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Students arrested in Chapel Hill
Police detained one N.C. State student along with five UNC-Chapel Hill student protestors outside of Rep. David Price's office Saturday
Josh Harrell
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Dante Strobino, a graduate student in electrical engineering, and Tyneisha Bowens, a sophomore in psychology, made the trip to Chapel Hill this weekend as part of the Raleigh-based group, Fight Imperialism - Stand Together, to protest against the war in Iraq.
According to Bowens, the group knew they would have members arrested.
With over 50 people from FIST and Chapel Hill's Students for a Democratic Society in attendance, police arrested six people, Strobino said, after sitting in Price's office building for an hour.
According to Strobino, members of the two groups have sent numerous e-mails to Price, but they have received no response.
"They kept saying that they're willing to work with us, but we said we had tried and that he hasn't responded," Strobino said. "It was clear through the November elections that the will of the people was against Iraq."
Strobino added that Price asked for restrictions but not for actual cutbacks.
"We were fed up with the politicians not paying any attention to the protests," he said. "He asked for restrictions, but we wanted no more funding for the war and immediate withdrawal of troops."
According to Strobino, the group asked for three things: for Price to make a commitment to vote down funding for the war, for the government to send troops back to the United States immediately and for no new escalation of the number of troops.
After sitting in the office for about an hour, six people, including Strobino were arrested on second degree trespassing but were freed within an hour, he said.
"We'll fight it and not take a plea, because I'm a big believer in First Amendment rights," Strobino said.
One of the students that was arrested was an Iranian student at UNC-CH, who Strobino said made a powerful statement against a U.S. fight with Iran.
"We wanted something immediate because every day we wait, it is hundreds of deaths," Strobino said.
While the six students were inside, the rest of the group conducted its own protests, according to Bowens.
"We set up banners and chanted while they were in there and while they were being arrested," Bowens said. "Then we set up outside the police station while they were in there."
According to Bowens, the group knew they would have members arrested.
With over 50 people from FIST and Chapel Hill's Students for a Democratic Society in attendance, police arrested six people, Strobino said, after sitting in Price's office building for an hour.
According to Strobino, members of the two groups have sent numerous e-mails to Price, but they have received no response.
"They kept saying that they're willing to work with us, but we said we had tried and that he hasn't responded," Strobino said. "It was clear through the November elections that the will of the people was against Iraq."
Strobino added that Price asked for restrictions but not for actual cutbacks.
"We were fed up with the politicians not paying any attention to the protests," he said. "He asked for restrictions, but we wanted no more funding for the war and immediate withdrawal of troops."
According to Strobino, the group asked for three things: for Price to make a commitment to vote down funding for the war, for the government to send troops back to the United States immediately and for no new escalation of the number of troops.
After sitting in the office for about an hour, six people, including Strobino were arrested on second degree trespassing but were freed within an hour, he said.
"We'll fight it and not take a plea, because I'm a big believer in First Amendment rights," Strobino said.
One of the students that was arrested was an Iranian student at UNC-CH, who Strobino said made a powerful statement against a U.S. fight with Iran.
"We wanted something immediate because every day we wait, it is hundreds of deaths," Strobino said.
While the six students were inside, the rest of the group conducted its own protests, according to Bowens.
"We set up banners and chanted while they were in there and while they were being arrested," Bowens said. "Then we set up outside the police station while they were in there."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Michael Rice
posted 2/20/07 @ 11:07 AM EST
According to the article - "six people, including Strobino were arrested on second degree trespassing but were freed within an hour, he said. "We'll fight it and not take a plea, because I'm a big believer in First Amendment rights," Strobino said. (Continued…)
daniel
posted 2/20/07 @ 12:50 PM EST
it was Friday, not Saturday.
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