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| Fifth Column |
| Seattle protest turns ugly |
| 2003-06-04 |
| EFL.The Seattle PD ought to be pretty good at this by now. They've had enough practice. Police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse a downtown march and rally last night by activists protesting an annual police intelligence-training seminar. Twelve people were arrested, according to a Seattle Police Department spokeswoman. No injuries were reported to police. SPD:12 Dimwits:0 The five-day Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit seminar, titled "Criminal Intelligence and the War on Terrorism," began yesterday at the Red Lion Inn.Protesters, who at one point numbered about 400 and had a permit for their march, rallied at Westlake Center, where the crowd listened to a variety of speakers denounce the Justice Department and the domestic war on terror. Did they point out the black helicopters flying overhead? You KNOW they had to be lurking around somewhere. From there, they walked up Pike Street to the hotel on Fifth Avenue as some danced to the drums of the Infernal Noise Brigade. Horses carrying Seattle police officers left piles of manure along the sidewalk. One protester draped an American flag over a pile. Exercising his First Amendment rights. But, if you believe these people, he should've been shot. Might they be full of what he draped the flag over??? The protest crowd stood in front of the Red Lion Inn, where police in riot gear watched from behind steel barriers. The protesters were a mix of teenagers and twentysomethings who wore bandannas over their faces, and calm, older political activists. Wannabes and neverwases. At about 8:30 p.m., police reported a segment of the remaining crowd was hurling sticks and bottles, police spokeswoman Deanna Nollette said. A fight broke out after police tried to arrest a protester in front of their "fence line," Nollette said, because the person had damaged property and possibly tried to start a fire. At that point, she said, the crowd surged.Police then used pepper spray and rubber bullets to break up the gathering. Showtime! Nollette said the protest ended at about 9 p.m. Police, she said, worked hard to issue a permit with "rational parameters" for the protesters. But within five minutes, she said, the protesters violated the terms of the protest permit. For example, they did not adhere to the parade route, she said. "It was the intent of some of the people there to force the issue," Nollette said. This is truly shocking news. Lyin' Lefties! Who ever heard of such a thing! The LEIU is a group of intelligence agents from police departments across the country. This year's conference marks the first time federal intelligence personnel have participated. Tom Ridge, head of the Department of Homeland Security, is scheduled to address the conference.Scheduled seminar topics included bioterrorism, the current state of criminal intelligence, cybercrime, protecting U.S. borders, hate groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Could they add burnt out 60's derelicts and their deluded teenage worshipers to that list? Luma Nichol, 50, of Seattle, a community organizer for the Freedom Socialist Party, called the LEIU an organization "that acts basically as a secret political police in the United States.Why are we here? Mostly to let them know that we know who they are and we object to their existence," Nichol said. ...speaking of burnt out 60's derelicts. Elias Holtz, 20, of Seattle said the protesters had two goals: "We're here to protest the LEIU and pressure the City Council to force the Seattle Police Department to discontinue its membership in the LEIU." ...and maybe get high! And laid! |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #4 "One protester draped an American flag over a pile" If I had been present, he would have been draping his teeth over the pile, right quick... |
| Posted by: Watcher 2003-06-04 21:40:50 |
| #3 "secret political police in the United States" Hah - a secret police with openly announced membership & meetings, parade permits outside of them, press notices and publicly scheduled speakers and officials. I wonder what the weather is like on these protestor's planets? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-06-04 12:32:36 |
| #2 It'd be worth it to fly a few unmarked black helicopters over them, taking pictures, just to feed the paranoia ;-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-06-04 11:33:49 |
| #1 Shouldn't the headline read "Uglier"? |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-06-04 11:27:56 |