1.

THE FIRST STUDENT-ORGANIZED PROTEST AGAINST WAR IN TACOMA SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR, BY ALL APPEARANCES
By Tom McCarthy

November 3, 2005

On Wednesday, November 2, at 3:00 p.m., there was a student-organized protest at the military recruiters station at the Tacoma Mall. This local action was on the anniversary of George the II's 2nd inauguration, one of several student walkouts across the nation, including Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis.

At the height of Tacoma's action, there were 100 protesters, 85% of whom were students. Right-wing radio managed to mobilize 30 pro-war groupies who came to squelch the demonstration, but managed to do little more than wave flags and come up with a clever chant -- USA, USA, USA, USA. . . .

The students were undaunted and replied with a chant of their own: Support the Troops, Bring Them Home NOW!!!

Although this was a first protest for Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR) in Tacoma, this was a spirited contingent of youth that grew in confidence as the demo went on. More chants came forth and were enthusiastically taken up by the protesters.

Hell no! We won't go.
We won't kill for Texaco!

and

Money for Schools
--Not for War
Money for the Poor
--Not for war
Money for college
--Not for War
Money for Health Care
--Not for War

These chants were among several others. After 45 minutes, it was time to march. A contingent of students left the pro-war Ra-Ra squad standing in the rain and headed to the streets of Tacoma, taking Pine to 38th, then up to Borders Books where the mass of students took possession of the street corner, one of the busiest in Tacoma. It should be noted that passing drivers frequently honked in support and gave the thumbs up sign, and only a handful reacted negatively. This response accurately reflected an American public that is mostly against the war, with even more of our people deeply ambivalent about it. But it took the youth of Tacoma to break the silence of conformity and vigorously make this anti-war sentiment publicly visible.

From Borders Book, the students -- now "accompanied" by police -- marched back to the Mall and a new chant went out as we moved through the strip malls -- While You're Shopping, Bombs are Dropping! Heads turned to hear what Tacoma's youth of today had to say. After that rebuke to America's complacency, the youth returned the central focus -- 1,2,3,4, We Don't Want Your Racist War! and Who Let the Bombs Out, Bush, Bush, Bush, Bush!

The demo didn't end with a defeated whimper, as do many of a tired peace movement, but with a roar. Tacoma's youth had found its voice, and had no intention of going back into the box. Each went home with newly kindled hope and looking forward to the next time to speak truth to power and power to the people.

Note: The TNT was invited, but didn't show up until they'd heard on the police scanner a paddy wagon being called for.

2.

STUDENTS PROTEST WAR; OTHERS BACK U.S. MILITARY
By Paul Sand

News Tribune (Tacoma, WA)
November 3, 2005

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5304174p-4809122c.html

[PHOTO CAPTION: Foss High School student Clara Lightner, 16, leads a group of protesters Wednesday in a chant denouncing military recruitment in schools and the war in Iraq. The protest was outside a military recruiting center near Tacoma Mall. --Drew Perine]

Foss High School student Clara Lightner, 16, leads a group of protesters Wednesday in a chant denouncing military recruitment in schools and the war in Iraq. The protest was outside a military recruiting center near Tacoma Mall.

Teens and young adults chanted and waved signs Wednesday outside the offices of several military recruiters on Tacoma's South Pine Street, and their message was clear: We want our voice heard and we don't want military recruiters in our schools. "The youth are against the war. The youth are against the recruiting. The youth are against the (Bush) administration," said 16-year-old Clara Lightner, who organized the student-led protest.

The Foss High School junior and about 60 to 70 other people, mostly students, made up the Tacoma demonstration. It was part of a national protest and school walkout staged by Youth Against War and Racism, an anti-war organization that is against military recruiter access to schools.

Organizers chose Wednesday because it was the anniversary President Bush's re-election.

"It's kind of a way to put the anti-war marker down here in Tacoma and use it as a foundation to build from there," said 27-year-old Greg Beiter, who recently graduated from the University of Washington.

Organizers said 100 to 150 people turned out for a 3 p.m. march from the military recruiting offices on South Pine Street to South 38th Street, Interstate 5 and back.

At 4:30 p.m., between 60 and 70 students and a couple of teachers stood face-to-face with about two dozen counterprotesters as a handful of Tacoma police officers watched from the parking lot outside the office building.

About a dozen motorcycle police officers were parked on the other side of the building, out of the view of the crowd.

The counterprotesters, many of who were middle-aged adults, chanted: "Recess is over!" One held a sign that proclaimed: "End Leftist Occupation of America." Another placard said: "We support our troops and their mission."

In unison, the protesters yelled, "Hell no, we won't go. We won't kill for Texaco!"

Dana Hilstad, 48, of Tacoma, held a large American flag in the middle of the counterprotester crowd.

"They have a right to protest the war," he said. "But the recruiters have a job to do."

Hilstad said he was upset that some teachers encouraged and joined the students in the protest.

David Bailey, 40 and a former specialist in the Army, said there is a double standard in schools when it comes to military recruiting.

"Why is it that they let anti-war protesters set up tables in our schools but not recruiters?" he asked.

Samantha Hopkins-Aloisio, a student at The Evergreen State College, said she showed up because she is against the war and military recruiters talking with students in schools.

"They don't need someone coming to school and influencing them," said Hopkins-Aloisio, 19.