SDSU Activists Protest Military Recruiters
2005-10-15 / Jocelyn Blake / San Diego Indymedia Center - The Campus Anti-war Network at San Diego State protested military recruiters on October 13th and refused to back down in the face of police intimidation.
Military recruiters occupied San Diego State University for three days this week. They put on an extravagant display with hummers, war simulation games, a rock climbing wall, and even propelled off of buildings and parachuted out of aircrafts. All of this was an attempt to project an image of the military as a hub of adventure and excitement. Our protest showed up to expose the reality of life in the military: war, discrimination, sexual harassment and unfulfilled promises of opportunity. 10 activists from the Campus Anti-war Network (CAN) and the International Socialist Organization surrounded the recruiters during one of their propelling stunts and demanded that the military leave our campus.
Within minutes, campus security showed up and tried to shut down the protest through intimidation. We refused to leave and they became even more aggressive in their attempts to silence us. We told them that we know our rights and that it is against CSU policy to confine free speech on campus to a designated "free speech zone." As the confrontation escalated, a group of bystanders grew. Several of them joined the protest against the recruiters and defended our free-speech. Even the dean and assistant dean of the university left their offices and came to our defense. Finally, after failing at all of their intimidation tactics, the campus police left in frustration.
As the confrontation escalated, a group of bystanders grew. Several of them joined the protest against the recruiters and defended our free-speech. Even the dean and assistant dean of the university left their offices and came to our defense. Finally, after failing at all of their intimidation tactics, the campus police left in frustration.
We continued to protest the recruiters with no further interference. We made it clear that we are unwilling to relinquish our right to free speech and that we will continue to oppose any military presence on our campus.
During the protest not a single person stopped to talk to a military recruiter. At the same time, CAN was able to connect with dozens more students that want to make the anti-war majority known at SDSU.
Find out how you can get involved in this dynamic anti-war coalition by coming to our weekly meetings on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 at the Scripps Cottage Patio at SDSU.
Source: http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/10/111443.shtml
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