 |
|
|
 News from Around the Americas | March 2006 
Police Arrest Dozens of Anti-War Protesters
 Reuters
| | Illinois State Police officers dressed in riot gear stand in front of the demonstrators during an anti-war protest in Chicago. Thousands of people took to the streets around the world Saturday with demands that coalition troops leave Iraq immediately. (Joshua Lott/AP) |
Washington - Dozens of U.S. anti-war protesters were arrested on Monday in demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the Iraq war, while others denounced President George W. Bush during an appearance in Cleveland.
Pentagon Force Protection Agency police arrested 51 people on misdemeanor charges of failure to obey a lawful order during a demonstration outside the Pentagon, Defense Department spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said.
The protesters were arrested after trying to get past a fence that had been set up to mark out an area for their demonstration, Irwin said. Those arrested were taken to a nearby building and given citations and court appearance dates before being released, Irwin said.
Police in San Francisco said they arrested 17 people from among a small group of anti-war protesters who blocked traffic on the city's central Market Street.
Protesters, some in clothing similar to that worn by Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib jail, carried antiwar signs and chanted slogans. Some wore black hoods similar to those seen in photographs depicting abuse at the U.S.-run prison in Iraq.
"While the U.S. claims to bring democracy and freedom, it is actually using torture and secret detention camps to instill fear and suppress dissent around the world," said Sasha Wright, one of the event's organizers.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the hotel where Bush spoke to the City Club of Cleveland, carrying signs stating, "Bring our troops home now" and "Bush incompetent failure."
Inside the hotel, Bush told an audience that he understands that the continuing violence in Iraq has shaken the confidence of some Americans but vowed not to abandon Iraq.
Public concern over the war has pushed his popularity rating to the lowest of his presidency.
Bush's Cleveland Visit Sees War Protesters
Associated Press
Cleveland - About 150 war protesters gathered outside the building where President Bush gave a speech Monday about progress in Iraq, banging drums, holding peace signs and chanting for him to leave.
As Bush spoke at the City Club about the third anniversary of the war, police cordoned off a part of the busy Public Square across the street for demonstrators who held signs reading "Bush step down" and "No blood for oil."
"It's a good turnout of people who are very upset about this ongoing and disastrous war and occupation," said Greg Coleridge of the American Friends Service Committee.
Marcy Wessbecher, 50, a Navy veteran, ventured into the crowd to voice her disagreement with their views.
"I believe I know why we went to war and what it's about, and I believe we went for the right cause and that our men and women are not going to die or be injured in vain," she said.
About 60 police officers watched over the protest, but there were no arrests, police Lt. Thomas Stacho said.
Darren Hamm, 27, from the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn, carried his handmade sign that read, "All we have to fear is Bush himself."
"I don't shout," Hamm said. "But I believe freedom via bloodshed is not true freedom."
Also Monday, San Francisco police arrested 17 protesters and pulled several others wearing orange jumpsuits from a makeshift prison during a rally aimed at shutting down the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons.
"Our government is openly torturing people and detaining them indefinitely, and we have to put an end to it," said Ayah Young, 23.
During the weekend, protesters marking the third anniversary of the Iraq war made their voices heard worldwide, staging large marches in London, Chicago, Portland, Ore., and elsewhere, although many of the demonstrations were smaller than in previous years. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us