Anti-War Students Attacked by Campus Police and Young Republicans

[buzzsaw_23]

On Thursday, September 29, a peaceful group of approximately 30 counter-recruitment activists were attacked by members of the HCC College Republican Club and the Holyoke campus police. One anti-war activist, Charles Peterson, was maced by police and has since been banned from the HCC campus where he is a student and works.

For more information on the attack, see Campus Anti-War Network: www.campusantiwar.net

For more information, contact Justin (UMass) at [phone] or [e-mail]
or HCC Anti-War Coalition at [e-mail]

http://www.traprockpeace.org/counter_recruitment/

On September 29, 2005, students from Holyoke
Community College in Massachusetts assembled to peacefully protest military recruitment on their campus. The students were assaulted by police and at least one student was maced by an officer. Please read the statement of the Holyoke Community College Anti-war Coalition, and register your concerns with Holyoke Community College. President Messner: 1-413-552-2222

http://www.campusantiwar.net/

The UMass-Amherst Anti-War coalition, in solidarity with HCC counter-recruitment students, has called for a peaceful mass march at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, on Thursday, October 6 at 11am, to demonstrate our determination to preserve freedom of speech on our university and college campuses and resist police repression of anti-war students.

[babylonsister]

1. Again, do you have any

way for me/us to write to the admin and complain about their policies? Another poster said Holyoke's admin site had been conveniently 'down'.

[political_invader]

3. Here is an address all sites for the college seem to be down

303 Homestead Ave Holyoke, MA 01040 snail mail maybe the only way for now.

I tried over 6 links all were down. :shrug:

edited for spelling

[MountainLaurel]

4. Whole HCC site is down

What a coincidence.

However, I did find the "unofficial" Web site for the campus police:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9472/main.html

[annabanana]

8. They WANT to get email!

"Do you have something you would like to ask; to share; or to report; to the Campus Police? If so, we'd like to hear from you. Please send your e-mail to us at this address, you may click on it, or cut and paste it if need be, [e-mail]"

[buzzsaw_23]

7. Go Here

For more information, contact Justin (UMass) at [phone] or [e-mail]
or HCC Anti-War Coalition at [e-mail]

[Harry S Truman]

2. Bring on the civil war, freep freaks.

[me b zola]

5. They are looking for it, aren't they?.

Or is it more that they are wearing their finest brown shirts and wish to squash anyone who dare speak truth to power??

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Yes!

Disgusting pigs! Why aren't they off in Iraq if they love the war so much? Reminds me of when at the RNC a republican kicked horribly a protestor. :mad: These people piss me off!

[PowerToThePeople]

30. The way they treat peaceful protesters...

I don't feel as giving them anything. I am more than willing to go to war and end their lives. Fuck peaceful resolutions. They want nothing to do with it and are willing and want to harm us. If I was in that situation I woulda had pepper spay or a taser with me and dropped the fucker(s) that sprayed me.

[babylonsister]

6. I'm glad to see the colleges doing this, but

the actions of the campus cops and, especially! Young Repugs have got to be stopped.
Is there any bigger organization we can write to to get on board with this?

[buzzsaw_23]

11. Tom Hayden Demands Full Investigation

Tom Hayden demands full investigation

I am writing to demand a full investigation of the recent police assault on students on your campus. The students should not be repressed or punished for being ahead of their time. The use of any pepper spray or gas has far greater health effects than recognized officially, in part because studies by state health officials have been suppressed in my state, California. Its use for crowd control should be terminated. TOM HAYDEN

http://www.traprockpeace.org/counter_recruitment/?p=22

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Good

I'm glad to hear someone is doing something. Whatever happened to the first amendment? They should sue in my opinion.

[stillcool]

15. some info found here...

http://www.campusantiwar.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=2

and other universities w/ problems listed as well. LTTE's ?

[gizmo1979]

9. In Mass?

Those guys will be killed.Liberals have to outnumber conseritive 3 to 1 there.

[bonito]

24. But they don't know it.

[stillcool]

10. This is totally wrong....

and needs some daylight....

Holyoke Community College


On Thursday, September 29, 30 Holyoke Community College (HCC) students engaged in a peaceful picket of the Army National Guard recruiting table in the school’s cafeteria, organized by the HCC Anti-War Coalition, a chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network.



The police assault began after Peter Mascaro, the head of campus security, snatched a homemade sign reading “Cops are hypocrites” from a student’s hands, calling it “inappropriate.” Officer Scott Landry then grabbed the student and, joined by three other officers, lifted him off the ground and assaulted him. When other students came to his defense, Landry then grabbed another student, Charles Peterson -- who witnesses describe as playing a moderating role throughout the protest -- put him in a headlock, and sprayed mace in his face. Around 20 state police armed in riot gear and gas masks then arrived in the cafeteria. When one student tried to leave, he found 10 to 15 police officers pointing their guns at him. Only with difficulty were the protesters able to peaceably disperse. (Pictures of this protest are available at http://www.campusantiwar.net)



The next day, Charles Peterson was visited at home by two members of the state police, who informed him that he is indefinitely banned from campus, and will be arrested for trespassing if he sets foot on HCC. In violation of the school’s own rules, Charles has been denied any due process, and has not even been given the ability to speak to administrators about the charges against him. Since Charles -- in addition to being a model student at HCC, holding the James Taylor Award for Excellence in Philosophy and serving as the Vice President for Academic Affairs on the Student Senate -- is also employed at the school, this creates a financial hardship for him as well.



The assault on student protesters and the administration’s banning of Charles Peterson occurs in the context of an organized and confident right wing on the extremely polarized HCC campus. Officer Scott Landry, who led the assault on the students, is also the advisor to the College Republicans. While the assault was taking place, those College Republicans lined up behind the police to cheer on the attack. Last year, the same group led a campaign of harassment and sexist intimidation against then-president of the HCC Student Senate, Angela Greany, after she passed a resolution opposing military recruitment on campus. In the climate created by this group, many students who had participated in Thursday’s protest decided not to attend their classes on Friday for fear of harassment from right-wing students

[buzzsaw_23]

14. Cindy Sheehan's Statement of Support

“I am appalled that students exercising their (fully sanctioned) rights
to free speech and to peaceably assemble were abused by law enforcement
officials. The right to patriotically dissent from our government is a
sacred right and these students should be given commendations, not
black eyes. They were claiming their places in our democracy. The
people who mistreated them should be the ones who are being
investigated for their brutality and heavy-handed over-reaction, not
the students.”

–Cindy Sheehan
Peace Mom and Founder of Gold Star Families for Peace

http://www.traprockpeace.org/counter_recruitment/?p=13

[FreedomAngel82]

22. Of course

I'm not surprised at all. Ugh!

[Cha]

12. Hope this backfires on their

fascist asses.

[Jacobin]

13. VietRaq, or is it IraqNam

I get so confused....but glad to see the activists stepping it up.

It will take many many years and many many arrests, injuries and yes, deaths before the war machine can be stopped.

[DanCa]

16. You know this proves these loons are not christians

Jesus is suppposed to be the prince of peace.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. I looked up that officer, advisor to the Young Republicans

I looked up online the Officer that maced the protester, and is also advisor to Holyoke Community College's Young Republicans.
Here's what I found:

Scott Landry- Patrol Officer
Officer Landry began working for the department in July of 1999. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council Reserve Intermittent Police Academy. Officer Landry is the departments evidence officer and is currently assigned to the 7:00am-3:00pm shift.

[e-mail]
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9472/pdstaff.html

I wrote him an e-mail. Here it is:

Instead of maintaining the peace, your concept of freedom is censorship of civil liberties. If I recall correctly, the last very famous people to do that were Nazis during the Third Reich. They didn't have mace back then, but in mob-like fashion, and wearing uniforms, they stopped all peaceful dissent.
Thomas Jefferson said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." You evidently disagree with Thomas Jefferson.
I'll pray you get fired for being a danger to freedom and to peace.

Sarah in Miami, Florida

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. FYI if the officer did this

in the pursuit of his duties, aka probable cause, he did the right thing, if not... he violated the rules of the job

The trick will be proving he did what he did as a political act. Iam sure his report includes things like self defense and proper use of force... and apropriate description... find the internal affairs for the campus police and lodge a civilian complaint.

[babylonsister]

19. Can I post this in the Activist forum?

We can hope Skinner will take up the cause and ask everyone to make this a priority.

[buzzsaw_23]

23. Definitely post this in Activist forum

and see if Skinner will turn this into a DU priority. This is getting some attention on the other side of the ocean.
There will be big rallies in Western Mass around this to be sure.

Let's get after these thugs.

International Solidarity from the UK

Please convey our support and solidarity to the students who were attacked for protesting. The war criminals Bush and Blair are increasingly resorting to force to silence debate. Only last week an 82 year old Labour Party member _a founder member of CND and a current member of our steering committee_ was ejected from Labour’s conference for criticising policy on Iraq. New laws which restrict our civil liberties are being pushed through parliament. We send our best wishes to you all and assure you that many people in Britain know of and support your protests.

best wishes,

Lindsey German, convenor
Andrew Murray, chair

Stop the War Coalition

http://www.traprockpeace.org/counter_recruitment/?p=21

[Kingofalldems]

21. College republicans? I would have thought they all had

enlisted by now. Silly me.

[starroute]

26. They've got to turn out the next generation of Roves and Abramoffs

The College Republicans have contributed so much to our political life over the past 35 years. :sarcasm:

Surely you wouldn't want them to stop now. :eyes:

[Hello_Kitty]

38. They either have mysterious "health problems" or

They have "important political activism" to do at home.

[masshole]

25. My letter to the HCC Campus Police

I am a former Campus Police Officer for the DPH, a former IPO at Westfield State College, an alumnus of HCC, and most importantly a proud citizen and taxpayer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I am sickened by your department's poor handling of the protest last Thursday. The HCC Campus Police response was poorly planned, poorly executed, and more than one CPO quite probably violated the civil rights of at least two students.

It would appear many, many hours of basic crowd-control training are needed by the HCC Campus Police. Rule number 1 - NEVER, EVER, let your emotions dictate your actions. No Law Enforcement Officer should allow their personal beliefs to interfere with their ability to carry out their duties. It is evident that was not the case Thursday.

Your department's behavior was thoroughly unprofessional. Your first and most important function is to provide safety and security to the students, faculty, and visitors of the College. You failed. Your actions actually endangered those you are supposed to protect.

What do I say to my daughter who is planning on attending HCC next fall?
How can she feel safe late at night, walking to her car after class or the Library, when she sees the HCC Campus Police nearby?

The best advice I can give her is... DON'T attend HCC.

[buzzsaw_23]

27. GREAT LETTER!

Coming from someone who has been in your position it could have some weight. I suggest you link to some of the links in my posts and send it out to others directly involved. Send it to Traprock Peace Center at the least and possibly to the anti-war group at UMass-Amherst.

As your daughter is considering attending Holyoke absolutely send it to the higher-ups in the Administration.

[masshole]

28. Absolutely.

I can surely do that.
I most definitely will be emailing the Administration of HCC once their servers are back online.

[buzzsaw_23]

31. Students held a press conference

Students Will Hold Press Conference to Speak

PRESS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Justin LeFurjah 413-320-1358 Email: [e-mail]
OCT. 2, 2005

5:26PM

Students Will Hold Press Conference to Speak
Out Against Police Attack at Holyoke Community
College

When: MONDAY OCT 3, 2005 11AM
Where: Front steps of City Hall in Holyoke 536 Dwight St, Holyoke MA

http://www.traprockpeace.org/counter_recruitment/?p=13

heard anything about it or seen any coverage on this?

[PowerToThePeople]

29. get ACLU to sue the shit out of em.

[bpilgrim]

32. The BROWN-SHIRTS & some are in UNIFORM

more...
http://GlobalFreePress.com

psst... pass the word ;->

peace

[intheflow]

33. I'm an alum.

Got my Associates degree there. HCC was the best education I, and now my adult son, have gotten, and I have my Masters now. HCC was certainly where my social consciousness was raised.

Contacting the alumni relations department tomorrow. That the campus police would tousle with students and then call in the state police reeks of suppression of free speech and right of peaceable assembly. :grr:

[atfqn]

34. This isn't an isolated event.

Not in anyway to detract from this seriousness of this gentleman’s plight, however I think it is important to mention my school also had a similar problem. George Mason University also arrested an anti-war protester on Thursday of last week. He was peacefully protesting the war in the Johnson Center -a common building with a library/food court for the students- he was stripped of his signs and arrested. The students were then treated to this hap-hazard letter from the provost in an attempt at damage control:

<snip>
To the campus community:

An incident occurred last Thursday in the Johnson Center which involves the University’s commitment to the freedom of speech and the related freedom of nonviolent protest. A student protesting the war in Iraq was allegedly stripped of a protest sign, was asked to leave the building, and was later arrested.

George Mason University reiterates its deep commitment to the freedom of speech. We must work to avoid attacks on expressions of free speech, including destruction of signs and other written statements.

Disagreements about exactly what occurred are inevitable, and the University is not currently in a position to establish responsibilities. Pending further inquiry, including into police behavior, we will commit to review Johnson Center and other relevant policies, to make sure they are compatible with freedom of speech, and we will work to identify those individuals responsible for any alleged violations. We reiterate our position in principle, and at the same time seek to learn from the incident how better to maintain this principle in practice.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost
</snip>


I am concerned that this isn’t just a few over-zealous campus/local police officers. Institutions of higher learning are supposed to be places of reasoning and free thinking – yet this no longer seems to be the case. Unfortunately few of my fellow students share my outrage. No one wants to rock the boat – and why would they? I live in Fairfax, VA - none of them will be marched off to war…

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. I suspect private schools don't want this coming to them

I mean Berkeley and the Berkeley free movement is larger in legend if you know waht I mean

By the way, welcome to DU and it seems apropriate to do some ahem, letter writing

[Hardrada]

37. 1967 in Iowa City

Antiwar protestors hurled blood on the steps on the Memorial Union where Marine Recruiters were at work. The police moved in and there was a melee and standing across the street and looking down from a parking lot were Young Repubs and frat people cheering on the police. This sort of thing has happened before. I was on campus at the time (Univ. of IA) and witnessed that and it helped me decide the V. Nam war sucked since the sort of people I had always always hated were FOR it!!!

[LibertyorDeath]

39. "Campus Police"

Do these CS have a home address.

Not so brave without a gun & a uniform.

[buzzsaw_23]

40. kick

[buzzsaw_23]

41. Replay