Binghamton University Protest Leads to Arrests

[H2O Man]

BU war protest spurs police confrontation
Nine charged after marchers tie up Parkway traffic

VESTAL -- Nine anti-war protesters were charged Tuesday after a confrontation with police in the middle of the Vestal Parkway.

The clash occurred after a group of about 60 protesters, most Binghamton University students, marched down the the eastbound lanes of the Parkway as part of a protest marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War.

Vestal police used pepper spray on some in the crowd and later said the nine protesters had pushed some of the officers. Protesters disputed that claim, saying the officers escalated the confrontation.

The nine were charged Tuesday afternoon, either with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest or both. Eight of those charged were BU students, university officials said.

The protest began at the university, where several student groups had planned an on-campus rally to call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. At some point after the rally, members of the group made the impromptu decision to march to the Army recruiting office at University Plaza, about three-quarters of a mile east of the college. ..... see more at:



http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080319/NEWS01/803190344/1001


(Note: I spoke with a friend who attended the rally and march. She said that the students were not attempting to ignore the police orders, break any laws, or cause a confrontation. The newspaper's internet forum has a discussion area (following the article), and you can see how some of the local republican folks are attacking the students for exercising their Constitutional rights.)

[Me.]

1. Just Never Ends Does It?

Glad to see students protesting, hope it spreads.

[Me.]

2. More Protests Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3034221

[spanone]

3. bless them one and all. constitutional rights meet pepper spray

good to see you H2O Man

[Me.]

4. DC, NYC Time's Square, Vermont, NO

All raised their voices

[Berry Cool]

7. Pepper spray again?

Seems to be the weapon of choice against Binghamton students (ask those with long memories).

[fascisthunter]

5. Those Damned Hippy Anarchists!

Bravo to every one of them! They make me proud to be an American.


:toast:

[bluerum]

6. This is getting out of hand. They are arresting people for nothing.

The only way to combat this is huge crowds. Crowds that block streets and disrupt.

[spanone]

9. it's worse, they are arresting people because they acting within their rights

[Hissyspit]

8. Many Protest / Arrest Photos Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3032800

[aikoaiko]

10. They just don't use tasers like they used to.......

[DCKit]

11. Please tell me someone was filming this.

The cities and police departments that collaborate with the pResident* need to face punitive suits every time they pull this shit.

Here in DC the tactic is to round people up (for whatever reason) then the U.S. Attorney declines to "paper" the suit and bring charges. The only way to circumvent this system is to sue the police for false arrest until they are told to stop when the local government finally realizes they can't afford to defend the suits or pay the punitive damages.

I think we've waited too long to expect them to simply hand our country back to us. We're going to have to take it from them.