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multiple arrests at kent wed
by peaches
Tuesday, May. 06, 2003 at 11:17 AM
police attack demonstration.
Kent State Police and City Police supported by highway patrol helicopters attacked an umpermitted
demonstration at Kent State Sunday.Basiccaly, they used the same tactics we've seen in Pittsburgh,driving
people up onto the sidewalk and then making selective arrests.Several conspicuous undercover cops infiltrated the crowd.At least one arrestee was a photographer pulled into the street so he could be arrested.One woman was thrown head first into a bus window and now faces felony charges.Other people
face misdemeaner charges.Reports of total arrests
number 9-17.
SPREAD THE WORD
by SPREAD THE WORD
Tuesday, May. 06, 2003 at 11:23 AM
I only saw two newspapers in Ohio that even mentioned the story - nothing in PGH. There were some truely amazing people involved @ KENT this weekend. Tell everyone you know about the bullshit that happened out there. Don't let another movement by the people become silenced. STOP THE POLICE BRUTALITY.
Details? Pictures??
by wheatpaster
Tuesday, May. 06, 2003 at 3:45 PM
If ANYONE who was there has pictures or just wants to expand on what they saw, I'd love to see it posted on this thread. If only EVERY town had a localized IMC, huh?
SPREAD THE WORD
by SPREAD THE WORD
Tuesday, May. 06, 2003 at 4:42 PM
Peep out Cleveland indy media. I get my film back tonight. I will be posting pics from Kent (luckily they didn't get my film) as well as pics from Fred Rogers memorial
Details
by b.
Thursday, May. 08, 2003 at 11:45 AM
I went to Kent last weekend for the Burning River (http://www.burningriver.org) anarchist collective's conference, Throwing a Wrench in the Warmachine. It was very well organized and informative.
The next day, Sunday the 4th, we went to Kent State's campus for the annual memorial march. The rally and march that were planned for the day were permitted, until at the last minute, the University decided to revoke both permits. Debate followed and they finally allowed us to gather for a rally, but with no stage and no sound system. So, the speakers had to climb on top of the "Drum Machine," a sort of 6' tall rectangular metal frame on wheels with drums on it. The speakers were good, including Jello Biafra, but it drag on just a little too long. Luckily, Food Not Bombs was there, but I didn't catch where they were from.
Through out the speeches, everyone was being photographed bby different crews of people. Some were undercovers, others were wearing what appeared to be press passes, but were in fact private security ID tags.
Then the march started. We went around to where the four kids had been shot by National Guard troops 33 years ago. A poem was read at each memorial, while the undercovers stood to the side, taking pictures and laughing it up. Serioulsy, one of the most tasteless things I have ever seen.
After the poems were read, about 300 of us marched through the campus, towards the street running past campus, an empty four lane road, with a high concrete divider. A man in the parking lot next to the road ordered us to do something (I can't imagine what) from a PA system on a van. I tried to listen to what he said, but I couldn't hear him. Maybe it was from all of the sound coming from the helicopter that was followng the march...
So we walked for about five blocks, towards downtown, even though we heard that there were riot cops all over the place. We received cheers from the people standing in front of the buildings on this particular suburban strip. The crowd was diverse: children, teenagers, parents, grandparents. There were two unmarked cars ahead of us, blocking our side of the street. Before we could get too close, they'd pull away, drive up a few more blocks, and park again.
Then, the wall of riot cops came out. I was surprised at their speed. Then, there was another wall to our right, on the side street. So we decided to hop over the three foot tall concrete divide (I'm still not sure how the drum machine got over that).
When most of us had gotten onto the sidewalk, the cops charged. They grabbed at least one person who was on the street. Another person was dragged of off the sidewalk, into the street and cuffed. It was at this point when the crowd kind of lost their cool. The cops took advantage of this and started grabbing people who were alone. Then they grabbed some people that they thought were in charge. The cops were roughing up a kid pretty bad behind a wall of riot cops. Another kid with a video camera got too close and was nabbed, five feet in front of the banner we were holding. And behind the row of cops was a cop recording all of us.
We managed to get back to the memorial. A few cops showed up and told us we had ten minutes to disperse. After the cops left, the helicopter started buzzing us. It was too close to the ground to be safe. So, most of us left, not wanting to be arrested.
We went over to the Kent Police Department to wait for those arrested to get out. We were told that 12 people were arrested. Some more people showed up with chalk amnd the sidewalk was decorated. At this point, the chief of police and his crew came out and yelled at us for destroying public property. One of the cops said that his taxes paid for that sidewalk. So, we invited him to draw on it too. Then the chief started ranting about 'accountability.' So I asked him, 'Where's the accountability for police brutality?' I was ignored.
Someone else got some posterboard and made signs. Then, someone started asking people stopped at the red light at the corner for cash for bail. I wasn't sure if it would work. But, the $400+ she got convinced me.
A few hours passed before the first person came out. Then , a little while later, another person. As the people trickled out, so did the stories. It seems that hte only woman arrested had not sat down quickly enough in her bus seat, so the cops shoved her down into her seat. But, they pushed her so hard, that when she fell back, her head ht the bus window and cracked it. Instead of giving her medical attention, they gave her a charge of felony vandalism.
After it looked like we did all we could, a few of us drove back to Pittsburgh, hoping to see something about one of the most aggravated police actions I have ever seen. But, I saw nothing. No big surprise.
change location of thread?
by Rebecca
Thursday, May. 08, 2003 at 3:23 PM
malekincat@earthlink.net
I'm wondering if people aren't seeing this thread so much because it's under "Global News" whereas the 2 other threads relating to Kent are under "Local." I know Kent's not exactly local but it is within easy access.
It seems important for Pittsburgh people to know about this since Kent activists have been down to support Pgh events several times.
Kent Video
by Dean Gerber
Sunday, May. 11, 2003 at 9:40 PM
Wheatpaster,
I know of someone who shot video of the event. I currently have a 15-minute segment that includes the arrests. The video has to go to the folks at Kent, but I should be able to get additional copies. If you want to use the copy I have, I'll see what I can do, but I do need to pass it along quickly.
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