Police pleased by rally's nature
Marissa Graziadio / Associate News Editor
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Page One
Yesterday afternoon's Walk Out against the Iraq War on the College Avenue campus ended peacefully, as there were no altercations or incidents between protesters and police.
"We worked [the Walk Out] last year also and everything was peaceful," said Lt. Kenneth Ackerman of the Rutgers University Police Department. "There are counter, pro-war demonstrators, but as long as they keep their voices and opinions peaceful, everybody seems to be understanding of their right to say what they want to say."
The people who formed the anti-Walk Out group stood behind members of the march, waving American flags with signs reading, "Go Back To Class, Sheep."
Rutgers Against the War member Sumia Ibrahim, a Rutgers College senior, said during the speakers' portion of the rally, she was harassed by an anti-Walk Out protester. Ibrahim said the opposing group moved behind them, holding up their signs, when she was pushed by one of the members.
"At that point, I told a police officer [it wasn't] safe, so they removed everyone from that group from that area and the officer asked me if I wanted to file a complaint," she said. "I'm not going to pursue that, but I don't appreciate them using physical force and shouting racist things. I would appreciate that they peacefully protest. Everybody has the right to protest, and I support their first amendment rights, although I clearly disagree with their message and some of the tactics that they used."
Ackerman said police asked them to leave the area behind the speakers and move to a separate location to prevent any altercations.
"They could have been down in the audience area, but we didn't feel it was safe for them to be behind the stage," he said.
Lt. Paul Tanko of the RUPD said their goal was to ensure safe passage through New Brunswick for all involved in the Walk Out march following the rally.
As for safety precautions the RUPD took yesterday, Ackerman said four officers were assigned to monitor the area around Scott Hall on the College Avenue campus during the protest and several more officers were put on standby in case additional assistance was necessary.
"We worked [the Walk Out] last year also and everything was peaceful," said Lt. Kenneth Ackerman of the Rutgers University Police Department. "There are counter, pro-war demonstrators, but as long as they keep their voices and opinions peaceful, everybody seems to be understanding of their right to say what they want to say."
The people who formed the anti-Walk Out group stood behind members of the march, waving American flags with signs reading, "Go Back To Class, Sheep."
Rutgers Against the War member Sumia Ibrahim, a Rutgers College senior, said during the speakers' portion of the rally, she was harassed by an anti-Walk Out protester. Ibrahim said the opposing group moved behind them, holding up their signs, when she was pushed by one of the members.
"At that point, I told a police officer [it wasn't] safe, so they removed everyone from that group from that area and the officer asked me if I wanted to file a complaint," she said. "I'm not going to pursue that, but I don't appreciate them using physical force and shouting racist things. I would appreciate that they peacefully protest. Everybody has the right to protest, and I support their first amendment rights, although I clearly disagree with their message and some of the tactics that they used."
Ackerman said police asked them to leave the area behind the speakers and move to a separate location to prevent any altercations.
"They could have been down in the audience area, but we didn't feel it was safe for them to be behind the stage," he said.
Lt. Paul Tanko of the RUPD said their goal was to ensure safe passage through New Brunswick for all involved in the Walk Out march following the rally.
As for safety precautions the RUPD took yesterday, Ackerman said four officers were assigned to monitor the area around Scott Hall on the College Avenue campus during the protest and several more officers were put on standby in case additional assistance was necessary.