Anti-war protesters arrested high above freeway
 

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/21803_ ... sters.html
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(2/18/03) — Anti-war protests in Houston are growing in number and intensity. If you traveled on the Southwest Freeway Tuesday morning, you may have found yourself trapped in traffic because of one. Police arrested two people, but not before they unfurled a huge banner.
The group "Students for Peace" openly acknowledges that Tuesday's action was illegal -- that, they say, is the point. They say acts of civil disobedience are essential to forcing the public to take another look at the prospect of war.

In home video taken by the demonstrators themselves, two protesters can be seen with mountaineering equipment. They attached themselves to cables supporting the Hazard street bridge and begin to climb. Eventually they unfurled a 12 by 20-foot banner reading "No war in our name." They expected to draw attention and they did -- from Houston police.

"The right thing to do is to negotiate in a peaceful manner internationally and open up dialogue, never close dialogue," yelled protester Tony Nocella as he was being arrested.

The banner was taken down. Twenty-six-year-old Tony Nocella and 24-year-old Sunshine Swallers were both taken to jail.

"We want everybody in Houston to have the courage… There's going to be a meeting at City Hall…" Swallers tried to get her point across.

They're charged with obstructing a highway or roadway -- a misdemeanor. The whole incident affected traffic flow along the Southwest Freeway during morning rush hour and may have contributed to several fender benders below it.

"We did very much realize that the people who were going up were likely to be arrested on something along the nature of criminal trespass to obstructing traffic," said Cameron Naficy of Students for Peace. "That is part of the action, breaking the law purposefully, because we think the point is something that needs to be out there."

Not everyone supports civil disobedience or opposes the war.

One man criticized the action. "Civil disobedience usually doesn't threaten other people's lives."

"I just agree with the President," said a Houston woman. "So whatever he decides to do, I'm supporting him."

Still, Students for Peace say you can expect to see more of the same in the future. Both of those arrested are still in custody. They face up to 180 days in jail and $2,000 in fines. The students say they will refuse to post bond and remain in jail to avoid paying money to the government.

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Man, why couldnt they have fallen to their death? cry:

Yah thouse "Support Saddam" group did the same thing today in Seattle.

dude all these guys doing anti war protests arent supporting saddam...they are just against violence i mean common do you really want to see american soldiers die in iraq

No but I want to see Saddam taken out. Any means necessary. A part of a soldier's job is to realize that he/she might die while in battle. You just accept it.

i cant see why saddam pisses you off that much
i mean its like he raped your mom or something when ur saying "i want saddam dead even if it means havin guys die to do it"

I never said he needed to die, just to be taken out

hah well when u said "taken out" i thought u mead killed
mabye i should stop watching the godfather

Mabe Rush needs to add you on this list Cap Busta!
[img]http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021803/content/clinton_carter_friends.Par.0001.ImageFile.jpg[/img]

yes just because i dont think we should go to war means im saddams best friend...your an idiot

wtf, the black guy and jimmy carter are cool.

klink man where have you been? haven't seen you post in months

The same Jimmy that created Irans fundelmelist goverment, the same jimmer that had duble didgit inflation and ressesion, the same jimmy that appessed North Korea? R u talking about Jimmy? mwah:

yes and he's cool.

Anti-war protestors have as much right as anyone to voice their views. To call them traitors or enemy sympathizers is unfair. I have no love for Saddam either, but there are some who believe that war should be avoided at all costs. You had protestors arguing against war with Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941. You just have to respect their perspective on this issue, if not necessarily agree with it.

what the hell is saddam gonna do