Posted on 05/05/2003 7:55:17 PM PDT by Chirodoc
Kent- Police in riot gear arrested a dozen protesters at an anti-war rally that spilled off the Kent State University campus yesterday, hours after a peaceful commemoration of the May 4, 1970, student shootings.
About 200 police from Kent and surrounding communities stopped a group that police estimated numbered between 250 to 300 marchers after they left campus, arresting 12 on charges of disorderly conduct. Police said additional charges and arrests may follow after the incident is reviewed. None of those arrested were Kent State students.
The arrests ended a tense day of uncertainty. A State Highway Patrol helicopter buzzed overhead for hours because police feared an anti-war protest would turn disruptive. The demonstration was scheduled in conjunction with the university's official memorial to the four students killed during a Vietnam War protest 33 years ago.
University spokesman Ron Kirksey called it unfortunate that the commemoration day was marred by arrests.
"There's always a group that wants to exploit the day and get attention," Kirksey said.
The Kent State Anti-War Committee planned the separate rally to oppose the recent war and actions in Iraq. Last week, however, the university's Office of Campus Life revoked the group's registration amid worries that the rally might attract violence.
The committee decided to hold the rally anyway, meeting at 3 p.m. on Manchester Field.
"It's planned as a peaceful thing," Chris Fox, a Kent student and rally organizer, said earlier this week. "The only violence we expect is from the police."
The group banged on drums, pans and buckets and made anti-government and pro-peace speeches for several hours before beginning to march through campus.
Students read poems at the sites where Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder were fatally shot by Ohio National Guardsmen in 1970.
The group then continued, chanting: "Bush, you liar! Your number has expired!"
As the group approached the edge of campus, police told marchers that it was against the law to walk in the street.
"Anyone on the street is subject to arrest," a policeman warned.
The group continued into the city and made it about three blocks, to East Main Street and University Drive, before police wearing helmets and armed with tear gas, pellet guns, clubs and shields attempted to deter them and direct them back toward the campus.
In response, the protesters retreated to a sidewalk and began chanting and yelling at the police.
Suddenly, police began handcuffing select protesters, pushing some to the ground.
A woman who had been crying softly on the commons hours earlier during speeches honoring the students killed in 1970 was handcuffed and led to a mini-bus waiting to cart protesters away.
The remaining protesters eventually wandered back onto campus and dispersed after another warning from police.
The war in Iraq added an extra sense of immediacy, sadness and frustration for many at the annual commemoration. More than 300 people attended the official memorial, which was peppered with speeches about similarities between 1970 and now.
"The feeling we have about this war parallels the feelings of many Vietnam protesters," said Adria Crannell, a Kent junior and co-chair of the task force that organized the official memorial.
Featured speakers included activists Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, the niece of President Kennedy, and Jello Biafra, former singer for the Dead Kennedys punk band.
Rosanne "Chic" Canfora was 19 in 1970 and remembers crouching behind a car in the parking lot during the shootings.
"It makes me cry to stand here and know once again that the topic on this commons is war," she said.
Plain Dealer reporter John Horton contributed to this story.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
shollander@plaind.com, 216-999-4816
Whereas the guys who where shooting at me did.
I am getting bitter in my old age to the cowards that protested my butt.
Whether the name is bill klintoon or jf kerry.
Same scum, rumor has it that kerry was damned near fragged by his men, and is riding on the coat tails of bob kerry.
Hmm, much like 1970.
All four were students. One was an ROTC cadet that was well ~400 feet) away from the "action". 30-06 has that problem when used for riot control. The closet of the four to the guardsmen was 85 yards away. That 30-06 problem again, but also evidance that the guardsmen were not firing at specific targets, as some alleged, if they had been, there'd have been more dead, closer to the guardsmen..
Since then, the NG has learned alot about crowd control. They now come better trained and equiped for it, with shields. helmets with face shields, as well as gas guns, riot battons, and sidearms.
The leftist slime, the ANSWER folk and their ilk, have learned very little, although one does see less rock throwing at people with guns. I guess that makes them one step smarter than the Palestinian "youths".
Red Diaper Baby alert!
2 to 3 Years
What to expect
Children this age are:- Becoming more aware of others and their own feelings;
- Often stubborn and may have temper tantrums;
- Developing a great interest in other children and enjoy being near them (although they are usually self-centered);
Awwwwwww, I feel so sorry for her. How could those mean old policement be so cruel?
The majority of the "hard-core" protestors, however, just as now, were communists, anarchists, and various other people with no jobs or classes to keep them busy.
Just thought I'd point out the unintentional irony here...
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