Posted on 01/12/2007 7:20:09 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
Nine arrested in protest of Iraq decision
By Joe Killian
Staff Writer
The nine people arrested Thursday. (Nelson Kepley/News & Record)
Nelson Kepley/News & Record
The nine people arrested Thursday. (buy photo)
GREENSBORO — Nine protesters were arrested Thursday during a demonstration downtown against President Bush's decision to increase troop levels in Iraq. One was taken to the ground with a Taser.
The rally began at around 4:30 p.m. with chanting, signs and music from a local drum corps. Drivers in cars honked their support as they passed through Elm and Market streets.
The crowd swelled from a few dozen to about 100 without incident, standing on all sides of the intersection.
But shortly before 6 p.m., a large group of protesters charged into the middle of the street, erecting a sign, refusing to move and holding up traffic. Some danced; others held banners.
Police moved in to break up the crowd, shocking Kristopher Michael Hilbert, 19 , of Raleigh, with a Taser when he refused to move.
Hilbert fell to the ground. Officers surrounded him, placed him in plastic hand restraints and put him in a squad car.
As others refused to move, they were restrained and marched to a nearby sidewalk. There they sat flanked by police until squad cars arrived for them.
Among those arrested were Liz Seymour, 57, and her daughter, Isabell Moore, 27, both of Greensboro. Seymour is an activist and writer who has contributed to The New York Times.
"I've never been arrested before," Seymour said as she stood next to her daughter in plastic hand restraints. "But I decided after a lot of soul searching that we needed to do something to show that this affects all of us. We've gotten so used to this war being a crisis situation that nothing feels like a crisis anymore."
Police identified the others arrested as Jonathan James Henderson, 23, of Greensboro; Timothy Lang Hopkins, 61, of Greensboro; John Anderson Hedlund, 20, of Greensboro; Pamela Theresa Crosson, 32, of Greensboro; Adam Henry More, 18, of Holly Springs; and Catherine Elise Lemaire-Lozielemaire, 23, of Greensboro.
All nine were charged with impeding traffic. Hilbert also was charged with resisting, delaying and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Various groups were represented at the protest, including the Greensboro chapter of The World Can't Wait and members of N.C. Anti-Racist Action. Many protesters said they thought the police use of a Taser was unwarranted.
"I was standing right next to (Hilbert), doing the exact same thing that he was doing, and they didn't Taser me," Seymour said. "I guess it's that the scruffy-looking kids get taken to the ground and older women don't."
Officer K.B. Johnson, who administered the Taser, said he gave warning first.
"He was resisting and I told him I would Taser him if he did not move," Johnson said. "He was resisting, and when you have a crowd situation like that, you have to start with someone."
Just as officers cleared the street, a fire engine on an emergency call came through the intersection — a sign to some that demonstrators shouldn't have blocked it.
"I'm here to protest Bush and this war," said Karina Stephens, 20, of Greensboro. "But you have to know when to stop and endangering people by standing in a street isn't going to help anyone."
Hopkins, who was among those arrested, said moving into the street was a shocking act designed to wake people to the dangers of continuing the war.
"I wanted to make a nonviolent statement that this is a state of emergency now," Hopkins said . "Things are getting worse and we have to get people to pay attention."
The Taser incident make me smile.
"I was standing right next to (Hilbert), doing the exact same thing that he was doing, and they didn't Taser me," Seymour said. "I guess it's that the scruffy-looking kids get taken to the ground and older women don't."
Officer K.B. Johnson, who administered the Taser, said he gave warning first.
"He was resisting and I told him I would Taser him if he did not move," Johnson said. "He was resisting, and when you have a crowd situation like that, you have to start with someone."
NC Ping Please!
Among those arrested were Liz Seymour, 57, and her daughter, Isabell Moore, 27, both of Greensboro. Seymour is an activist and writer who has contributed to The New York Times.
why does this not surprise me??
Taser envy.
I must have just missed this. I work in downtown Greensboro, and left work at approximately 4:30 yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to express my views to the war protesters as I drove by.
Good one! LOL
I sez Pig-Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck
We just ain't a gonna pay no toll
So we crashed the gate doin' ninety-eight
I sez, let them truckers roll, 10-4
Yep. Our local snooze said the lunatics protest here was organized here by MoveOn.org.
Posted: 12 Jan 2007 10:24 am Post Subject: Proud To Protest Read Article
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I am proud to have been arrested protesting the war. I am proud to stand with the 72% of Americans who believe Bush has mishandled the war, the 70% who disagree with this troop surge, and the thousands people who attended over 500 demonstrations around the country yesterday.
My friends in the military are telling me this is quagmire, that folks need to get out and leave the Iraqis alone.
If military folks, military families and veterans can stand against war and death, so can I. And they are doing it right now at Ft. Lewis, in an encampment to support Lt. Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse orders. (www.ivawdeployed.org and www.thankyoult.org for more info)
Military Families Speak Out (www.mfso.org) and Gold Star Famlies for Peace (www.gsfp.org) represent some of those most effected by the war in this country, and they are calling for an end.
My friends tell me that they have been ordered to commit war crimes. That they have killed children, women and civilians. That things aren't getting better and 21,500 troops will only make it worse. Johns Hopkins estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since the beginning of the war than would have died with out a war. 3000 US troops have died.
Many of the 21,500 troops Bush wants to send will be leaving from Ft. Bragg. I know folks there right now who have already been twice, and don't want to go back to a life-threatening situation where they will be asked to kill people for no good reason.
I hope more and more of us will stand up and speak out to stop the loss of life. Would you stop someone on the street holding a gun to another persons head? Then lets try together to stop this mass murder.
Haha!! Stinkin' hippies.
That is great. Thanks for the link.
I hope they soiled themselves during the Taser Tickle. Hehe!
I suspect Liz has been arrested before, and I suspect she is still upset over 2000 Presidential Election.
CONTACT: North Carolina Peace & Justice Coalition
Lou Plummer 910-433-9053
Liz Seymour 336-274-1814
Ryan Fletcher 202-641-0277
I'm proud of the Greensboro PD for dealing appropriately and correctly with these self-centered ego-bats blocking the rights of others.
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