Anti-war protesters, police tussle (Los Angeles )

news.com ^ | 3/20/2003 | Agence France-Presse

[TLBSHOW]

Anti-war protesters, police tussle

BATON-wielding riot police have arrested 34 anti-war protesters in a rowdy standoff with hundreds of demonstrators in the US city of Los Angeles, police and witnesses said.

Police struck with their batons three of the more than 500 demonstrators who turned out to protest about US planes set to strike at Iraq, after they refused to disperse, television pictures showed.

The protest, including scores of school pupils and students, was timed to coincide with the expiry of US President George W Bush's deadline for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to go into exile.

The scuffles erupted after demonstrators refused to clear the streets and began a sit-in on the road as they marched through a strip of west Los Angeles towards a complex of government offices.

Police said they would investigate the incident in which demonstrators were struck by police officers.

"If the investigation concludes any misconduct on the part of the officer, we will take appropriate action," Police Lieutenant Horace Frank said.

Anti-war activists have promised a series of rolling protests and civil disobedience across the United States when conflict breaks out in the Middle East.

The latest protest came just hours after an organisation called Code Pink tried to stage a symbolic funeral at the Los Angeles National Cemetery to protest the threat of military action in Iraq.

[steplock]

YES - We are at war - and have been, for a long time, against much more than simply the Taliban, muslims, Saddam, communism, socialism...

Also read: Green Party - Terrorist & Osama  22 Aug 2001  (looks scarily like today's article)

PEACE - According to A.N.S.W.E.R.  (the real "Peace-Marchers' USA, CA, AU) mar 17 2003

Anti-War Protesters Threaten Vietnam Vets With Violence  (A.N.S.W.E.R.) 16 Jan 2003

[TLBSHOW]

we are at war with the commie rats!

[Kerberos]

"we are at war with the commie rats! "

Well it's something we should have done a long time ago. At least we are finally getting on with it, hopefully.

[ravingnutter]

I agree with what O'Reilly said tonight...these protestors are a public safety hazard...they need to realize that they are distracting the police who need to spend their time fighting real terrorists! Some idiot was on there talking about First Amendment Rights...I started screaming at him that that is the reason it is against the law to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theatre! Arrrrrrgggghhhh...these people are despicable!

[Black Agnes]

Listen here...Protests in SF

[hole_n_one]

Say, CHEESE!

[Black Agnes]

He looks like a yeti.

[The Scorpion King]

Those cops need to hit Mr. Yeti with a dose of pepper spray. I'd like to see the look on his face then!

[zook]

I'll bet, judging by the looks of him, that a shot of deoderant wouldn't hurt either.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Thanks for the ping.

Crap. I'm glad "war is on" finally, but I have a test this morning and am having second thoughts about going to class. I put the flag up outside. The thought of confronting protesters while driving is weird, because it's gonna hurt to run them over. It'll hurt even worse if they bust all the windows out of my car :(

Don't mistake my tone, I fully support showing our President and troops support. The peaceniks are raving lunatics, however. Take care everyone...