Youth Anti-War Actions Heat Up

As the second anniversary of the Iraq invasion approaches against the backdrop of increasing US bellicosity against other Middle Eastern , anti-war student groups have started to mobilize and demonstrate strongly against the war. In at least two cases, students have been arrested for interfering with salesmen of death - military recruiters - operating on campus. Below are news and inspiring ground reports of some of the latest actions.

Protest of military spurs arrest

Tuesday, March 1, 2005
By HEATHER KAYS
HERALD NEWS
New Jersey

WAYNE - William Paterson University student Thomas Keenan was arrested and charged with defiant trespass after handing out fliers opposing military recruitment Monday afternoon.

A small group of students had gathered in the campus's Atrium building around noon to protest student recruitment on campus by the Air Force and Navy, according to school officials and several students.

"I told them they couldn't make me move unless they arrested me, and they did so," said Keenan, 19, in a phone interview after campus police released him Monday afternoon.

"We feel that college is not a place to recruit for the military," declared 20-year-old Ryan McLaren, who had also been passing out the informational fliers titled "Military Myths."

"Trying to take people away from getting an education to join the military is just not right."

The remaining students continued to distribute a total of about 150 fliers and then went to where Keenan was held to pro-test his arrest and demand his release.

According to school officials, the students were trying to prevent others from getting information that they wanted from the military recruiters.

"There is a university policy that people are entitled to hand out leaflets and demonstrate publicly," said Stewart Goldstein, spokesman for William Paterson. "But the office of the dean of student development has the right to determine a location where distribution can take place without it being a disruption."

When several other students were asked to move 15 to 20 feet away from the recruitment tables, they obliged. Keenan said he refused to move.

"We just want people to be informed and to know the truth," said Keenan, who led a panel discussion on military recruitment at an anti-war forum held on campus by the North Jersey chapter of Anti-Racist Action on Saturday. "The money the military promises you for college might not be there, the job that they promise you could be changed and the time that you are supposed to serve could be extended indefinitely."

Goldstein said the school was also looking into the situation and that disciplinary action may be taken in addition to the trespassing charge, a disorderly person's offense,

"I don't think I was doing anything wrong," Keenan said. "They were just looking for somebody to make an example of to discourage student activism."

He added that he would fight the charge that had been filed against him. "I plan to continue this wholeheartedly, and I will only intensify my efforts knowing how hard they came down on us."

Kennedy High Youth Against War and Racism Win Victory for Free Speech and Peace Movement

Thanks to everyone who offered us support and solidarity!

On Wednesday, February 23, the Kennedy High School chapter of Youth Against War and Racism distributed counter-military-recruitment information from a table during lunch periods and held a teach-in after school. These events were successes despite the attempts to ban our actions by the Kennedy administration and the Bloomington Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent.

The Superintendent ultimately acquiesced to our demands to be allowed the same rights as other student organizations and the military recruiters because they were flooded by phone calls from people involved in the anti-war movement from around the country, and because they saw that our student group was organized and not about the back down.

We were informed Tuesday afternoon that despite prior approval and precedent, we would not be allowed to have a table at lunch when the military recruiters were present. The local American Legion had contacted the school Superintendent and threatened to withdraw their significant funding from the school if we were permitted to table.

We organized an emergency meeting that evening on hearing the news, and plotted our next moves. Fourteen active members showed up and decided that we would table in violation of the administration's decry. If they demanded we take down our table we would refuse, regardless of the consequences. This would show them that we wouldn't back down easily, and would create a scene that would reflect badly on the administration.

We drafted a flier and petition to hand out to students asking them to support our free speech rights. We sent an appeal to anti-war groups across America asking them to call the Superintendent and Principal to demand they allow us our free speech rights. Finally, we sent a press release announcing a press conference at 2:30 on Wednesday. We intended to show the administration that if they were going to violate the constitution so flagrantly, they would do it over our resistance, and they would do it publicly.

Several students met with the Principal of Kennedy the next day. The Principal informed us that the decision to bar us from tabling was that of the Superintendent and that any student attempting to set up a table would be summarily suspended for three days. We would be allowed to speak with the Superintendent, but not until 11 A.M., conveniently timed to coincide with the lunch periods we planned to table at.

When the first lunch period began, three students began to assemble the tables we had brought from home, hang sings from the tables, sell buttons, hand-out informational leaflets, and play guitar. Even in the short time before the administrators arrived to shutdown the table, we elicited a very positive response from students.

The Principal and vice-Principal demanded that we remove our table, which we refused to do. Once the administrators themselves began taking our materials, we decided that they would not allow us to table successfully, and accepted their offer of meeting with the Superintendent. They informed us that the assistant Superintendent had canceled our teach-in that was planned for that afternoon.

This meeting produced the startling revelation that the only reason we were unable to table, was that the fliers we planned to distribute did not have contact information on them. This seems incongruous with the Principal's insistence that we could not table under any circumstances. This miraculous change of heart could be due only to the fact that both the Principal and Superintendent had been swamped with phone calls and a press conference was scheduled for 2:30 that afternoon at the school. The resolutions reached at this meeting were that Youth Against War and Racism would be allowed to table in the future provided the fliers contained contact information, and the teach-in scheduled for later in the day would be allowed to happen (the assistant Superintendent denied ever making any statement to the contrary.)

Unfortunately, by the time we returned to school, the lunch periods were almost over. Several months previously we had also erected a table during lunch periods when recruiters were present, and been immensely successful. We had received 120 signatures to our petition to ban recruiters from Kennedy, and distributed hundreds of leaflets. The recruiters, on the other hand, were largely ignored by the students and spent the day looking lonely and bored.

This had obviously left an impression on them, because Wednesday, in stark contrast to the six to ten recruiters usually present from sundry branches of the military, only one recruiter from the Navy even showed up. We were disappointed to miss such an opportunity, but we had scored a decisive victory over the recruiters and the administration, and won assurances that we would be allowed to table when the military recruiters return.

The teach-in was highly successful. Youth Against War and Racism organizer, Brandon Madsen, described the events of the day and triumphantly declared the restoration of our civil liberties. Speakers from Veterans For Peace, Sabry Wazwaz of the Anti-War Committee, and Ty Moore of Socialist Alternative performed admirably and gave impassioned arguments against the war in Iraq. Between 30 and 40 students attended, as did several parents and approximately five members of the local press (we got a story about us in the main Minneapolis newspaper, the Star Tribune).

It remains to be seen if the administration will honor it's promised, but for now we have come out on top. This successful resolution could only have been possible with the support of others in the anti-war movement who called to protest the administration's disregard for our First Amendment rights. With the press, all the solidarity phone calls, and the anti-war groups showing up at our school door, our Principal inadvertently revealed: "Its been overwhelming."

Even Michael Moore put an article about us on his website:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=1536

Within 24 hours we went from the brink of the elimination of our group, to assurances that we would receive equal access to all facilities in the future. To all those who supported us and made our successes possible, thank you.

Matt Johnson, Senior at Kennedy
Organizer for Youth Against War and Racism
www.yawr.org - against.war@gmail.com

Report of Kicking Out Military Recruiters from New Haven:

In less than 90 minutes, students at Southern CT. State Univ. successfully chased the recruiters from the Army National Guard from the student center on wed. Feb. 23, 2005. There were about twenty students that took part in making sure that the recruiters had no chance in signing anyone up for an unjust war that has devastated soldiers by the thousands in this country while destroying the people of Iraq by the hundreds of thousands.

The Army National Guard was scheduled to be on campus from 11am to 4pm on the 23rd via an "invitation from career services at Southern" according to a spokesperson in the student center office. The SCSU Antiwar Coalition decided to arrive early (pre-emptively) and set up our message of antiwar at around 10:30 am at their reserved table. We made certain to have a ton of literature and information, such as, numerous CAN pamphlets like "The Growing Soldiers Discontent" and "Occupation is Not Liberation", as well as the Pablo Peredes Petition, and plenty of Traveling Soldier issues. Also the recent Socialist Worker issue was extremely effective due to the fact that three of the most outspoken resisters are front and center: Peredes, Kevin Benderman, and recently freed Camilo Mejia.

We also made a concerted effort to let people know about the upcoming March 19 demonstration in Hartford, CT that marks the two year anniversary of the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq and how everyone that is disgusted by the continued occupation has to get involved now! We stressed the need for people to get involved in building the strongest possible antiwar coalition at Southern and why it is such an urgent campaign for us to get the recruiters off this campus that has already seen 127 of our fellow students go off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Passing students were very receptive in hearing the argument as to why the recruiters are here in the first place at a working class commuter school, why they have to lie to get students to sign up, and why they should leave and not come back. Southern students like millions across the country face increased tuition (going on nine consecutive semesters at SCSU) and numerous budget cuts that has created increased anger and frustration and the last thing we need is the Army claiming that they have "an alternative".

As for the action itself, the Army set up around 11:15 am, next to us(after one of the vendors selling clothes gave up a table for them) and we immediately made their attempt to engage students impossible. First, about four of us blocked their table and handed out counter-recruitmnet info while the students behind our table grilled the two recruiters with questions about why they were here, why do they openly discriminate against our gay, lesbian, and transgender brothers and sisters, and how quickly will those who sign up go off to war somewhere in the world that is based on lies. Needless to say they were not thrilled by any of this and like a couple of third graders "told on us" to the student center representative within twenty minutes. By this time we had at least 8-10 students facing the Army holding signs ranging from "Get off our campus" to "Money for School, not for War" and Recruiters out, Troops Home!

The student center rep wanted to meet with a couple of us and expressed that there was a problem to which we agreed by stating "yes there is a major problem, why is there an institution on this State campus that openly discriminates based on sexual orientation?" The response was typical "oh well they were invited by career services, if they were here on their own accord WE would kick them off for you". Really, how comforting to know that. Thus, the Antiwar Coalition has a meeting with career services to discuss why they would ever invite the Army on campus and do they plan on it in the future.

Ultimately, we agreed to not to stand directly in front of the table, but it was at that time we started to get more confident and aggressive in our outreach and by 12:30 pm the Army needed reinforcements. Along came the third recruiter who after only a few minutes was so angry and red in the face that he could have easily been in a cartoon where their head explodes. By 12:45pm they decided to pack it up and call it a day after not getting one person to even make an appointment, let alone sign up for "duty".

Interestingly enough the student center rep walked them out and was heard apologizing for the trouble, what a stunner! More importantly, the three recruiters left while we began chants of "Money for school, not for war...money for healthcare, not for war" which then erupted into cheers when they were completely off of OUR campus. It was actually shocking to almost all of us that they left so early, we really did not anticipate them giving in so quickly but when they saw that they were wasting their time they took off. We were extremely excited but were quick to say that this is just the first round; they will come back(just like they have at all the other schools in this country) and with more experienced, aggressive, and most likely intimidating recruiters that will do everything in their power to sign up the next round of students for war.

That is why we wrapped up by explaining how crucial it is for those who took part to spread the word to everyone they know on campus and throughout the New Haven community that in the next round we will have to be even more organized, more aggressive, and more intimidating on our own by having increased forces taking part at Southern that demands loud and clear: WE KICKED YOU OFF ONCE, NOW STAY OUT!

Sorry this report was quite long but this initial victory was so damn inspiring and displayed to people that struggle is possible and necessary especially at a time when we in the antiwar movement are inundated with the myths that we cannot do anything, the country is so right-wing, and nobody will listen, let alone get involved. Well, as what usually happens when people come together and fight, these types of myths are destroyed and you have new activists that are ready and willing to continue the fight. We saw the beginning of the re-emergence of the fightback in New Haven yesterday at SCSU, let the spirit of Seattle (and countless others) continue to spread!!!
The SCSU AntiWar Coalition

Career Fair Brings Military Recruiters, Protest Students Protest Military Recruiter On Campus

Daily Cal

BY Tiffany Hsu
Contribution Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2005

Students from Berkeley Stop the War Coalition protested military recruiting on campus at a career fair yesterday. Demonstrators said the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy violates university anti-discrimination policies.

The protest, prompted by the presence of a Marine Corps recruiter at the Career Center's Internship and Summer Job Fair outside the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, attracted some 20 students waving signs and chanting, "Don't ask, don't tell, take this war and go to hell."

"Even if you don't say it outright, if it's even felt, you get harassed. It's constantly reinforced that homosexuality is not natural," said sophomore Anna Schlotz, a coalition member. "You wouldn't be able to hide your race or religion, so why should you have to hide your sexual orientation?"

Protesters claimed the military's policy-which allows gays to join the military as long they keep their sexual orientation secret-encourages repression of sexuality and bars gays serving in the military from receiving benefits heterosexuals enjoy. They say the university does not endorse these beliefs.

"Queer issues are very important to this campus," Schlotz said. "This campus wouldn't stand for the KKK being on campus because it's openly racist. Likewise, the military is just as openly homophobic."

Until last November, when a federal appeals court ruled that universities can legally deny military recruiters access to campuses on grounds of discrimination, universities would have risked losing federal funding if they turned military recruiters away.

Despite last fall's ruling, however, UC Berkeley has not exercised a ban.

"As much as I dislike using school services to aid recruiting by an entity that discriminates, I would hope that some law students will consider military careers," Dean of Boalt Hall School of Law Christopher Edley said in December. "After all, the nation needs an inclusive military. Boycotting it won't reform it."

Still, protesters said military recruiters should not get special treatment when it comes to discrimination.

"If this were any other company, it would be impossible for the recruiter to be here on campus. But because it's the military, they get a free ride," Schlotz said.

But military recruiters on campus said while students' efforts are commendable, the military's recruitment is in line with the law.

"The students are entitled to their opinions," said Marine Corps recruiter Capt. Eric Montalvo. "They should write their senators and congressmen-we're just enforcing policy."

Anti-war Student Protestor Arrested at Wisconsin University

On Febuary 23rd anti-war protesters from UW-Madison's Stop The War, Student Labor Action Coalition, and International Socialist Organizaiton were holding a counter-recruitment demonstration in the sudent union during a job fair with representatives of the US Navy, FBI, and Homeland Security. After being told they could not chant, they were allowed to remain holding signs in front to the recruiters table and passing out literature. After roughly 20 minutes they were informed that 7-8 police officers were outside "trying to figure out what to do with [the protesters]."

The police came in lead by a young woman who was in charge of the job fair. The latter claimed that the union rules stated she had the right to kick out anyone she thought was causing a disturbance or not acting in accordance with union policy. One of the protesters, Blake Trimbell, informed the young woman that it was, in fact, against the universities freedom of speach and non-discrimination policies to allow institutions (i.e. the military) who discriminated against LGBTs to work on campus. Within a couple seconds Blake was arrested. She was handcuffed and taken away by police officers, none of whom could tell her why she was being arrested. Only at the station was she informed she was receiving a $275 fine for disorderly conduct.

As the students of Kennedy Highschool (best of luck) have done, Stop The War is asking that all those opposed to this gross violation of our freedom af speech and assembly, and the selective enforcement of the law, call or e-mail the UW Union Director and the University's Chancellor listed below. We can only expect that these sort of attacks will escalate as the anti-war movement strengthens. Let's keep on top of them. In Solidarity, Stop The War

Mark Guthier, Wisconsin Union Director
mcguthier@wisc.edu #608-262-2263

John Wiley, UW-Madison Chancellor
jdwiley@bascom.wisc.edu #608-262-9946

Student political groups protest military recruitment; Public Health Student Assoc. find demonstration out of line

By Phillip Crivellone
Published: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Chicago Flame

Protesters from various student organizations battled the cold in front of The School of Public Health Building at 1617 W. Taylor in opposition to an Air Force Recruitment lecture hosted by the Public Health Student Association in an attempt to expose job opportunities in the military field to UIC students with medical backgrounds.

Approximately a dozen students from organizations such as the Students for Social Justice (SSJ), Students Without Religious Dogma (SWORD), and the International Socialist Organization worked collectively with large anti-war posters and pamphlets in hand in order to spread their disdain at the persistent military recruitment presence on campus.

"I don't think that they should be allowed on campus, recruiting kids to go to war to kill people," said Erika Claich, a fourth year English student and member of Campus Anti-War.

Some of the protesters thought that military presence, for whatever reason, do not belong on the UIC campus.

Ryan Donnelly, second year psychology student and member of the Students for Social Justice organization believes having military recruiters operating on university grounds is contradictory to what UIC is all about. "This is a poor choice because the university is supposed to be about bettering the quality of life whereas these recruiters represent something totally different."

Protesters were concerned that the main reason why such recruitment activities occur on campus is because UIC is a predominantly working class school with a large minority population. The fear is this makes some students susceptible to financial pressures, making job opportunities in the Armed Forces seem all more the enticing.

Taking place between noon and 1 p.m. in room 132 of SPH building, three Air Force recruiters spoke on the work of public health officers in the Air Force. Among the topics discussed were amount of time served, pay and benefits, the role of medical personnel in the Air Force, and the potential for educational opportunities.

The attendance of PHSA members at the U.S. Air Force Recruitment seminar was sparse. No more than ten students were present in the room at a given time. Some of those present were actually members of the protesting organization who used the time to actively question the three panel members of the recruitment team on U.S. military policy.

Topics that protesters bombarded recruiters with included depleted uranium risks, biological engineering concerns, and forced drug usage amongst military personnel. The recruiters stayed clear of directly answering the protesters concerns, saying humbly that they did not know.

In response to a student protester's question regarding Abu Grhaib and Guantanamo Bay, one of the recruiters responded, "We don't make the policies; our job as recruiters is to answer any questions that students have about joining the Air Force public health program and its benefits."

As such questions were directed at the recruiters, heated discussions ensued. However, the resulting arguments came between students representing the protesting organizations and students representing the PHSA rather than a demonstration aimed to be between protestors and recruiters.

"This was obviously not about recruitment but about giving students who might consider joining the Air Force as a job option," said Gus E. Turner, President of the PHSA. "I respect where the protesters are coming from but I still think we should give students all the opportunities are out there and respect the recruiters who are just doing their jobs."

At some points during the seminar PHSA students cautioned attending protesters when they began to ask sensitive questions regarding U.S. Military policies. Darlene Duggan, a member of the PHSA, at one point during an argument, advised that protesters should leave if they continued to pull the seminar in a direction for which it was not intended.

"Amongst us [PHSA] we thought it was a good idea to have [recruiters] come so that other students can get the information that they may want," she said after the seminar. "I don't think it was really fair for students from those organizations to come and use this event as a means to vent their frustration."

Yet some protesters, like Eric Peters, a non-student, contested that exposing students to job opportunities in the military sector is unjust and hypocritical. "UIC has an anti-discriminatory policy and now they're bringing in employers that have openly discriminatory policy," he said referring to policies such as the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the U.S. Armed Forces.

When confronted with this question from Peters at the seminar Technical Sgt. John Olson, the principal recruiter, readily admitted that the U.S. military is "the most discriminatory employer there is," squashing any further debate.

"Programs like this are, in all honesty, solely informational. We're just here to get the word out there and not to pressure anyone into anything that they might not want to do," Sgt. Olson said.

When asked about some of the protesters' signs that were being held outside the building saying things like "Travel, Make Friends, Kill Children," Sgt. Olson could only laugh and say: "I've been in the military for 17 years and I've never killed anyone."

In a related incident Tuesday, Feb. 15, the same protesters representing what they refer to as a "coalition" stymied an attempt for Army recruiters to set up shop outside of the bookstore in SCE. Using shouting tactics and dispensing anti-recruitment literature they drove off the recruiters in less than an hour.