Posted on 03/22/2007 1:02:20 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
(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.
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.
Posted here as well
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1804344/posts
Are the peace activists declaring WAR?
Yeah, Motley & I post over one another at times. ;)
It's A Protest of Peace.™
You see, these people were so gosh darn frustrated...why, they just had no other choice. It was just a spur of the moment thing you know. Because we all carry paint and feces to a protest...just in case.
The Journal editorial said: "This was a mob masquerading as a peace movement, making the job all the harder for those working more realistically for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq." http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=579976
Translation: Quit doing things that slow down the surrender process.
A TV station reported that a few high school students were present (not clear if they were some of the arrested). I'm sure they got extra credit.
Maybe they should have condemned them outright without reference to the "nobility" of the aims of the larger group, but I guess the editorialists had to make sure they established their own pro-defeat bona fides.
Notice how conveniently they don’t act up around people who could and would kick the living $hit out of them.
"Wisconsin peace activist groups on Tuesday said some protesters might increasingly turn to destruction as their frustrations mount."
I guess they're figuring out that sometimes force is the only answer. Now if they'd just put two and two together and apply that lesson to the WOT...I know, I'm asking alot.
No Peace for OilTM
If that Recruiting Station had been manned with Marines, I doubt they would've attempted it. They "protested" there when the station was unmanned. Real brave. *Rolleyes*
"Regarding a police report that human excrement was smeared on the recruiting center, Johnson said he wasn't aware of such vandalism."
I guess he had a head cold.
I wonder who paid them, and how much?
You're asking too much of them.
Peace activists are frustrated? Are they now "victims" or are just a bunch of spoiled brats?
I look at the ages of those arrested and all I see are a bunch of spoiled kids, never had to work for or defend the freedoms they readily exercise and demand and their frustrated?
The problem is that these kids have no respect for another opinion and are throwing a tantrum because they cannot get their way. My suggestion would be to change their diapers - they must stink to high heaven - and fine their parents for damages.
A few years ago I got "tricked" into having lunch at one of these lefty tea room type places that could double as wussy CENTCOM. When I got back to the office, I told my co-workers that I could have whipped every man in the place and half the women.
Hey, fellow members of the Peace and Justice Network, let's all poop our pants, and smear it on the recruiting center walls ! That'll stop the war !
"Stop this violent war or we'll kill you."
"as their frustrations mount."
Boo-hoo.
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