Founded in January 2003 on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Campus Antiwar Network emerged as a prominent, student-led grassroots coalition. Built as a decentralized network of high school and college chapters across the United States, the organization operated on democratic principles that demanded the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, self-determination for the Iraqi people, an end to military recruitment on campuses, and the protection of student free speech.
By 2006, the organization focused heavily on grassroots counter-recruitment initiatives, most notably through campaigns such as College Not Combat. Student activists routinely organized walkouts, picketed military recruiters, and hosted speak-outs featuring veterans and prominent peace advocates. This direct action frequently led to clashes with university administrations and law enforcement, resulting in disciplinary hearings and free speech battles at various institutions including Pace University, Hampton University, Kent State, and San Francisco State University.
Tensions and dynamic friction existed between the network and larger umbrella groups such as Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, known as A.N.S.W.E.R. While local student chapters participated in joint national contingents during major marches in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, their organizational models differed significantly. The student network operated as a bottom-up, democratically run student organization, whereas A.N.S.W.E.R. relied on top-down decision-making structures. Furthermore, student organizers frequently criticized large national coalitions for prioritizing periodic, mass-mobilization marches in major cities over sustained local campus organizing and direct action against recruitment pipelines.
In contrast to the organizational friction seen with top-down rally organizers, the student network's relationship with groups like the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth was largely complementary. While the campus network served as the action-oriented student wing organizing campus disruptions and protests, the groups comprising the youth counter-recruitment network functioned as a central national source of educational resources for activism in the schools, legal rights information regarding military opt-out provisions, and counter-recruitment literature.
Historical records from the mid-2000s antiwar movement show no evidence or documentation of student network members disrespecting traditional anti-draft activists at conventions in San Francisco or elsewhere. During the Iraq War era, the U.S. military relied on an all-volunteer force, which led youth organizations to focus on active counter-recruitment rather than draft resistance. Far from opposing older generations of activists, the student movement frequently partnered with Vietnam-era veterans, Gold Star families, and groups like Veterans For Peace to host national speaking tours and educational panels. Movement friction remained focused on coalition strategy, top-down leadership models, and rally permits rather than generational conflict with traditional anti-draft advocates.
Dec 6 - National Day of Counter-Recruitment
Dec 6 - National Day of Counter-Recruitment
November 14th, 2005
Join CINDY SHEEHAN, HOWARD ZINN, DAHR JAMAIL, war resisters PABLO PAREDES and CAMILO MEJIA, Progressive Democrats of America director TIM CARPENTER, Iraq Vets Against the War & Campus Antiwar Network member DAVID AIRHART, and many more in supporting this day of counter-recruitment action on December 6! (Full endorsement list below.)
* NATIONAL DAY OF COUNTER-RECRUITMENT *
December 6, 2005
Campus Antiwar Network - http://www.campusantiwar.net
* Say No to the Solomon Amendment!
Campus Anti-War Network is calling for actions around the country to show the federal government that they cannot intimidate schools for kicking out military recruiters. On December 6, the Supreme Court will hear the FAIR v Rumsfeld case (brought by several universities), which will decide whether schools can ban military recruiters wihout losing federal funding. Currently, the Solomon Amendment allows the government to cut off federal funding from schools that ban military recruiters. This policy forces schools to accept military recruitment, even though the military’s anti-gay “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy violates university anti-discrimination policies.
* Bring the movement for COLLEGE NOT COMBAT to your town!
On Dec 6, when the Supreme Court hears FAIR v Rumsfeld, students will hold protests at military recruiting stations, federal buildings and school administrative offices across the country, including in San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and many other places. In Washington, D.C., a demonstration will take place on the steps of the Supreme Court.
We are proud to join the fight against anti-gay discrimination in the military. We also believe that recruitment for the war in Iraq has no place in schools. Our action comes amid increasing revelations of the horror of the Iraq occupation. Recent video footage shows that the US used chemical weapons (white phosphorus) in Fallujah, laying bare the truth about exactly who is using “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq. Nobody should have to take part in this to pay for school! On December 6, we refuse to let the military recruit young people to kill and die in a war based on lies.
December 6 is also the one-year anniversary of Navy petty officer Pablo Paredes’s refusal to board his ship in protest of the war, which sparked a national campaign that displayed and strengthened the growing refusal of soldiers to fight this war. Recently, the counter-recruitment movement won a massive victory in San Francisco, where 60% of voters approved a College Not Combat proposition to oppose military recruiters in schools and support scholarships to counteract the poverty draft — which targets the poor and people of color. Today, with the Bush administration in a growing crisis and expanding calls for immediate withdrawal, we want to spread the “College Not Combat” movement across the country!
Let’s mobilize on Dec 6 to counter the military’s ability to wage its illegal war, support the right of universities to oppose military recruiting on their campuses, and bring the troops home from Iraq!
Say No to the Solomon Amendment!
COLLEGE NOT COMBAT! TROOPS OUT NOW!
Organized by the Campus Antiwar Network - http://www.campusantiwar.net - RecruitersOut@yahoo.com
ENDORSED BY:
ORGANIZATIONS: Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice; Another Side of Truth in Military Recruiting Project; Arise for Social Justice (MA); Bay Area United Against War; Bloomington Peace Action Coalition; the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors; Central Vermont Peace and Justice; the City of Berkeley, CA, by unanimous vote of its city council; Cities for Peace; Free Palestine Alliance; International Action Center; International Socialist Organization; Justice in Palestine Coalition; Mid-South Peace and Justice Center; Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center; Peninsula Raging Grannies; San Juan Peace Network; Stop the War Coalition (UK); Texans for Peace; Traprock Peace Center; Youth Against War and Racism; Western Massachusetts IAC/ Troops Out Now Coalition; Long Island Counter Recruiting Committee of the Suffolk Peace Network; Suffolk Progressive Vision.
INDIVIDUALS*: AHMED SHAWKI, editor, International Socialist Review and member, steering committee, National Council of Arab-Americans; ANTHONY ARNOVE, editor, Iraq Under Siege; BONNIE WEINSTEIN, Bay Area United Against War; BRIAN WILLSON, member, coordinating Committee, Humboldt Bay Veterans For Peace, and Commissioner, Arcata City Nuclear Free Zone and Peace Commission; CAMILO MEJIA, war resister; CARL WEBB, war resister; CEYLON MOONEY, co-coordinator, Wheels of Justice Tour, Voices for Creative Nonviolence; CHARLES JENKS, Advisory Board Chair, Traprock Peace Center; CHARLES PETERSON, Holyoke Community College student assaulted for peaceful counter-recruitment; CHARLIE JACKSON, co-founder, Texans for Peace; CINDY SHEEHAN, mother of U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, who camped outside Bush’s Crawford ranch to hold him accountable; DAHR JAMAIL, writer; DAVID AIRHART, Iraq war veteran and Kent State student who beat expulsion charges for peaceful counter-recruitment; DAVID ROVICS, progressive songwriter and musician; DAVID SWANSON, co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org; DAVID ZIRIN, author, What’s My Name Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States; DENNIS KYNE, Gulf War veteran and activist; DIRK ADRIAENSENS, coordinator of SOS Iraq and member of the Executive committee of the Brussells Tribunal; FRANCES CROWE, founder of Northampton Draft Information Center in 1968 (she counseled over 2000 young people on the draft) and co-founder of Traprock Peace Center and Western Mass AFSC; HOWARD ZINN, author of People’s History of the United States; M. JUNAID ALAM, co-editor of LeftHook.org; KATHY KELLY, Co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence; LINDSAY GERMAN, convenor, Stop the War Coalition (UK); MICHAEL LETWIN, Co-Convener, NYC Labor Against the War, and Former president, UAW Local 2325; NATYLIE BALDWIN, Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center; NORMAN SOLOMON, author and syndicated columnist; PABLO PAREDES, war resister; PALOA PISI, publisher of Uruknet (Italy); PAT ELDER, co-founder, DC Anti-War Network; PHIL GASPER, Professor of Philosophy at Notre Dame de Namur University in California; RANDY KEHLER, Vietnam War draft noncooperator, long-time peace activist/war-tax refuser, former national coordinator, Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, co-founder and first Director of Traprock Peace Center; RANIA MASRI, writer and researcher; SHANNYN SOLLITT, Peace Activist/Educator -NetWorks Productions; SHUJAA GRAHAM, exonerated Death row prisoner, anti death penalty activist; TARIQ KHAN, George Mason University student assaulted and arrested for peaceful counter-recruitment; THOMAS F. BARTON, publisher of G.I. Special; TIM CARPENTER, director of Progressive Democrats of America; TODD CHRETIEN, author of Proposition I/College Not Combat ballot initiative in San Francisco; WARD REILLY, South East National Contact - Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Baton Rouge *All affiliations are for identification purposes only
We welcome all organizations to endorse this day of action and/or organize with us. If you want to endorse, organize an action in your
area, or learn about the action nearest you, email recruitersout@yahoo.com and check out our website at
Campus Antiwar Network - http://www.campusantiwar.net
San Francisco Says “No” to Military Recruiters
November 12th, 2005
San Francisco Says “No” to Military Recruiters
By Kristin Anderson
On November 8th the citizens of San Francisco joined the growing counter recruitment movement. 59% of voters expressed the opinion that military recruiters should not be allowed in public schools.
According to Todd Chretien, the author of the College Not Combat proposition known as Prop I, the reasons for initiating this campaign were simple. “After seeing CAN activists protest military recruiters at Seattle Central Community College, City College of New York and San Francisco State University, we knew that the tide was turning against the war. When each campus administration called the police on student activists, we decided that a good way to demonstrate the popular support for the students was to give the people of San Francisco the chance to tell the world what they thought of military recruiters by voting for Proposition I.”
Over the summer, activists spent countless hours organizing and gathering the signatures needed to put College Not Combat on the ballot. In the end the campaign turned in 15,500 signatures to the department of elections. Many of the signature gatherers reported that enthusiasm for the measure was high not just in San Francisco but also with residents of neighboring towns who expressed dismay that a similar measure was not on the ballot in their city.
Local CAN activists, in addition to helping gather signatures, used the September 24th College Not Combat contingent as a publicity drive not just for CAN but also for the campaign, which co-sponsored the College Not Combat contingent on the West Coast.
This victory was the result of the hard work of the College Not Combat coalition of San Francisco which included the Campus Antiwar Network, Code Pink, the International Socialist Organization, the National Lawyers Guild, Bay Area United Against the War, Gold Star Families for Peace, United Educators of San Francisco, the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, and the American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee and was endorsed by a broad range of groups including San Francisco Labor Council, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - Local 790, and American Federation of Teachers - Local 2121 (AFT 2121).
Despite the smear campaign engaged in by local newspapers, San Franciscans had no trouble reading between the lies about what the campaign would and would not accomplish. The San Francisco Chronicle refused to endorse the proposition despite the editorial board’s declared opposition to the war, stating, “[I]f its call for restrictions on military recruiting in public schools were carried out, it could cost city schools $40 million in federal funds, a sacrifice that no one who cares about education would advocate.” Another local publication, SF Weekly, ran a cover story titled “Pacifists for War: within a feuding peace movement counter recruiters are conspiring to bring back the draft.”
The right has wasted no time in trying to paint the campaign as nothing more than ultra-left, America-hating liberals. Ultra-right radio host Bill O’Reilly stated on his show “[I]f Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we’re not going to do anything about it. We’re going to say, look, every other place in America is off-limits to you, except San Francisco.”
The reality is obviously quite different. The sentiment that San Francisco expressed in this election is in no way isolated from that of the rest of the country. In fact public sentiment is largely turning against the war, almost one-third of Americans are demanding ‘troops out now’, and the counter recruitment movement is growing and spreading all across the country. Ragina Johnson of the Prop I campaign stated, “The passing of Proposition I shows that a majority of people in San Francisco are opposed to this war and the ongoing occupation. They are explicitly saying that they are opposed to that the fact that it is poor and working class people and people of color who are driven to join the military through the economic draft. This victory represents only a part of the movement to get military recruiters out of our schools nationally. It is going to take both the grassroots organizing of students, parents and teachers challenging recruiters every time they dare to step foot on campus and anti-war activists off campuses continuing the fight to get rid of No-Child Left Behind and the Solomon Amendment. Students can now hit their campuses with the confidence that the majority of San Franciscans support your efforts. Now we need to work to spread the College Not Combat campaign into every city across the nation. This is just the beginning.”
Dec 6 - Boston Counter-Recruitment Protest
November 12th, 2005
Kent State UPDATE: We have created a SPECIAL BLOG for Kent State Students - all new statements of support are being posted at the HANDS OFF DAVE blog.
**FORWARD WIDELY**
STOP MILITARY RECRUITMENT–No to the Solomon Ammendment!
BRING THE TROOPS HOME!
4PM Tues., DECEMBER 6
at US Army Recruiting 141 Tremont St. near Park St. T-stop between Temple Pl. and West St.
On December 6, the Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of the Solomon Amendment, which denies federal funding to schools that don’t allow military recruitment on campus, in the historic case of FAIR v. Rumsfeld (see http://solomonresponse.org).
This is also the anniversary of Navy petty officer Pablo Paredes’ refusal to fight for the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq. We just saw an awesome protest/walk-out of hundreds of students on the common and around the country on Nov. 2. Let’s keep up the momentum and join students from around the country to stand in solidarity with Pablo’s protest, and say: NO TO THE SOLOMON AMENDMENT! MILITARY OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
This is a national call-to-action initiated by the Campus Antiwar Network.
Sponsored locally by antiwar groups at: Northeastern U., Brookline High, New England Institute of ART, Berklee College of Music, Simmons, and more to come!
In Support of Kent State Students
October 28th, 2005
UPDATE: We have created a SPECIAL BLOG for Kent State Students - all new statements of support are being posted at the HANDS OFF DAVE blog.
TO: Carol Cartwright, William Ross, Greg Jarvie, Kent State University
Dear all,
I am prompted to write this protest letter on behalf of Dave Airhart, a
student and Iraq War veteran that climbed the Army’s rock wall at your
infamous university and draped a sign that read, “Kent State 4 Peace” over
the wall for all to see. Since when is peaceful protest not allowed in this
country?
But there is an even more important reason for demanding that Dave be given
all his rights back and that all punishment against him be rescinded
immediately. The rock wall is a horrible advertising scam designed to fool
students about the reality of war, the reality of military “life,” if you
are lucky enough to live through it whole and with all your faculties.
War isn’t climbing rock walls and joking with friends and David knows this.
War isn’t “expanding your horizons” or “learning useful skills”. War is
about killing the enemy. That means that war is based on who the government
deems the enemy at any given moment in time. And who makes these decisions?
Do we vote on war? No, those who rule decide upon war.
So, our elected officials make the decision about war. Both Republicans and
Democrats alike voted on the war; the budget; the expansion of military
spending; the increase in the military’s advertising budget for recruitment
and the entrenchment of the military in our school system at every level;
Patriot Act; increased internal surveillance of civilians; more jails; more
police, etc. At the same time all social nets and services; schools;
hospitals; the entire social and service infrastructure is in shambles. But
the oil barons corporate kingpins are swimming in money. Their children
don’t join the military! They join the jet set.
And then, we find out beyond any reasonable doubt, that all the reasons for
the war in the first place were nothing but a bunch of lies—-to militarily
occupy the oil-rich region for American business interests, having nothing
to do with anything but making that financial arrangement by force—-using
our tax money to carry out one of the biggest crimes of our century.
And you expect people to be silent about educators allowing the
military—-this sick monster—-to come onto our schools and campuses and set
up a rock wall and pretend that war is fun; to lie, pressure, humiliate,
shame and coerce young people to sacrifice their lives for lies; to consume
and mangle more of our kids to make the pockets of the wealthy elite bulge
even more? To condemn those that do survive to suffer the images of war that
dart in and out of consciousness continually for the rest of their lives?
Just whose side are you on?
The buck stops here!
Get the military out of Kent State University. If you can’t do it now you
can at least demand it now! You can encourage students like Dave. He should
be speaking to all the students at Kent State. He has valuable and real
experience. The military is no place for the inquisitive mind which all
educators are supposed to be nurturing. You need to get your bearings back.
You need to stand on the side of these brave students. You need to support
them not punish them. You need to convince young people that joining the
military is not a good choice when an entire government has lied about all
the reasons for going to war in the first place. This war will be a shame
and disgrace for centuries to come, if the human race makes it. Our young
people need to study how to end wars and create a humane world.
As educators your job is to stand on their side against the military
recruiters; to encourage students to think twice and three times about
joining the military. Your job is to see that they are not fooled by the fun
of climbing a rock wall. It’s not as much fun when you are carrying your
buddy’s bloody torso on your back under gunfire. Your job is to encourage
them to read about the war; to seek out veterans to speak to; to do thorough
research on how the government lied and used the mass media to perpetrate
the lies. This is the reality of our world today as much as we detest it.
School is no place for the military—-no place to recruit our children to die
for the enrichment of the wealthy elite who rules this country.
It is up you to stand on their side. Go out and protest with the students
against the military. Let the military know they are not welcome at Kent
State even if you can’t ban them now! And drop all the charges and reinstate
Dave Airhart immediately. Get the military out of Kent State!
Sincerely,
Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War
www.bauaw.org
giobon@sbcglobal.net
####
Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210
carol.cartwright@kent.edu
Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494
gjarvie@kent.edu
William Ross- Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate:
330.672.3207
wross@kent.edu
KSAWC is a member of the national student grassroots organization,
Campus Antiwar Network (CAN)
Update - more to follow
October 12th, 2005
Charles Peterson has returned to classes at HCC. We will post more details when available. Thank you.
Update on October 6 Solidarity March
October 8th, 2005
On October 6 over 100 students from several Western Massachusetts colleges gathered in support of Charles T. Peterson and the right to free speech, as well as oppose the war. Seven republicans formed a counter protest. In the words of one student, Public Enemy #1, “Everything Messner said was bullshit.” Justin LeFurjah spoke out in his speech, ” We will not snuggle up to or compromise with right wing bigots. That is not our movement. We must stop this senseless killing machine. Troops out now. College not combat!” Then Elizabeth C. laid down the revolutionary call, “We have succeeded in kicking the military recruiters off our campus, but the battle is not over. We must build our alliances and get more organized to confront the administration and make sure the recruiters never come back. But if they do come back, we must meet them with our fists in the air and our voices united in opposition. The campus administration believes that they can hang Charles for the events of last Thursday, and that our movement will die with him… We are all leaders in the anti-war movement. We are all Charles!” Dan Clawson, UMASS radical union leader, called for the reinstatement of Charles T. Peterson and a full investigation into the totality of the circumstances of Sept. 29 and the events leading up to this day.
3 HCC agitators
SOLIDARITY MARCH WITH HCC ANTI-WAR STUDENTS
October 4th, 2005
SOLIDARITY MARCH WITH HCC ANTI-WAR STUDENTS
Thursday, October 6, 11 am
Starts at G Building, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Massachusetts
March for Free Speech!
March Against the War in Iraq!
March for College, Not Combat!
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.
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 (413) 320-9108 or jfjln@yahoo.com
or HCC Anti-War Coalition at info.hcc-awc@hotmail.com
HCC Anti-War Coalition Press Conference
October 3rd, 2005
The following very powerful statement was read at the press conference. The member of the AWC who wrote this does not want to give her name at this time and so she wrote it in the “third person” and another student read it.
“The counter-recruitment protest was an important event for the HCC Anti war Coalition. For one member in parituclarl it was especially important. In 2004, she watched her big brother go off to war after being recruited by the army. She watched as he was sent to Iraq. She worried endlessly about him but he promised her he could take care of himself and that he would be fine. She read his letters every day and prayed that he was okay. The letters kept on coming until one day she got a phone call instead. The voice on the other line said he was coming home…but not the same way as he left. Her big brother is now paralyzed from the waist down and she takes care of him all by herself. She has to deal with so much now, including trying to support her brother. He is now more like her little brother. He just isn’t the same. That’s why she’s here today and that’s why she supports the Anti War Coalition.”
Shinah Santiago from the Steering Co. of the AWC read this statement at the press conference on behalf of the AWC
“We are protesting military recruiters for the same reason as students around the country are protesting recruiters on their campuses: We reject the economic draft in this country that targets working class students for military recruitment because it’s the only way to get money for college. We have seen classmates, brothers, sisters, family and friends sent over to Iraq who have come back permanently injured in body and spirit—all to feed a war against the people of Iraq that has killed over 100,000 Iraqis and 2000 US soldiers. For What? We are also protesting the fact that the military recruiter’s presence was a blatant violation of the campus anti-discrimination policy because of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy towards gay and lesbian soldiers.
Furthermore, the student government administration at HCC has passed a resolution banning military recruiters from the campus, which was summarily ignored by HCC president William Messner. Contrary to Messner’s claims, student financial aid funding cannot be revoked if such action were implemented. We students of Holyoke Community College demand an immediate end to military recruiters on campus.It is important for all concerned citizens to realize that this is not an isolated incident. On the same week as the event at Holyoke Community College there were two other acts of police brutality on peaceful protesters. At George Mason University a Pakistani-American veteran of the US Air Force was tackled, thrown to the ground and choked for protesting army recruiters on the campus by holding a sign reading, “The Military Lies.” At the University Wisconsin at Madison, campus police prevented students from protesting the presence of military recruiters on campus. This all comes on the heels of a national protest in Washington that drew 300,000 people and highlights the increasing inability of the armed forces to convince working-class youth to become cannon fodder for an illegal and immoral war.
Is it any coincidence that in the same week when there was an increase in repression against students protesting the military recruiters, the Army also released a report that it is facing its worst Recruiting Slump in Decades? The College is claiming that anti-war protesters started the melee at last Thursday’s protest. This is simply not true. The incident at Holyoke Community College was instigated by the president of the College Republicans chapter, Kevin Orzechowski, when he pushed and shoved protesters at which point Campus Security stepped in, ignoring Orzechowski’s assault and instead turning on us. After an extended period of time, in which the police grabbed and shoved students, the Director of Facilities,Peter Mascaro, ripped a handmade sign from a protester’s hand that read, “Cops are hypocrites.” After the protester attempted to reach for his sign,he was immediately restrained by campus security,though was not placed under arrest or told that he was being detained. Charles T. Peterson then tried to help the protester from being hauled off. The protester managed to free himself while two campus police officers held Peterson down, as a third officer, Scott Landry, maced him in the face. The next day, Peterson was served with a document from campus security stating that he is no longer “desired” on campus and was threatened with arrest and prosecution if he did not abide by the order. Without ANY due process, Peterson has now lost both his education and has been put an undue financial hardship because the college is his only place of employment.
Charles T. Peterson has had no formal charges brought against him under the HCC disciplinary system or the Massachusetts legal system, making his summary banishment from campus both immoral and in violation of the established internal discipline system at HCC. He has thus been denied due process and the ability to defend himself. We’d also like to state that the Peterson, is an outstanding member of the HCC community. In addition to being active in the Anti-war Coalition he is Vice President of academic affairs on the student senate, a member on the college’s learning community committee, a frequent contributor to the Phoenix Press, the student newspaper, and a tutor in the math center. He is also a recipient of the David James Taylor Excellence in Philosophy award. We’d like to thank the hundreds of people who have called the school to raise a complaint about this injustice. Please keep calling and keep the pressure on! And we’d like to read a few of the statements of support that have been sent to us from prominent citizens around the country.”
Tom Hayden demands full investigation
October 3rd, 2005
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
Defend Antiwar Veteran at Kent State
October 27th, 2005
Defend Antiwar Veteran at Kent State
By Nicole Robinson
October 27, 2005
IRAQ WAR veteran and Kent State student, Dave Airhart, is under attack for opposing the war he considers “unjust” and attempting to stop any more students from being used as “cannon fodder.”
On October 19, the Kent State Anti-War Committee (KSAWC) stood around the Army recruiters, who had brought a rock-climbing wall to entice students over to talk with them. A member of KSAWC and former Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran, David Airhart decided to show his opposition against the war by exercising his rights of free speech. After filling out liability forms Airhart climbed the rock wall. Once he reached the top he took out a banner, which he held under his jacket, and draped it over the wall. The banner read: Kent, Ohio for Peace. Airhart was forced to climb down the back of the wall because a recruiter was coming up the front, yelling at him. As he was climbing down another recruiter came up the back and proceeded to assault Airhart both verbally and physically by pulling his shirt, forcing him off the wall.
Airhart was fined $105. by campus police for disorderly conduct and told that he will have to go to judicial affairs where he will face possible probation or suspension. When asked why he wanted to counter-recruit against the military Airhart responded, “I do not feel that the administration should allow the military to recruit their students for an unjust war that is taking the lives of innocent people. They should be protecting their students, not using them for cannon fodder.”
The recruiter who assaulted Airhart was never charged with disorderly conduct; nor was the bigot who came by screaming profanities and spitting at KSAWC members fined for being disorderly. Somehow an Iraq War veteran hanging a banner, which called for peace, was disorderly and the others were not.
Even after the atrocities of the May 4, 1970 massacre at Kent State University the military has the audacity to come to campus and attempt to recruit students for their illegal war. However, KSAWC, which is a member of the national grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN), counter-recruits against the military every time they are on campus. We stand around the table of the military, hold signs, chant and pass out literature exposing the lies of recruiters.
The administration’s blatant attack against the antiwar movement will not be tolerated. We can clearly see that the administration does not want its students and veterans practicing free speech on this campus, especially if we are taking a stand against the war in Iraq. However, we will continue to fight.
We believe in getting troops out of Iraq now, as well as assuring that they have a voice to stand in opposition to the war when they return. It is obvious that the Kent State administration does not care about Iraq Veterans who attend their school. After everything Airhart had to go through and see as a soldier, after viewing thousands of innocent Iraqi lives being taken, he has every right to exercise his opposition to this war. The administration may have the audacity to punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out against the war, but the Kent State Anti-War Committee will continue to fight back for all Veterans and students right to exercise free speech against the war. We will continue to challenge our administration’s role in recruiting for the war and demand our right to a ‘recruiter-free’ school.
###
October 27, 2005
From Nicole Robinson:
NLR75@hotmail.com
We need to tell the KENT STATE administration that we will not allow them to
punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out for peace! Below are the
numbers/e-mails. Let’s show them that we are a strong antiwar movement all
around the U.S. and we will not tolerate such actions! We have done a press
conference but need your support as well. Also if you have more suggestions on what we can be doing e-mail me. Thank-you everyone for your solidarity.
Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210
carol.cartwright@kent.edu
Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494
gjarvie@kent.edu
William Ross- Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate:
330.672.3207
wross@kent.edu
KSAWC is a member of the national student grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN)
International Solidarity from the UK
October 3rd, 2005
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
Students Will Hold Press Conference to Speak
October 2nd, 2005
PRESS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Justin LeFurjah 413-320-1358 Email: info.hcc-awc@hotmail.com
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
HOLYOKE– Students from Holyoke Community
College will be holding a press conference to
speak about last week’s police attack on a
peaceful student protest against military
recruiters at the college. This press
conference will be taking place at City Hall
because one student who was maced by police at
last week’s campus has been banned from campus
They will joined by other area students,
faculty, alumni and community supporters,
speaking out for the rights of students to
dissent. Statements of support from Cindy
Sheehan and other prominent individuals will be
read.
“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
Cindy Sheehan’s statement of support for the students
October 2nd, 2005
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
URGENT UPDATE - Student who was Maced By Police is Now Banned from Campus!
October 1st, 2005
Follow developments here and at the Campus Antiwar Network site.
URGENT UPDATE—PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!
Student who was Maced By Police is Now Banned from Campus!
At approximately 1pm on Sept 30, Sgt. Richard H. Wheeler and State Trooper Vasquez delivered a notice to Charles T. Peterson at the doorstep of his home in Springfield, MA.
Charles was the student who was sprayed in the face with mace by Officer Scott Landry at the protest against military recruiters at Holyoke Community College on September 29.
(Go to http://www.campusantiwar.net to see photos and read our previous statement about the police brutality )
The notice read: “Because of your conduct on the property of Holyoke Community College, your presence is no longer desired at Holyoke Community College, its property or buildings. Your failure to abide by said trespass notice will result in your arrest and court prosecution for trespassing. This notice will remain in effect untill [sic] revoked in writing by the Holyoke Community College Police Department.”
This is in clear violation of the College’s own stated policy that students, “have the right to procedural due process in grievance and disciplinary hearings.” [Right #6, p22, HCC Policy Guide 05/06]
As Charles is employed on campus, this restraining order will keep him not only from getting an education, but also from working.
Thus far, Charles has not been contacted by any member of the Administration, besides the campus police. So he has had his education and his job taken away from him with no explanation and no opportunity to appeal.
The College Republicans were also present at the protest, chanting behind the police line to incite the police to attack students.
On campus, the student body has become frighteningly polarized, and many students who were at the protest opted out of attending classes today for fear of harassment.
Professor Mark Clinton, the faculty advisor to the Anti War Coalition has been summoned to see the Vice President of Academic Affairs on Monday afternoon. The Office of the Vice President would not inform Clinton’s dean of the agenda for the meeting.
Yesterday, Professor Mark Clinton’s daughter was called an “ugly communist bitch” by a fellow student.
Cindy Sheehan is scheduled to visit HCC in November. We will be trying to contact her to notify her of the recent police brutality and to ask her to make a statement in support of students. If anyone reading this can help us get in touch with her, please let us know (our email is at the bottom of this statement).
Amazingly enough, a George Mason University student was assaulted by police on the same day as the HCC protest. Tariq Khan, a Pakistani-American and Air Force Veteran, wore a sign reading, “Recruiters tell lies” while standing in front of a US Marine recruiting table. After being harassed by ROTC members, the JC Operations Representative told Tariq that he had no right to voice his opinion without a permit and to leave. When Tariq peaceably refused, campus police violently assaulted him—choking him, pushing him, and slamming him against a stage.
In Wisconsin, students at UW Madison were threatened with arrest and forced to dismantle their protest against the presence of the Air Force, CIA, and Marines at the College’s career fair. They were told that they were violating the Administration’s codes for protesting when in fact they were in no way breaching any part of it.
We are sticking with our former demands (see statement of September 29 on campusantiwar.net) but we would like to add the following:
—That the restraining order against Charles T. Peterson be lifted immediately so he can continue his education and return to his job.
—That an impartial investigation be conducted into Officer Scott Landry’s role in the battery at the September 29 protest– given Officer Landry’s dual role as armed police officer AND student advisor to the College Republicans.
For the over 700 of you who have already called the school THANK YOU! Please keep the pressure on. Please keep calling. We are hoping to flood the school with calls on Monday.
Sincerely,
Members of the Anti War Coalition at Holyoke Community College
Additional Statements from members of the Anti War Coalition at HCC
One leading member of the AWC, whose brother was permanently injured in Iraq last year, stated:
“I was there to speak for my brother. He was wounded in Iraq. He’s a different person since he came back, it’s a different person looking at me, more like my little brother than my big brother. He may never be the same, and he may never open up and tell me what happened in Iraq. But I believe he fought for lies, and I believe he was lied to when he joined the military. He was promised money for college and a chance to see the world. But he went to Iraq, and he wasn’t the same when he came back.”
Shinah Santiago, an AWC Steering Committee member stated, “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s totally unjust to ban him from campus without any kind of hearing or anything. And to have one of the officers who assaulted us serve the papers was part of their effort to intimidate us. They think he’s our leader, but everyone in the AWC is a leader, and none of us is going to be intimidated.”
Update - Charles Peterson banned from campus with no due process
September 30th, 2005
From Phil Gasper
Notre Dame de Namur University
FORWARD WIDELY…
To Friends and Supporters,
We have just learned that Charles Peterson, the student who was maced and assaulted by police at yesterday’s counter recruitment protest at Holyoke Community College, has received a letter from the HCC campus police, informing him that due to “his conduct” he is indefinitely banned from campus. If he steps foot on the property he will be arrested for trespassing.
In other words, without any due process, or the opportunity to even speak to administrators, Charles has been banned from campus for the “crime” of being maced in the face by police officers.
It is important to say that Charles Peterson, who witnesses described as playing a moderating role at yesterday’s protest, is an upstanding member of the HCC community. He is the recipient of the David James Taylor Excellence in Philosophy Award. He is Vice President for Academic Affairs on the Student Senate. He is a member of the College’s Learning Communities Committee, and is a frequent contributor to the student newspaper.
Furthermore, Officer Scott Landry, the officer who sprayed mace in Charles’s face yesterday, is also an advisor to the College Republican Club. The College Republicans were present during the protest yesterday, cheering on the police as they attacked students.
Where is due process for Charles Peterson?
HCC Anti-War Coalition Letter to College President
September 30th, 2005
[ Please note: the student contact at the HCC Anti-War Coalition is Charles Peterson, charlest.peterson@gmail.com ]
September 29, 2005
To Dr. William Messner, President of Holyoke Community College:
We are writing to express our deep outrage at the events of September 29, when campus police assaulted peaceful student protesters and sprayed one student with mace.
Approximately thirty activists, many of them members of Holyoke Community College’s Anti War Coalition, exercising their First Amendment rights to “assemble and petition government for redress of grievances,” participated in a planned, peaceful picket of Army National Guard recruiters in the lobby of the college cafeteria. This was a diverse group of students, black, white, latino, gay, straight, men and women, united in peaceful and vocal opposition to US policy in Iraq, the spending priorities of the US political system, and the college’s hypocrisy in giving preferential, and we believe illegal, access to military recruiters whose enlistment policies bar gays and lesbians– in violation of the college’s own anti-discrimination policies. Furthermore, we believe that the college’s policies violate Massachusetts laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Students at HCC are encouraged to voice their opinions, and yet in this case, when students did exactly that, they became the victims of police brutality. Students who had passed through the cafeteria at 7:30AM noted then that the police were already present —even though recruiters were not scheduled to begin tabling until 10AM.
The police assault on the students began when one student standing in front of Officer Landry held aloft with both hands a hand-lettered, poster board sign reading “Cops are hypocrites.” The sign had no stick attached to it. At that point, Peter Mascaro, head of Campus Security, reached over Officer Landry’s head, snatched the sign from the student’s hands, saying “That is inappropriate!” In surprise the student tried to reach for his sign. At this point the campus police, led by Officer Landry, assaulted the student. Mr. Mascaro ordered Officer Landry, “Let him go.” Officer Landry heatedly replied “Are you serious?” The police officer’s inappropriate grabbing of the sign constituted the battery.
Three other officers joined Officer Landry in grabbing each of the student’s limbs and hoisted him off the ground. Other students instinctively tried to protect the student being assaulted. When the officers lost their grip on the student, he backed away and raised his hands in the air indicating his non-violent posture. At approximately that moment, Officer Landry maced a different student, one who was not doing anything or making any gestures to do anything at the time.
Both of the students who were battered by campus police are upstanding members of the HCC community. One is a tutor in the CAPS Center. The other received the David James Taylor Excellence in Philosophy Award, is Vice President for Academic Affairs on the Student Senate, is a member of the College’s Learning Communities Committee, and is a frequent contributor to the student newspaper. Several of the activists involved observed that the student who was maced had consistently played a moderating role in the protest.
As the assault was taking place, approximately a dozen College Republicans were moving forward, pumping their fists in the air, shouting and encouraging the Officers on. Throughout the morning, the campus police force ignored the activities of the College Republicans and were only deployed against the protesters.
At approximately this time college officials appear to have called local and State Police, and at least twenty state police arrived in riot gear and gas masks. Officer Landry looked at one of the protesters and, observing that he was wearing a button reading “Lesbian and Gay Liberation,” loudly uttered an obviously homophobic taunt: “He’ll have fun in jail.” As Officer Landry is an employee of the college, we believe that his taunt constituted illegal and actionable discrimination under Massachusetts laws.
By this time, the protesting students were trying to peacefully disperse and attend to the traumatized students who had been battered by campus police. Riot police amassed in the cafeteria with boxes labeled “gas masks.”
We want to know the if the police were preparing to deploy gas in the cafeteria—a place where there were many students, cafeteria workers, and some children present.
With riot police threateningly lined up in the stairwell, groups of students hostile to the protesters surrounded and came close to rioting against the small crowd who had left the building and were trapped in the courtyard outside.
During this time, one student reports that he went to get a drink of water in the student lounge and ten to fifteen police in full riot gear pointed their guns at the student and said “we’re not letting anyone in or out of here.”
We demand 1) an immediate, unconditional public apology from the college; 2) a pledge of non-retaliation against the activists involved; 3) a thorough and impartial investigation into these incidents; and finally, 4) that the military recruiters not be allowed back to our college, as their actions and those of the military discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation, in violation of Massachusetts law and college policy. Furthermore, the military is engaging in an economic draft against working class and poor people in an attempt to buttress this nation’s illegal war against Iraq.
Thank You,
Members of the Anti War Coalition at Holyoke Community College
Please call Holyoke Community College to register your concerns.
President Messner 1-413-552-2222 or 2223
The college issued a statement, one that the students find full of factual errors.
Here is the link to the college statement.
September 29th, 2005
From James York:
I was at protest that kicked the recruiters off HCC,
here is my quick summary of events:
About 50 or so activist organized by the AWC (anti-war
coalition; CAN chapter on HCC) gathered to protest
militarty recruiters. Chants money for jobs and
education/not for war and occcupation, Relief not War,
college not combat attracked many people passing by.
As the group grew, HCC called in 5-6 Holyoke PD, they
started pushing the group back, but because the
Anti-war crowd had grown there was nowhere to go.
Cops then got voilent grabbing and pushing protesters.
One protester was muckled others came to his aid and
the Cops started a may-lay. They pepper-sprayed
protesters and started swinging theirarms, and billy
clubs, they pushed and through protesters to the
ground. Several people were hit by the cops.
Protesters regrouped and backed the cops down to where
they gave us enough space to protest with the larger
numbers that were joining us.
Shortly after as the crowd continued to grow, the
National Guard Recruiters packed up and left, and a
few college republicans looked devistated, As the
crowd chanted don’t come back.
CALL HCC AT 538-7000
TELL THEM STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH
WITHOUT BEING PEPPER-SPRAYED AND BEATEN!
Police Attack Peaceful Student Protesters at Holyoke Community College
September 29th, 2005
As of 11:30am, there was a protest at Holyoke Community College, MA against
military recruiters. The protesters were not blocking the recruiters, but
were just trying to counter protest and provide real information about what
the military does.
The police arrived and started knocking people to the ground and
macing them. The College Republicans were there encouraging the
police to attack the protesters. Reportedly, the College Administration
called the police.
Please immediately call 413-538-7000 and register your outrage with the
President’s office at the College’s attack on peaceful protest on a public
campus.
Thank you!
Additional Resources:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Campus-Antiwar-Network
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campus_Antiwar_Network
- https://findingaids.library.nyu.edu/tamwag/tam_701/
- http://www.campusactivism.org/server-new/uploads/can_no_more_wars12_20.pdf
- https://isreview.org/issues/43/college/
- https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2005/03/10/activists-protest-military-on-campus/
- https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/activism/chpt/campus-antiwar-network#_
https://grassrootspeace.org/campus_antiwar_1.html
###
