Chillicothe Gazette
by McMasters

10/27/05

Late last month, a junior sociology major at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., silently stationed himself near a military recruiters' table on campus. The student, Tariq Khan, is a Pakistani-American and a four-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He held literature and wore a sign stating, 'Recruiters lie. Don't be deceived.' The recruiters, naturally, were not happy. Some bystanders weren't either. Words were exchanged. Campus police arrived, Tariq Khan was unable to produce identification, a scuffle ensued, and the student, bruised and bloodied, according to one news account, was taken to jail. He will appear in court Nov. 14 on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing. ... Protesters off campus run into the same problems. On Sept. 26, 370 anti-war protesters outside the White House were hauled away to jail. Also that day, 41 demonstrators at the Pentagon were picked up and carted off for booking. Officially, authorities cite trespass, disorderly conduct, failure to obtain a permit and similar laws as reasons for arrests, threats of arrest and disruption of such demonstrations. Unofficially, they send a chilling signal that disagreement with government policy or majority opinion can get you in trouble with the law...

http://tinyurl.com/cwuta


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp