ABQjournal: Letters to the Editor

War Protest Greatly Exaggerated

THE ANTI-WAR demonstration turned out roughly one-fourth of one percent of the local population, and yet it somehow merited a huge photo in the Sunday paper. This was not a spontaneous demonstration, but a fully coordinated nationwide effort, linking to other poorly-attended protests— as the AP put it “thousands” protested. Thousands? You get bigger turn-outs at a yard sale. The American people don’t want to abandon our troops, or face the bloodbath that would result if we pulled out in a chaotic, Vietnam-style retreat.

BURKE NELSON
Albuquerque

Before the war-without-end, countless people took to the streets across the nation and around the world. Here in Albuquerque, they were attacked and gassed and threatened with worse by Darren White, campaign coordinator for Duhbya. Opponents of the war were shouted down by red-faced patriots bent on any act of revenge for 9/11, no matter how irrelevant or ill-conceived.

Years later, the red-faced patriots are still questioning the loyalty of Americans who opposed the war from the beginning and those who have just finally had enough of the pointless war that has created far more trouble than it solved.

Imagine that parallel universe, where sense prevailed, and we never invaded Iraq. Imagine peace. mjh

From Three Years Ago —
03/20/2003: War Protests in New Mexico

About 600 demonstrators protested the war near the campus of the University of New Mexico at 6pm, Thursday, 3/20/03 (the first day of Spring). Eventually, riot police used tear gas and “chemical agents” to “calm” the crowd. There was very interesting TV footage of children under 10 fleeing to nearby restaurants, eyes streaming tears. One bystander was hit between the eyes by a tear gas canister and taken to the hospital. 17 protesters were arrested, some for throwing the tear gas canisters back at the cops. Police advise those planning other protest not let “bad apples” make problems; “we will not tolerate them taking over the streets.”

Have you noticed how cops now all look like soldiers? The uniforms and, especially, the machine guns?

Peaceful protesters are camped outside the gates to Kirtland Air Force Base. It’s raining & 47 degrees at 11pm.

In Santa Fe, protesters surrounded the Roundhouse, the State Capitol building. Some 60 high schoolers walked out of school to join protests and were suspended for 2 days for “open defiance and willful disobedience.” No one was arrested. mjh

Remember what Sally Meyer said after the ‘riot’? What Mayor Marty did? Or what one-among-many of our fellow citizens wrote about protesters? Read on:

Three Years Ago:
03/25/2003: Operation Slackened-jaw

Regarding the encounter between police and demonstrators that turned violent on Thursday, 3/20/03, city councilor Sally Mayer said, “I think we need to thank the police for behaving as well as they did.” Yes, thank you for not killing anyone! Give them raises — they chose not to hurt anyone too much. Thank you!

And thank you, Sally Mayer, for your public service. If a cop beats the next demonstrator a little harder, tell yourself your remark had nothing to do with it.

Now, it turns out that undercover police are attending demonstrations. Perhaps that explains how a tear gas canister came from the crowd. Just because the cops would infiltrate the crowd in disguise doesn’t mean they would do something unethical like stir up trouble — oh, no, surely not. And, just because the uniformed police warn us about the “few bad apples” (they don’t mean the un-uniformed police, do they?), that doesn’t mean they would try some sort of mind-game with the public, does it? Like scaring people away from demonstrations (you will be spied on, maybe hurt). Surely police spies don’t keep files on people who write blogs — or those who read them?

Oh, well, time to go to the city sponsored pro-war rally. How many undercover spy-cops will be there? Operation Slackened-jaw.

Register & vote! mjh

03/18/2003: Protesters Traitors?

THE TERM “anti-war protesters” should properly be “American Taliban” or “traitors.” They are not protesting an unjust war. We have been at war ever since Sept. 11. The protesters are not voicing an opinion but are supporting and aiding those who want America destroyed.

The use of “no war for oil” and “Bush is a war monger” slogans are nothing more than a poor cover to recruit cowards. Please, use the correct terms when describing these terrorist groups. If they aren’t considered traitors, then Benedict Arnold should be given a medal for selling out West Point and should be held as a hero of the American Revolution.

RICHARD WITTIE
Rio Rancho

03/27/2003: Bernco Sheriff Darren White

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White has stepped into the fray over the right of a free people to peaceably assemble in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque Police Department officers are tired from their conflicts with demonstrators (those batons and machine guns are heavy!), so Bernalillo County will offer them some relief. Sheriff White immediately drew a line in the sand: step in the streets and go to jail, plus pay for the cost of policing the demonstrators. [mjh: including spy-cops?]

Permits are not required to demonstrate in city parks, Civic Plaza or on any public sidewalk.

03/26/2003: ABQjournal: Protests Banned From Central Avenue Traffic Lanes

Albuquerque police said Tuesday war protesters will no longer be allowed to rally and march in the traffic lanes of Central Avenue unless they obtain a city permit.
…
Though Mayor Martin Chávez said after last week’s turmoil that he didn’t think protesters should be kept off the street, [Gil] Gallegos [police chief] said police have found that allowing protesters to spill onto the road “just doesn’t work out.”
…
City Councilor Greg Payne said he has spoken with Central-area business owners who maintain the closures hurt their businesses.
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“We want to work with them and give them the opportunity to demonstrate,” Gallegos said. But he said for the sake of all city residents, “we can’t afford … to close off streets for a long period of time. It’s not conducive to traffic flow. It’s not conducive to businesses in the area.”
…
Eric Sirotkin of the National Lawyers Guild, which represents protesters and provides observers at marches, said … “The mayor has said the streets are a traditional place of protest in our country. I expect police will (comply with) the mayor’s wish that people will have access to the streets.”
…
Sirotkin said protest organizers did not ask for the entire street to be shut down.

[mjh: Business speaks, cops act, citizens obey. “Corporate democracy” in action.]