vandalism.
Kazik, of Milwaukee, said she expected a peaceful march and didn't support those who damaged the recruiting center.
"I think the only people out of the group who even knew there was going to be violence were those who were involved in it. It did absolutely nothing for the cause we were marching for," Kazik said.
Peace Action Wisconsin does not condone violence, said the group's project organizer Julie Enslow, but some anti-war protesters might feel the need to be violent to get their point across.
"We do not use those tactics ourselves, but the movement is very broad, and as this war continues, the anti-war movement is going to take many forms - not all of which everyone feels comfortable with," Enslow said.
An anti-war rally at O'Donnell Park on Saturday drew a large crowd that listened to several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), before marching to the Reuss Federal Plaza, Enslow said. The peaceful gathering contrasted sharply with the arrests Monday night at the Army recruiting center near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, where protesters broke a window and threw smoke bombs, paint and human excrement, police said. There were no injuries reported.
Pat Grobschmidt, public affairs officer for Army recruiting in Milwaukee, said no one was in the office at the time.
"Soldiers defend the right of all Americans to peacefully express their point of their view. We're dismayed that their actions are anything but peaceful," Grobschmidt said.
The 21 protesters, including the three juveniles, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, said Deputy Police Chief Brian O'Keefe. The adults were given municipal citations and ordered to return to court at a later date. The protesters ranged in age from 13 to 24.
Police were called to the recruiting station at 3133 N. Oakland Ave. around 8 p.m. Monday. Grobschmidt said there have been protests at the center in the past and prior vandalism, though she did not know the last time it had been vandalized.
Gus Sorenson, government relations director for Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America, said the violent protest might be a sign of things to come as the Iraq war enters its fifth year.
"I would like to think cooler heads would prevail and they would find a better way to channel some of that energy, but I don't think that's going to happen. I think it's going to get worse," said Sorenson.
Outside the recruiting station Tuesday, three orange and white barricades were on the sidewalk next to piles of broken glass. One window was covered by a glob of blue paint, and a glass door had a spider web of cracks.
Donna Brooks acknowledged that her daughter was a member of the West Bend library discussion group and was arrested at the protest. Her daughter's group did not plan for the vandalism, she said.
Photo/Rick Wood
It's the third time in about two years that Doug Mack, a glass installer for T&L Glass, has had to replace broken glass at the Army recruiting office on Oakland Ave. Mack replaced the glass Tuesday.
I'm frustrated about border control but I'm not breaking windows at the INS.
Sounds like these "peace activists" are no better than the terrorists.
The protestors learned well from the Brown Shirts in Germany.
Those maggots will get a slap on the wrist and a small fine; nothing more.
Imagine if the MSM blamed "frustration" for breaking windows at an abortion clinic. Not going to happen.
And I hope that the authorities get serious and bring everyone of these middle of the night wackos to trial. No plea bargain, no community service, jail time only.
"some protesters might increasingly turn to destruction as their frustrations mount."
Gee guys, grow up. We work, pay taxes, and our frustrations mount about many issues that plague our country (immigration, etc.). Adults don't need to destroy others' property to make a point.
Toddlers express their frustration through temper tantrums. Pediatricians say that ends by 4 when they are able to control themselves. Too bad these guys haven't learned the self-control exhibited in most kindergartners.
Good excuse. Frustration. So I should get clean off the hook for kicking one of these punk's teeth so hard they come out of his bunghole.
When this stuff happened at abortion clinics it was called "violence."
Lets make sure that these attacks are called "violence" too.
Don't let AP and the rest of the MSM rationalize.
A bunch of impressionable, snot-nosed liberal kids...may God help them to rid themselves of the insanity that is liberalism...
Was Monday evening's protest the right way or wrong way to protest the Iraq war? E-mail jsedit@journalsentinel.com
1) "... frustrations mount" is another leftist buzz-phrase, like "quagmire" and "long hot summer".
2) This individual quoted, here is making terrorist threats.
This is (liberal) Milwaukee County my FRiend! I'm sure all those pukes will have to do is pay a small fine.
For those who aren't 'Trust Fund' kids, in a few years, the IRS will likely rid them of their leftisism.
"Johnson said he wasn't aware of such vandalism."
And yet he still thinks he knows what is best for a place a half a world away, while he isn't even aware of what is happening right next to him. Typical DUmmie.
Ummm ... no. Many of them old enough to have two or three (or more) stripes on their uniform sleeves. Almost all are old enough to vote. One is even old enough to be a commissioned officer.
They're adults. They just act like snot-nosed liberal brats.
They're kids to me...;-)
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