19 arrested in CR war protest
Shajia Ahmad - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 7/9/07 Section: Metro
Cedar Rapids police officers video-recorded the demonstration outside the building.
"We're here to protect the city's interests and [the protesters'] interests," said Lt. Brent Long of the Cedar Rapids police.
Mona Shaw, 56, the only protester allowed initial access to Grassley's office, hoped she had made some progress by talking to the senator's staff.
A few blocks away at Harkin's office, eight protesters and their supporters crammed inside a tiny gray room waiting to communicate with the senator.
UI student Daisy Espino, 26, said the group had no trouble getting into the office.
Inside, the group spent 30 minutes reading the names of Iraqi children and Iowa soldiers killed in the war. Harkin's staff distributed handouts detailing the senator's efforts on troop withdrawal and his stance on the war.
Timothy Gauger, a member of the UI Antiwar committee, said he wasn't satisfied with the handouts.
"We want a binding set of benchmarks to bring the war to a close, and a binding timetable to bring the troops home," he said.
Cedar Rapids police arrested protesters in both buildings after they refused to leave at 5 p.m., when the buildings closed. Shaw, who was arrested at Grassley's office, said she felt the arrests were symbolic.
"It encourages other people to step forward. It shows there are people willing to stick their necks out," she said."Historically, it takes acts of civil disobedience to sound an alarm."
E-mail DI reporter Shajia Ahmad at:
shajia-ahmad@uiowa.edu
"We're here to protect the city's interests and [the protesters'] interests," said Lt. Brent Long of the Cedar Rapids police.
Mona Shaw, 56, the only protester allowed initial access to Grassley's office, hoped she had made some progress by talking to the senator's staff.
A few blocks away at Harkin's office, eight protesters and their supporters crammed inside a tiny gray room waiting to communicate with the senator.
UI student Daisy Espino, 26, said the group had no trouble getting into the office.
Inside, the group spent 30 minutes reading the names of Iraqi children and Iowa soldiers killed in the war. Harkin's staff distributed handouts detailing the senator's efforts on troop withdrawal and his stance on the war.
Timothy Gauger, a member of the UI Antiwar committee, said he wasn't satisfied with the handouts.
"We want a binding set of benchmarks to bring the war to a close, and a binding timetable to bring the troops home," he said.
Cedar Rapids police arrested protesters in both buildings after they refused to leave at 5 p.m., when the buildings closed. Shaw, who was arrested at Grassley's office, said she felt the arrests were symbolic.
"It encourages other people to step forward. It shows there are people willing to stick their necks out," she said."Historically, it takes acts of civil disobedience to sound an alarm."
E-mail DI reporter Shajia Ahmad at:
shajia-ahmad@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Lee A.M. Olmstead
posted 7/09/07 @ 5:20 AM EST
Congratulations to those who are willing to stick out their necks in an effort to save the lives of our innocent young people in uniform.
HD
posted 7/09/07 @ 10:08 AM EST
Does not Congressman Loebsack have an Iowa City Office? Why no protestors there? Could it be Iowa City does not play host to a local broadcast television station?
Save the world by getting your face on televison may start to wear thin with Cedar Rapids taxpayers. (Continued…)
David Goodner
posted 7/09/07 @ 12:04 PM EST
Loebsack voted AGAINST the supplemental spending bill so we thought it best to focus our energies on Grassley and Harkin, who voted FOR the blank check. (Continued…)
David Goodner
posted 7/09/07 @ 2:15 PM EST
HD - the argument that cedar rapids taxpayers have to pay for our actions is false and misleading.
All 20 of us will be fined a minimum of $125 each to pay for the police. (Continued…)
thedude
Tom Seemuth
posted 7/09/07 @ 7:36 PM EST
"We echo the frustrations they have with this war, but he is only one senator," Mullin said. "Signing that document will make the senator feel he is abandoning the troops. (Continued…)
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