Gleichschaltung in USA--a reminder as if one was needed. (LONG BIBLIO.)

[HereSince1628]

During times of trouble societies typically close ranks as a part of their search for security. While the term gleichschaltung was used by the Nazis to describe a system of total societal control, the term also reflects societies' tendencies to coalesce into a single self-protect unit of "us." A consequence of the process of societal realignment during turbulent times is the polarization of a nation into well aligned "patriots" and others who fail to conform to the prevailing typology. These persons are consequently identified as less than patriotic perhaps less than human "them."

The polarization has been frequently accompanied by overreaching activities of "patriots" demonstrating support for national, religious or other policies of the majority. In the United States, restriction of the freedom to dissent and xenophobic attacks have typically been a part of this "falling into line." Indeed, the acceptance of Iraqis as "the enemy" linked to 911 seems to offer many examples for future social and political science textbooks.

The following represent a sampling of published reports associated with gleichschaltung-like realigning events following 911 and the Iraq War. These examples, chosen to provide an over view of the scope of the issue, only scratch at the surface and greatly under-represent the number of offenses to persons, accurately or mistakenly, considered to be southwest Asians or Muslims, and other "traitors." This list does not include examples of restrictions of civil rights of individuals associated with the U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act or other federal programs unless they are associated with events that I considered associated with societal "realignment." While some may claim these were "cherry-picked" the very number of the reports suggests that Americans are as susceptible to this awful social phenomenon as anyone else.



ON THE NATURE OF AMERICAN GLEICHSCHALTUNG:
A clash over who is a patriot. Dick Polman. Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly.com 23 Mar 2003.
www.philly.com/mld/philly/545704.htm
cached thru Google.com
Polman explores gleichschaltung-like responses in America, and cites Tocqueville as saying "the tyranny of the majority represses not only all contest, but all controversy," and points out the irony that suppressing free-speech can be seen as patriotic.

The words of war can be dangerous. Robert Koehler 22 Mar 2003. Toronto Star.
www.commondreams.org/views03/0323-02.htm
cached thru Google.com
Koehler responds to anti-European jibes of commentators and suggests that war fever herds people into an ideological quarantine that promotes language that debases opponents.

ANTI-GLEICHSCHALTUNG
Who are the real, useful idiots? Brent Flynn.
www.brentflynn.com/brent/useful_idiots.htm
(verified available 21 Oct. 03)
Flynn opines that persons disparaging dissenters are the real useful idiots of John Ashcroft and others who believe constitutional rights can be denied depending on the crime.

Speaking Out in Wartime. Washington Post. 21 Mar 2003.
www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/ A1379-2003Mar20?language=printer
(verified available 21 Oct. 03)
Editorial in response to criticism by Republican leadership of Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) for blaming Iraq conflict on the Bush administration's failures of diplomacy. Article leads off with citation of T. Roosevelt, 1918. "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president. or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."




ACTS OF RACISM/XENOPHOBIA:

Arab Americans Attacked, Threatened. AP. Sep 13 2001.
http://www.abunimah.org/features/010913attacks.html
Three hundred marchers shouting "USA! USA!" were turned back from a march on a mosque in Bridgeview IL. Other acts against Muslims from across the country in the immediate wake of the 911 attacks are reported in this article.

Many questioned in shooting death of Sikh. CNN. US. 16 Sep 2001. http://www.cnn.com/2001/us/09/16/gen.mesa.shooting/index/html
Balbir Singh Sodhi, an Indian immigrant, gas station owner in Mesa AZ was slain and the spiritual leader of a Sikh temple was killed in a shooting suspected to be misplaced rage about the 911 attack in New York City.

Calif. Muslims Detained in Crowded, Cold Centers. Jill Serjeant 19 Dec 2002. Reuters.
http://www.truthout.com/docs_02/12.21C.round.up.12.20.htm
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Perhaps as many as 2500 Muslim men and boys were being detained in standing room only detention centers after being arrested for visa irregularities after voluntarily reporting to the INS. Prisoners reportedly were strip-searched, given prison jump suits with no underwear or shoes and forced to sleep standing up or on bare concrete floors without blankets.


FBI asks colleges to hand over files on all foreigners. Andrew Gumbel. Independent 26 Dec 2002.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=364402&dir=70&host=3
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The FBI asked colleges across America to share their files on all foreign students and staff. The request came in the form of a letter sent to hundreds of institutions that requested the names, addresses, telephone numbers, citizenship information, places of birth, dates of birth, and any foreign contact information The Association of American College Registrars and Admissions Officers instructed 10,000 institutions not to pass on information without a court order because nonconsensual release of private records could expose institutions to significant legal consequences.

Non-US students jailed over class load. AP. 27 Dec 2002. CNNStudentNews.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/12/27/foreign.students.ap/
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Students of Middle Eastern origins were jailed for up to 48 hours before posting bond when it was found that they were enrolled for less than 12 hours of credit. Congress ordered federal registrations by Dec 16 for males 16 and older carrying temporary visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Sudan.


American Samoa bans nationals from 23 countries. SMH.com.au. 26 Dec 2002
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/23/1040511009772.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
American Samoa, a territory of the United States, has banned entry from nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Non-US students jailed over class load. AP. 27 Dec 2002. CNNStudentNews.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/12/27/foreign.students.ap/
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Students of Middle Eastern origins were jailed for up to 48 hours before posting bond when it was found that they were enrolled for less than 12 hours of credit. Congress ordered federal registrations by Dec 16 for males 16 and older carrying temporary visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Sudan.

2 lawmakers spurn Muslim's prayer. Angela Galloway 4 Mar 2003. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/110881_prayer04.shtml
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Rep Lois McMahan and Cary Condotta, both republicans walked off the floor of the state House of Representatives when a Muslim Cleric offered the opening prayer. "Its a matter of patriotism," stated Rep. McMahan.

Amnesty International Condemns Operation Liberty Shield; Criticizes blanket detentions for asylum seekers from specific countries. Amnesty International 18 Mar 2003. www.amnestyusa.org/news/2003/usa03182003_2.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Amnesty International USA condemned the decision by the dept. of Homeland Security to detain "for the duration of their processing period" applicants from nations where Al-Qaeda, and its sympathizers or other terrorists groups have operated

Rule on detention widened. Dan Eggen 20 Mar 2003. Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A56948-2003Mar19?language=printer
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Att. Gen. Ashcroft ordered FBI and US marshals to detain foreign nationals for alleged immigration violations in cases where there is insufficient evidence to hold them on criminal charges. The order will be put into wide use this week when the FBI interviews thousands of Iraqi nationals living in the United States. Immigration advocates condemned the change that they interpret as unfairly targeting immigrants.

U.S.-German strain halts school exchange. Associated Press. The Post and Courier. 24 March 2003.
http://charleston.net/stories/032403/wor_24germany.shtml
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Weeks before they were to visit the US students from the Hamburg Germany Sachsenweg School were informed by their Murfreesboro, TN, hosts to stay in Germany rather than bring anti-American feelings.


FBI asking member list from Mosque send red flags. Nisa Isalm Mohammed. 24 Mar 2003. http://www.paknews.com/specialNews.php?id=1947&date1=2003-03-14
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The FBI which has been counting all mosques in the United States, has asked for membership lists for the Islamic Society of Fredrick, Md. The effort is condemned by Washington-based Islamic civil rights group as obvious profiling based on religion and ethnicity.


Credit Card Companies Close Muslim Accounts. Hillary Russ 15 April 2003. City Limits
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15659
verified link 21 Oct 2003
"City Limits has found 12 cases in which Muslims, nearly all Pakistani-Americans, with good credit, all of whom claim they made no unusual or exorbitant charges or late payments, had their American Express credit cards canceled. We found no cases of non-Muslims' credit cards being canceled outright, or even non-Muslims who were asked to send in paperwork for existing accounts." The article identifies a number of government lists that can be used by financial institutions to identify persons the government has designated as "Nationals and Blocked Persons" people or groups with whom Americans are not to do business

Muslim teen sues over hate attack. Reuters 23 Apr 2003.
http://www.refuseandresist.org/detentions/art.php?aid=738
Rashid Alam, 19, required facial reconstructive surgery after being beaten in what he termed a skinhead attack. Alam is of Lebanese ancestry, his father publishes an Arab-American newspaper.

Ayatollah Ashcroft's Law. Haroon Siddiqui 12 June 2003. Toronto Star. http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0612-07.htm
verified link 21 Oct 2003
"The war on terror quickly turned into a war on immigrants," says Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU. Concerns detailed in this report include registration of Muslim men, fingerprinting persons arriving from or associated with Syria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, and Sudan, sweeps of sensitive workplaces including firms supplying goods or services to airports and airlines, coercive "voluntary" interviews, and mandatory detention of asylum seekers from 33 _unnamed_ nations.


U.S. detains, kicks out two Canadian Muslims. Colin Freeze. 3 Sept 2003. The Globe and Mail http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030913.uimam0913/BNStory/National
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Freeze reports on a number of cases in which Muslims and Indians have experienced difficulty traveling in the United States. Two imams from Canada claim US border agent stated "you've chosen to fly on the wrong day," it was Sept 11.


Muslims in America flee to Canada, fearing deportation. Sam Stanton and Emily Bazar. 25 Sep 2003 Sacramento Bee
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_1774.shtml
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Thousands of immigrants have left the United States in the past year following the implementation of post 9-11 programs. Many said they left because the US was targeting efforts to detect illegal Muslim and Miffle Eastern men.

Xenophobia as State Policy. Ron Jacobs. 1 Oct. 2003. CounterPunch.
http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs10012003.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Under legislation (HR 3075) introduced by Congressman H. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina, persons from countries considered sponsors of state terrorism would be prevented entry into the United States unless they have permission of the Attorney General. Additionally anyone from these countries currently in the United States and not a landed immigrant will be required to leave in 60 days.

Muslim girl suspended for head scarf. CNN Student News 11 Oct 2003
www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/10/11/scarf.reut/index.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Student suspended for wearing "hijab," in violation of dress code that prohibits the wearing of hats or other head coverings in the Ben Franklin Science Academy, Muskogee, Oklahoma.


ACTS TOWARD POLITICAL OPPOSITION:

Acts undertaken by Government employees :

Blacklist grounds American passengers. Frederick Sweet. 28 Dec 2002. Intervention Magazine.
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=278&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The transportation safety administration established a list of people and organizations deemed a risk to civil aviation. The names on the list were provided by government agencies including the FBI, CIA, and INS. This list has been used to interfere with the travel of political activists such as Sister Virgine Lawinger, a nun from Milwaukee, and Doug Stuber, an art dealer who was involved in the Green Party presidential campaign in North Carolina in 2000.

Police scolded as Bush protester acquitted. Milan Simonich. 31 October 2002. Post-Gazette.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/11.02F.protester.acquitted.htm
verified link 21 Oct 2003
District Judge Shiley Rowe Trkula dismissed disorderly conduct charge against Bill Neel, of Butler, who had been arrested by a county police detective when he politely refused to move with his sign to a fenced-in area for protesters before Bush's Labor Day appearance at a union picnic.

New bill would force students to recite pledge. AP. 6 Jan 2003. TheSpectrum.com
http://www.thespectrum.com/news/stories/20030106/topstories/718444.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Chris Buttars, Utah state senator and republican plans to sponsor legislation requiring students to reciete the pledge of allegiance. "Kids ought to know what the pledge says...This is America, they ought to know what their government is about," said Buttars. Dani Eyer, Utah director for the ACLU stated, "It's clearly a violation of the First Amendment to require you to say something."


Antiwar sign replaced, ending Minneapolis whodunit. Doug Crow. 16 Jan 2003. Star Tribune.
http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/2003-January/001521.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003. (note this link has the text but is not the original link)
The city of Minneapolis replaced an antiwar sign at the home of Gary Hendlin. In December Hendlin's two "Say no to war with Iraq" signs taken from in front of his home in south Minneapolis were among many others reported damaged or removed. A neighbor reported confronting city workers who removed the signs in broad daylight. When asked why the signs were being removed one of the workers responded that the war had started a year ago.

Busted for Peace:When Cops Play Soldier, Protesters Become the Enemy. Alisa Solomon Feb 26- Mar 4 2003 issue Village Voice.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0309/solomon.php
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Solomon relates many tales of police hostility at the New York anti-war rally. Although police deny mistreatment of protesters, video tape recorded by New York's Independent Media Center captured misuse of pepper spray and the use by police of metal barricades as weapons.

Protesters cry foul over police videotaping. Dorothy Kronor. 5 Mar 2003. The Sacramento Bee.
www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/6218854p-7173447c.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Uniformed police escorted a woman wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with: Identification Control. Police said cameras were deployed for their psychological impact, knowledge of being video-taped is a deterrent to trouble makers. Activists claimed that videotapping is intimidation, that chills dissent and creates anxiety that personal images will be filed and use against activists.


TBI took names at MTSU peace rally. Ian Demsky 6 Mar 2003. Tennessean.com. http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/03/29760515.shtml?Element_ID=2976051
verified link 21 Oct 2003
An official of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would not identify an agent who attended the "Books not Bombs" rally at Middle Tennessee State University. Ryan Husak, organizer of the event was contacted by persons who spoke at the rally that they had been approached by a man in his mid--50's claiming to be a TBI agent and asking for their names. MTSU police chief confirmed that there had been a TBI agent present, but denied knowledge of his activities. ACLU of Tennessee executive director stated "It's very troubling that law enforcement would participate in the surveillance of pro-peace protesters who were merely expressing their First Amendment rights by assembling."

US passenger's anti Iraq sign got snippy note. Reuters 14 Mar 2003. AlertNet.org
www.alertnet.org
unable to provide active link to text. 21 Oct 2003
Seth Goldberg found a note inside his suitcase that was checked from a flight out of Seattke-Tacoma International Airport 2 March 2003. In his bag was a "No Iraq War" sign which apparently motivated a screener to hand write "Don't appreciate your anti-American attitude!" on the standard TSA notice placed in all examined bags.

Inside the capitol. Harry Esteve. Oregonlive.com. 24 March 2003.
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2003/Terrorism-Bill-John-Minnis24mar03.htm
verified link (note this link contains the text of the article but it is not the original)
Senate Bill 742 would create an umbrella law covering all types of terrorism, which would include eco-sabotage (i.e. tree spiking), and common acts of civil disobedience used by protesters such as the disruption of commerce or traffic.

ACLU files class-action lawsuit challenging unconstitutional mass arrest of antiwar demonstrators in Washington ACLU 27 March 2003. www.aclu.org/PolicePractices/PolicePractices.cfm?ID=12207&c=25
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court charging that police official deliberately violated the constitutional rights of at least 400 antiwar demonstrators and bystanders by directing them into a trap and arresting them although they had violated no law.

Pittsburg police lock up antiwar protesters for 30 hours. Rosa Ieropoli 29 Mar 2003. World Socialist Web Site.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/mar2003/pgh-m29.shtml
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Two librarians from the University of Pittsburgh were arrested while walking to their cars following a March 20th protest against the war in Iraq. Article reports brutality during arrest and detention.

University resists lawmakers' call to fire antiwar instructor. Phil Hirschkorn, 9 April 2003. CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/sprj.irq.professor.congress/
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Republican member of Congress J.D. Hayworth (Arizona) and 103 other House Republicans called upon Columbia University to fire Nicholas DeGenova for criticizing the Bush administration's Iraq policy. No Democrats signed the letter although they were invited.


Cop takes 'midnight photos' of teacher's classroom. David Delcore 5 May 2003. Times Argus. www.timesargus.com/story/64950.html.
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The Spaulding High classroom of Tom Treece, a controversial history teacher, was photographed by Barre Town police officer John Mott around 1:30 AM while on duty, in uniform, but out of his jurisdiction. Mott gained access to the building after persuading a custodian to unlock the door. Mott asserts he took the pictures while on a break in order to share with the public student projects that he found offensive.

Free Speech Zones. Mick Youther. 8 Sept 2003. Intervention Magazine.
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=489&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&POSTNUKESID=5d6879d7bfe6eec94cbd8df22dddc684
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Youther relates eight statements made by protesters or officials associated with "free speech zones" and argues they violate first amendment freedom.

Rubber bullets used on war protesters in Oakland. Jim Winborne, Reuters. 7 Apr 2003. http://www.endthewar.org/features/rubberbullets.htm
verified link (note this link contains the text but is not the original link)
Oakland police used rubber bullets and wooden projectiles to disperse antiwar protesters who sought to block access to a shipping company, American President Lines, they claimed was profiting the Iraq war.

Army Questions "Spearhead" Mom. Andrew Strickman 8 April 2003. Rolling Stone.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=17846
verified link 21 Oct 2003
The mother of one of the members of the band Spearhead was questioned by plainclothes Army officers after the band performed at protest rallies. While her daughter is serving in the Gulf, she was shown pictures of her son wearing t-shirts saying "Dethrone the Bushes" and told that these were un-American statements. When she suggested that this was his expression of free speech they responded that "things are changing these days," and challenged why her son would travel to Japan.




Media/Entertainment:

Dixie Chicks pulled from air after bashing Bush. Reuters. 14 Mar 2003. CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/14/dixie.chicks.reut/
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Country stations across the US pulled the Chicks from their play lists following lead singer Natalie Maines' statement that she was ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.

David Frum and the Axis of Patriotic Correctness. Maureen Farrell. 27 Mar 2003. Buzzflash.com
www.buzzflash.com/farrell/03/03/27.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Farrell opines on the nature of patriotic correctness and media figures, Michael Savage and Ann Coulter who are advocating extreme measures to stifle dissent, as well as David Frum's labeling as anti-American "unpatriotic conservatives" such as Pat Buchanan, Eric Margolis, Bob Novak, and Charley Reese

The last refuge of a scoundrel. Brian Morton, 1 April 2003. Baltimore City Paper.
www.citypaper.com/2003-03-26/pf/animal_pf.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Morton expresses concern about the willingness of right wing to use media to call out as unpatriotic people who speak against Bush policy Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) as well as the creation of blacklists appeasement loving celebrities in the New York Post (names include S.L. Jackson, J. Garofalo, S. Crow and S. Serandon.

The new political correctness. Richard Reeves. 7 April 2003. Yahoo! News, Op-ed.
http://www.uexpress.com/richardreeves/?uc_full_date=20030402
verified link 21 Oct 2003 (note this link contains the text but is not the original link)
Reeves calls attention to pressure brought to bear on individuals and groups not in sync with Bush policy. Reeves points out that Madonna Louise Ciccone announced the withdrawal of a video she felt was too risky with American troops in the field as well as a Washington Times article that implies the tax-exempt status of organizations funding liberal causes (Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Turner Foundation, and John Stewart Mott Foundation should be reconsidered because of their support to groups that criticize Bush's Iraq policy.

Can the heathen right wing media pundits be conquered and civilized. Buzzflash editorial. 11 April 2003. BuzzFlash.com
www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/04/11.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Editorial expresses concern about rhetoric of right wing pundits including Coulter, Limbaugh, and O'Reilly, and its potential to stir listeners to violence.


Undertaken by Business/Employers:

Group Protests N.Y. Peace T-Shirt Arrest. Damita Chambers, AP. Yahoo! News 5 Mar 2003. http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:i8m5vmes9pMJ:www.kiamagic.com/jaq/Freedom.asp+Group+Protests+N.Y.+Peace+T-Shirt+Arrest.++Damita+Chambers&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
verified link 21 Oct 2003 (note this link contains the text but is a cache of the original)
Approximately 100 antiwar demonstrators marched through the Crossrates Mall in Guiderland, NY, to protest the arrest of Stephen Downs, 61. Downs refused to leave the mall after being told to remove his t-shirt, purchased at the mall, or to leave.

NYSE revokes credentials for Al-Jazeera. Teresa Agovino, 25 Mar 2003. AP Business.
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/rad-green/2003-March/007775.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003 (note this link contains the text but is not the original link)
Two reporters of the Arab TV network Al-Jazeera who were covering the stock exchange claim they had their credentials revoked because of the station's coverage of the war.

North Carolina teacher fired for antiwar remarks. Common Dreams Progressive Newswire.
12 Sept 2003.
www.commondreams.org/news2003/0912-12.htm
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Forsyth Technical Community College English teacher Elizabeth Ito was fired for voicing concerns about the war in Iraq at the beginning of a business writing class.

Teacher claims antiwar poems cost him job. 15 Sept 2003. TheNewMexicoChannel.com
http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/education/2486394/detail.html
verified link 21 Oct 2003
Former High School teacher Bill Nevins claims he was fired because of antiwar poems written in his class and subsequently read over a school broadcasting system.


Undertaken by Others:

Pseudo-patriotism trumps core American values. Cynthia Tucker 6 Mar 2003. Yahoo! News, Op-ed. www.news.yahoo.com
http://solai.netfirms.com/forum/articles/ctckr-1.html
link verified 21 Oct 2003 (note this link contains the text but is not the original link)
Tucker opines on false patriotism's suppression of freedom of expression. Tucker illustrates with several examples including that of Sally Rountree who asserts she was spat on, threatened, and yelled at by apparently pro-war activists for having a "No War for Oil!" protest sign along the route of a presidential motorcade in Atlanta in mid-February. This opinion piece includes a quotation of Ari Fliescher's Oct 2001 comment "All Americans need to watch what they do, and this is not a time for remarks like that."

Tuft's senior loses award after insult to elder Bush. Patrick Healy, Globe Staff. 22 Mar 2003. Boston Globe Online.
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/081/metro/Tufts_senior_loses_award_after_insult_to_elder_Bush+.shtml
dead link 21 Oct 2003
Elizabeth Monnin a senior was declared ineligible for the Alumni Association's Senior Award, one of the highest student honors on campus, after making a hand gesture at Bush as he chided her and other protesters who disrupted his remarks about Gulf War I.

Man accused of punching, kicking war protester. AP. 25 Mar 2003. TheMilwaukeeChannel.com.
www.themilwaukeechannel.com
dead link 21 Oct 2003
A war protester carrying an inverted American flag with the word "EMPIRE" on it in the north-central Wisconsin town of Wausau was attacked by a man who jumped out of his car pushed the protester to the ground, punched and kicked him.

Professor, recruiter face off at Amass. Douglas Balkan, Globe Staff. 4 April 2003. Boston Globe Online
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0404-04.htm
verified link 21 Oct 2003 (note this link contains text but is not original link)
Article reports problems at several campuses. At U Mass Adjunct Professor Ton Van Der Meer was told by an Army recruiter that he should be shot (Van Der Meer was passing out leaflets commemorating the shooting of Martin Luther King jr). At Wheaton College in Norton students received a death threat for antiwar activism. In California classes were canceled over concerns about violence at an antiwar rally near the school.

With malice towards nuns, Arnold's Army marches on. Steve Lopez, latimes.com 4 Oct 2003. Los Angeles Times; Oct 4, 2003; pg. B.1
www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-lopez4oct04.1.7149323.column?coll=la-news-columns.
dead link 21 Oct 2003
Schwarznegger supporters confront two nuns (Holy Child Order) and tear away from one a sign stating "Groping Equals Sexual Harassment." Also at the event a man given one of their "groping" protest signs was set upon by the crowd and was escorted from the rally.

[ithacan]

1. EXCELLENT!!!

thanks so much here!! This is a priceless bibliography of this push to authoritarian control. These guys are acting like right wingers they are, exactly like right wingers the world over.

[tom_paine]

2. kick

good stuff

:kick: :kick:

let's keep it kicked!

[DrBB]

3. Having the right term is empowering

Ample evidence of that here. One of the best things I've seen on DU since the Clark wars began.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Thanks so much for posting this information......

I'm always looking for good sources that bolster my belief that the USA is edging closer to the fascist brink.