by Xiomara Lorenzo
News Staff

Seven Wesleyan students were arrested yesterday in downtown Hartford during an anti-war march. Charges made against those being held range from disorderly conduct to conspiracy to incite a riot. Though bail was set between $10,000 and $25,000, the amounts are expected to be decreased to approximately 10 percent of their original value.

The purpose of the demonstration was to protest against United States military action in Afghanistan and to relay the message to Senator Joe Lieberman. According to a statement handed out by members of both groups, “expressing [our] dissent is not only our constitutional right but our patriotic duty.”

“At the moment there is a civil rights lawyer working on the case,” said Jessie Duvall ’03, one of the organizers of the event. “Soon after the charges were made, he called a criminal lawyer from the University of Connecticut.”

According to the lawyer currently handling the case, the high charges work in favor to those arrested. Due to the large amount of witnesses present who could testify against the charges made, the bail amounts appear extremely excessive.

“We are hoping at tomorrow’s arraignment the judge will see that the bail is set too high,” said Joe Berman ’04, a participant of the event. “However, if bail remains at its existing level, we will find a way to handle the situation.”

Both the rally and march were sponsored by Peaceful Justice, an organization on campus and the Connecticut Anti-War Coalition. Neither group had obtained a permit for the march.

“In the past, Wesleyan students have been involved in demonstrations that did not have permits,” Berman said. “This is the first time something like this has happened.”

Protestors gathered at the Bushnell Park Carousel in downtown Hartford where the rally, surrounded by media, began peacefully. Leaders of the march spoke briefly before directing the crowd’s attention to a performance piece highlighting the events of Sept.11 and its aftermath.

“The purpose of the performance was to show the ridiculousness of this fight and the American people getting behind it and rallying for it,” said Julia Rosenblat, one of the performers and a protester.

As the protestors continued into the heart of downtown Hartford, police sirens and pro-peace slogans could be heard. Initially, officers were assisting the marchers. Once traffic became obstructed, however, protestors were ordered to the sidewalks. According to the statement being released by participants of the march, “most people decided to remain in the streets in order to attract attention for the cause; we felt that it was our right to be able to protest peacefully.”

Pepper spray was used to drive protestors away from the streets. Several people, including Wesleyan students, were sprayed.

“I saw the can come out and I raised my arm [now covered with orange blotches] to shield my eyes,” said Jenny, a protestor.

At one point, protestors were divided and forced onto opposite sides of the sidewalk. While protestors chanted anti-war slogans, police officers began to arrest leaders of the march. During the arrests, one man was repeatedly hit by officers and handcuffed.

“It’s impossible to ignore the irony of the situation: we marched nonviolently for peace and got pepper sprayed and literally beaten to the ground in return,” said Dave Ahl ’05.

Among those arrested were persons photographing or videotaping the march, persons thought to be leaders and people who acted overly aggressive. According to the statement being released by Peaceful Justice, there is speculation that one of the arrests might have been racially motivated. The remaining protestors reconvened at the Bushnell Park Carousel to discuss their next course of action. They eventually decided to go to the jail and support those who were arrested.

According to Peaceful Justice, the seven Wesleyan students arrested should be arraigned Friday morning at the Hartford Courthouse. A press conference will be held soon after.

“I came to this march to show my opposition for the war, and left with pepper spray in my hair and clothes.,” said Amanda Brown ’05. “I feel that my civil liberties were violated, however, I don’t want to lose sight of my original goal.”

Students from Yale and the University of Connecticut joined Wesleyan participants in the event. In addition, anti-war supporters from Hartford and nearby areas joined the march. Approximately 200 people participated.