U.s. Soldier Burned In Effigy At Portland Anti-war Protest...

[rcecale]

What an outstanding group of Americans!!!

I especially appreciate Mr. Green-Hair in pics 3 thru 6. His parents must be so friggin' proud!

Click here.

Randy

[Flatbutt1]

I would not have been able to control myself. At the very least I would have saved the flag.

[rcecale]

And if this wasn't enough...let's take a look at what some did in Wisconsin...

WISCONSIN ARMY RECRUITMENT OFFICE HIT...

Damage blamed on frustration
Some predict violent protest may be sign of things to come
By MEG JONES and DON BEHM
mjones@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 20, 2007

One day after 21 people were arrested during a demonstration that vandalized a U.S. Army recruiting office on Milwaukee's east side, Wisconsin peace activist groups on Tuesday said some protesters might increasingly turn to destruction as their frustrations mount.

Monday night's violence was an anomaly, said Judy Miner of Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, who noted protesters were peaceful at dozens of demonstrations, marches, rallies and vigils held Monday throughout the state.

"That's what impressed me," said Miner. "People have been very respectful of the fact that violence doesn't get us anywhere."

Nine of the adults arrested Monday were from Milwaukee, six were from West Bend and one each from Waukesha, Wauwatosa and Madison. Arrested were: Kelsey M. Kazik, 20, Sara Keiza, 17, Jillian Duckwitz, 21, Richard A. Ketcham, 22, Thomas P. Buckholt, 17, Andrew L. Ortlieb, 24, Kathryn E. Jacobs, 20, Keith Crum, 20, and Andrew Smart, 19, all of Milwaukee; Craig R. Barringer, 20, of Waukesha; Jonathon W. Wilson, 17, of Wauwatosa; Amy M. Barger, 19, Jessica L. Brooks, 18, Derek W. Johnson, 17, Nathan J. Bartelt, 20, Jeffrey G. Lavato, 18, and Kyle Sawson, 21, all of West Bend; and David W. Clerkin, 21, of Madison. The three juveniles were not named.

Johnson, of West Bend, denied participating in any vandalism.

"I wanted to protest military recruiting in our schools and the war itself," Johnson said. "A recruiting office seemed, symbolically, like an important place" to protest, he added.

Johnson said that he regularly attends Thursday afternoon meetings of a "radical discussion group" at the West Bend library and that Monday's protest was discussed at last week's meeting.

"We were under the impression going there that it would be a peaceful protest," Johnson said. "We knew it would be loud and boisterous, but we didn't know there would be vandalism."

Regarding a police report that human excrement was smeared on the recruiting center, Johnson said he wasn't aware of such vandalism.

Kazik, of Milwaukee, said she expected a peaceful march and didn't support those who damaged the recruiting center.

"I think the only people out of the group who even knew there was going to be violence were those who were involved in it. It did absolutely nothing for the cause we were marching for," Kazik said.

Peace Action Wisconsin does not condone violence, said the group's project organizer Julie Enslow, but some anti-war protesters might feel the need to be violent to get their point across.

"We do not use those tactics ourselves, but the movement is very broad, and as this war continues, the anti-war movement is going to take many forms - not all of which everyone feels comfortable with," Enslow said.

An anti-war rally at O'Donnell Park on Saturday drew a large crowd that listened to several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), before marching to the Reuss Federal Plaza, Enslow said. The peaceful gathering contrasted sharply with the arrests Monday night at the Army recruiting center near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, where protesters broke a window and threw smoke bombs, paint and human excrement, police said. There were no injuries reported.

Pat Grobschmidt, public affairs officer for Army recruiting in Milwaukee, said no one was in the office at the time.

"Soldiers defend the right of all Americans to peacefully express their point of their view. We're dismayed that their actions are anything but peaceful," Grobschmidt said.

The 21 protesters, including the three juveniles, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, said Deputy Police Chief Brian O'Keefe. The adults were given municipal citations and ordered to return to court at a later date. The protesters ranged in age from 13 to 24.

Police were called to the recruiting station at 3133 N. Oakland Ave. around 8 p.m. Monday. Grobschmidt said there have been protests at the center in the past and prior vandalism, though she did not know the last time it had been vandalized.

Gus Sorenson, government relations director for Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America, said the violent protest might be a sign of things to come as the Iraq war enters its fifth year.

"I would like to think cooler heads would prevail and they would find a better way to channel some of that energy, but I don't think that's going to happen. I think it's going to get worse," said Sorenson.

Outside the recruiting station Tuesday, three orange and white barricades were on the sidewalk next to piles of broken glass. One window was covered by a glob of blue paint, and a glass door had a spider web of cracks.

Donna Brooks acknowledged that her daughter was a member of the West Bend library discussion group and was arrested at the protest. Her daughter's group did not plan for the vandalism, she said.



Randy