h2co-pilot
08-13-2006, 10:16 PM
Peace activists to protest sign smasher
Driver pulled over and berated them
By JIM JOHNSON
Herald Salinas Bureau
Quakers may be pacifists, but that doesn't mean they are pushovers.
After the driver of a camouflage-colored Hummer allegedly frightened a small group of anti-war demonstrators Saturday by yelling at them and destroying their signs, local activists are calling for a solidarity vigil at the same location Saturday.
Pacific Grove's Janet Wilson, a 52-year-old Quaker who is legally blind, said the incident took place during the group's weekly protest near Star Market in Salinas. The man pulled his Hummer, towing a camouflage-colored trailer covered by a domed tent, to the side of the road, got out of the truck and began berating the four protesters.
Wilson said the man yelled that they should support the troops, ripped the signs from their hands and broke the placards on the ground before driving off. Wilson and protester Steve Eklund had their signs destroyed.
Wilson's sign was a peace symbol with the words "Peace" and "La Paz" (Spanish for "peace") written on it.
"Not very controversial," she said.
Wilson said she could barely see the outline of the man, described as 6 feet or taller and in his 40s. Wilson's sister, Maggy Wilson Boast, who is a Quaker, dialed 911 and gave police a description and a license plate number.
Police Sgt. Dave Shaw said the man is being sought for suspicion of misdemeanor malicious mischief, or vandalism. But he said the police report didn't mention the camouflage nor the license plate number. interesting:rolleyes:
The protest, sponsored by the Monterey Peninsula chapter of the Society of Friends, has been going on for months at the corner of Blanco and South Main streets.
Wilson said she won't stop protesting. She said she is hoping to meet the man to get the chance to explain her point of view.
"It was kind of scary because we didn't know what would happen," she said. "I just saw this huge guy towering over me. I think it's very, very outrageous that someone driving a military-style vehicle would do something like this. It's an outrageous act against my civil rights.
"He wouldn't let me talk. He asked me what if one person over in Iraq sees you protesting. I believe they need to know that we are. I very much support the troops, but I object to the war. It's important to have a strong military but not to misuse it."
Wilson said she is concerned about the welfare of two girls who were riding in the Hummer who told protesters that the man wasn't their father. omfg :rolleyes: He was their lovah.:D
After word got out about the incident, other activists urged the group to hold a solidarity vigil to support the right to protest.
The vigil, sponsored by the Society of Friends, is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon in the Star Market's parking lot.
"People want to show that this is our First Amendment right to protest," Wilson said, predicting a larger-than-usual crowd for the vigil. "It's our patriotic duty to protest an unjust war."
Salinas activist MacGregor Eddy, who wasn't at the weekend protest, said she plans to attend Saturday's vigil.
"Janet's much-loved so I expect to see more (people) than usual," Eddy said.
"I hope there's some elbow room on that corner," Wilson said.
Driver pulled over and berated them
By JIM JOHNSON
Herald Salinas Bureau
Quakers may be pacifists, but that doesn't mean they are pushovers.
After the driver of a camouflage-colored Hummer allegedly frightened a small group of anti-war demonstrators Saturday by yelling at them and destroying their signs, local activists are calling for a solidarity vigil at the same location Saturday.
Pacific Grove's Janet Wilson, a 52-year-old Quaker who is legally blind, said the incident took place during the group's weekly protest near Star Market in Salinas. The man pulled his Hummer, towing a camouflage-colored trailer covered by a domed tent, to the side of the road, got out of the truck and began berating the four protesters.
Wilson said the man yelled that they should support the troops, ripped the signs from their hands and broke the placards on the ground before driving off. Wilson and protester Steve Eklund had their signs destroyed.
Wilson's sign was a peace symbol with the words "Peace" and "La Paz" (Spanish for "peace") written on it.
"Not very controversial," she said.
Wilson said she could barely see the outline of the man, described as 6 feet or taller and in his 40s. Wilson's sister, Maggy Wilson Boast, who is a Quaker, dialed 911 and gave police a description and a license plate number.
Police Sgt. Dave Shaw said the man is being sought for suspicion of misdemeanor malicious mischief, or vandalism. But he said the police report didn't mention the camouflage nor the license plate number. interesting:rolleyes:
The protest, sponsored by the Monterey Peninsula chapter of the Society of Friends, has been going on for months at the corner of Blanco and South Main streets.
Wilson said she won't stop protesting. She said she is hoping to meet the man to get the chance to explain her point of view.
"It was kind of scary because we didn't know what would happen," she said. "I just saw this huge guy towering over me. I think it's very, very outrageous that someone driving a military-style vehicle would do something like this. It's an outrageous act against my civil rights.
"He wouldn't let me talk. He asked me what if one person over in Iraq sees you protesting. I believe they need to know that we are. I very much support the troops, but I object to the war. It's important to have a strong military but not to misuse it."
Wilson said she is concerned about the welfare of two girls who were riding in the Hummer who told protesters that the man wasn't their father. omfg :rolleyes: He was their lovah.:D
After word got out about the incident, other activists urged the group to hold a solidarity vigil to support the right to protest.
The vigil, sponsored by the Society of Friends, is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon in the Star Market's parking lot.
"People want to show that this is our First Amendment right to protest," Wilson said, predicting a larger-than-usual crowd for the vigil. "It's our patriotic duty to protest an unjust war."
Salinas activist MacGregor Eddy, who wasn't at the weekend protest, said she plans to attend Saturday's vigil.
"Janet's much-loved so I expect to see more (people) than usual," Eddy said.
"I hope there's some elbow room on that corner," Wilson said.