Seven Arrested at White House for War Protest (includes Iowans)

[BrewerJohn]

Holding a banner that read, "GOD FORGIVE AMERICA," seven peace activists were arrested yesterday in front of the White House, in a civil disobedience protest against the war in Iraq.

Arrested by U.S. Park Police were Brian Terrell, Ed Bloomer, and Elton Davis, all from Catholic Worker communities in the Des Moines, Iowa area, David Goodner, University of Iowa student, Eileen Hansen, a Catholic Worker from the Winona, Minnesota, Jeff Leys, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV), and Bernie Meyer, a retired social services worker from Olympia, Washington.

The seven were charged with the federal misdemeanor of demonstrating without a permit, fined seventy-five dollars, and released yesterday evening. The action was part of VCNV's "Winter of our Discontent" demonstratons in the month leading up to the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq on March 20.

Terrell organized the group of 15 from Iowa that included students from Loras College, a hospital worker, and a farmer from Missouri who drove 140 miles to Des Moines to join them.

http://www.counterpunch.org/ferner02282006.html

Just heard this on the Mike Malloy show tonight. I have met David Goodner, one of the movers of
the UI activist community, so was inspired to look it up. Only three hits on Google News so far!

Good for our fellow Iowans (and others) who are speaking out!

[CornField]

1. Eventually, this permit stuff is going to back-fire

I know without a doubt that my father, a decorate WWII veteran, is tossing about in his grave about it and those "free speech" zones. (Although I have hopes that the latest SCOTUS decision will be the end of them.)

Who defines "protest"? Would someone going on the White House tour with an anti-Bush tshirt be a protestor, subject to gaining a permit first? Aren't the very grounds of the White House, the sidewalks, the streets and more bought by taxpayer dollars? Would a car driving through Washington DC with anti-Corporatism bumper stickers be a "protest"?

I understand that law enforcement needs to be able to re-route traffic and so-forth in the event of a large gathering. I also understand that the road in front of the White House has been closed to traffic since OKC. What is the purpose of the permit in that case?

Too many questions... so few answers. :cry:

[IA_Seth]

2. Recommend this thread! n/t

[pstans]

3. Stuff like this will eventually get to the supreme court

or the Neocons will declare marshall law, whichever comes first.

[rurallib]

4. Well, gee, look who is on the Supreme Court

Yet another reason why the Dems should have filibustered.

[Debi]

5. Sissies

:grr:

[Itchinjim]

6. Brian Terrell, Ed Bloomer, and Elton Davis...

These are the good Catholics. The Catholics that were abandoned by the reactionary hierarchy of the church. God Bless 'em. Also one shouldn't forget Fr. Frank Cordero who has worked closely with these gentlemen in the past and his toils for Christ and Peace.