10 Dalhousie Students Arrested in Anti-War Protest

HALIFAX (CUP) -- About 40 anti-war activists, including more than 10 Dalhousie University students on break, brought attention to the world's largest weapons manufacturer when they attempt- ed to shut down the Dartmouth, N.S. office of Lockheed Martin on Feb. 17.

Twelve protesters were arrested during the demonstrations and 11 were charged with mischief.

"The energy amongst us was pret- ty high. The atmosphere was fairly respect- ful even when the police got here," described activist and King's College stu- dent Aaron Beswisk.

The activists, who oppose a potential war in Iraq, started the demon- stration at 9 a.m. on Monday morning. At about 9:30 a.m. the protesters entered the office building of Lockheed Martin. Eight activists sat down on the floor to block the

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office doors, their arms locked together in colourful plastic tubes.

When the activists refused to leave the building, the atmosphere grew tense. About 30 Halifax Regional Police officers dragged the locked anti-war advo- cates out of the building.

"It was painful, when they tried to unlock us. I still have bruises a week and a half later," said activist Cassandra Birch. "The police response was predictable," said Dalhousie student Valerie Zink.

At 10:30 a.m., four women and seven men were handcuffed. Dalhousie student Chris Arsenault was one of them, but was released shortly after.

"They couldn't charge me with anything. I was only standing in the hall- way," he said. Arsenault added that he was "very upset," because the police confiscat- ed his daytime planner and discs and are still holding on to the items.

"The confiscated items might show that an existing condi-

tion has been vio- $ lated," said Set.

Don Spicer, Halifax Regional Police spokesman. Arsenault had been arrested

during the protests of the G-7 finance min- isters meeting in Halifax last summer and is under the order not to initiate any protests. According to Sgt. Spicer, confis- cated items might be held until trial.

Eight of the 11 anti-war activists who have been charged with mischief, signed an undertaking. It is a promise to appear in Dartmouth provincial court on April 15.

"They signed a non-association clause. These activists are not allowed to communicate with anyone else involved in the Lockheed Martin protest," said Chris Arsenault.

Spicer said he was not aware of that condition, but that he could not refute it.

Cassandra Birch is one of the three advocates who did not sign the con- ditions and spent one night at the police station instead.

"I had to agree to keep the peace and stay off the

I am allowed to associate with other activists," she said.

Lockheed Martin property, but ~

Although the anti-war campaign- ers did not achieve their goal in shutting down the Lockheed Martin office for a day, most of them feel that the demonstra- tion was not in vain.

"We succeeded in showing the public the connection between corporate involvement and war and that there are people making a lot of profit off a war," said Beswisk.

John Diamond-Jibson feels posi- tive about the protest as well.

"More people are now aware of the fact that the world's largest weapons manufacturer has offices here in Nova Scotia," he said.

A spokesman for Lockheed Martin in Dartmouth referred calls con- cerning the protest to the headquarters in Kanata, Ont. Several attempts to talk to a spokesperson failed.

Cassandra Birch will enter a plea of 'not guilty’ on April 15. "How can I be guilty and the company that is manufactur- ing weapons that kill people is not?" she said.

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