Fifteen members of the Veterans for Peace protestors were arrested on Sunday Nov. 11 during Boston's Veterans Day parade. The group was told by the American Legion, an organization of veterans, that they were not allowed to protest because the parade was not political in nature, according to Boston Now.
Indeed, this group disrupted a peaceful event to broadcast their political agenda.
But instead of breaking out the Tasers and pepper spray, Boston Police repeatedly requested that the protesters step down. As the group defied the threats of being arrested, the police identified group members who had heart conditions and arrested the rest.
What do heart conditions have to do with culpability, anyway? The protesters were in it together, and they should have expected to share the consequences of their actions. But even in the face of merciful and respectful treatment, the group continued to disrupt the parade.
In recent memory, members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketed a soldiera??A??a?s funeral with their own propaganda. Albert Snyder, father of a soldier who died in Iraq, sued members of Fred Phelpsa??A??a? church for devaluing the memory of his son and his sacrifice. Rather than hauling healthy protesters off to jail, a jury awarded him a $10.9 million settlement, according to CNN.com.
Silent or not, these people were protesting; holding signs to further your own political agenda is not appropriate at a parade meant to honor the dead. Whether or not the policea??A??a?s actions were righteous, the incident should have never occurred in the first place. Veterans and the memory of their sacrifice for freedom from tyranny should have been the idea of the day.
The silent protest added a bi-partisan issue to a day scheduled for reminiscence and mourning. First amendment rights are decidedly American, but people shouldna??A??a?t abuse days like 9/11 or Veterana??A??a?s Day to further their own political agendas.
Individuals have every right to agree or disagree with the policies of our nation. But they should not be confused with efforts of our soldiers who are doing their part to rid the world of oppression.
For your safety
Buffalo Police issue warnings due to increased crime
UB students realize the terrors that surround their campuses more and more every day. Walking down Winspear Avenue, a young man was jumped by seven or eight black males, who made off with a package of personal property, according to UB News Center.
While the mugging took place off campus, the UB Police make universal student safety a priority by keeping the population informed of dangerous situations. UB Police Chief Gerald Schoenle encouraged students to walk in groups when out an about.
Even more importantly, students should be sure to report suspicious activity to either the UB Police or the Buffalo Police; it is the responsibility of citizens to be the eyes and ears of police, who often struggle with limited resources.
On Oct. 30, UB Police issued a warning about automobile break-ins on South Campus; thieves were targeting cars with GPS systems. Schoenle can make announcements about these dangerous situations until hea??A??a?s blue in face, but if students dona??A??a?t take the advice to heart, they will continue to be victims.
Ideally, perpetrators like these seven or eight men would end up in jail. Until the Buffalo community rebounds from the economic and moral depression, crimes like these will continue to occur.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
