Eight anti-war protesters arrested in Omaha

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10455080

Published Thursday October 9, 2008
Eight anti-war protesters arrested in Omaha
By VIRGIL LARSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


Police took eight anti-war protesters into custody after they lay down in the lobby of the Qwest Center Omaha, where a conference of space and defense contractors was being held this week.

A ninth person who was part of the "die-in" got up and walked outside after police warned the demonstrators they faced arrest.

The nine initially lay down on the sidewalk outside the west entrance Wednesday. After half an hour without being arrested by police who watched and made videos of them, the nine moved inside.

The group, affiliated with Midwest Catholic Workers, said its actions were a symbolic demonstration equating space weapons with death.

Another 13 people, some in costumes, supported the demonstration. Some carried signs and a banner. One, dressed in a black robe and smoking a filter-tip cigarette through the mouth of his death mask, walked through the lie-in outside, swinging a mock scythe at each of those on the sidewalk.

Among the eight arrested were Margaret "Peg" Gallagher, 89, and Gerald Ebner, 58, both of Omaha. They were arrested in a similar demonstration at the Qwest at last year’s Strategic Space and Defense conference.

FULL story at link.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Power to the people! I congratulate these folks, especially the elder ones for their courage.