Protestors and police clash

Police clashed with activists as they marched from Davis Square to the Gantcher Center to protest former President George H.W. Bush, who delivered the Fares Lecture yesterday afternoon.

The protesters confronted Medford police officers in riot gear at the intersection of Stearns Ave. and College Ave. as they tried to approach Gantcher. Activists attempted to shove through the ranks of the police, but were pushed back. A few brief skirmishes erupted, although reports suggested that no one was seriously injured.

Between 12 and 13 people were arrested, according to Medford Police Sergeant Paul Corvino. One organizer said protestors collected about $200 to bail those who were arrested.

The turnout at yesterday's protest was smaller than the 1,000 people organizers originally anticipated. TCOWI organizers said that there were upwards of 200 at the march itself. Joseph Ramsey, a graduate student and organizer for the Tufts Coalition to Oppose War in Iraq, said that "it was a great spirited rally and a strong march," Ramsey said.

Yesterday's demonstration began with a rally in Davis Square, where students, professors, and local residents gathered to oppose the choice of Bush for the lecture. Satirical songs and spirited chants were interspersed with speeches vilifying the war in Iraq.

"Am I having d?©j?  vu?," said Tiffany Magnolia, an English Graduate Student, referring to the similarities between the George W. Bush administration and that of his father. "Make the connection -- what's going on now has everything to do with what happened in 1991."

History Professor Gerald Gill, senior Justin Sullivan, and Ramsey also spoke. Most of the speakers expressed anti-war sentiment, although a few focused on the fact that the questions to Bush would be screened.

"What is important about today is that Bush is going to present his opinions unchallenged," Sullivan said. "This is our challenge."

Protestors had originally planned to march directly up College Ave to Gantcher after the rally. But when they discovered that police had blocked off the bridge that leads to Gantcher, they detoured past the Science and Technology Center to Stearns Ave., on the other side of the gym parking lot.

Protestors eventually returned to the intersection of College Ave. and Boston Ave., where they were greeted with a counter-protest. Students carried signs with slogans such as "My SUV runs on oil, not peace" and "Tuna 4 Dolphins." The group said they were neither for nor against Bush, but rather against the protestors.

Although barricading in front of Gantcher prevented activists from executing a rumored plan to storm the speech, Bush did not escape opposition during his speech, which was interrupted every few minutes by outcries from students.

On the cue of a whistle blown after the first mention of Desert Storm, about six activists stood up and chanted "we don't want your bloody war." One girl held up an upside-down American flag with "F*** war" written across it.

"This young lady has an eloquent way of expressing herself," Bush retorted. "Please notice." The audience burst out in laughter and the protestors were escorted out.

Other students continued shouting out slogans like "War is not Justice," although muttering in the audience suggested that they were not generally supported.

Most students also did not heed to leaflets distributed outside Gantcher urging them to sit with their backs towards Bush. A few students did, however, walk out of the speech in disgust.

Students protested despite a last-ditch effort by University President Larry Bacow to keep them quiet during Bush's speech.

In his introductory speech Bacow said that "while we may express ourselves sharply, we typically do so with courtesy and respect." The audience responded in applause.

Audience members generally disapproved the protester's tactics, although not necessarily their cause. "Even the people not in favor of Bush were against the protestors," sophomore Andrew Churella said. "They were just disruptive."

But junior Matt Collins supported the actions of the protestors. "I think it was great that they had the courage to stand up and give their opinion," he said.