[R-G] Today's Protest against Negroponte

[Pieinsky]

I was down at this protest myself earlier today.  We've got to confront 
these war criminals whenever and wherever they appear.
jay
www.neravt.com/left/

**********

5 June 2006


Protesters Arrested After Disrupting Negroponte in Vermont
by Orin Langelle and Anne Petermann/Global Justice Ecology Project
photos:  http://globaljusticeecology.org/index.php?name=news


St. Johnsbury,VT--National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's 
Commencement Address to the graduating class of private St. Johnsbury 
Academy was disrupted twice by protesters inside the auditorium where the 
ceremony was being held.


Over 75 protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside of the Academy 
protesting Negroponte's shadowy record that spans decades including a stint 
as the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras and Ambassador to Iraq before his present 
position as the nation's number one "intelligence" overseer.  Two other 
protesters from Vermont School of the Americas Watch were arrested as they 
attempted to gain entrance to the auditorium.  (More details of Negroponte's 
actions in Honduras and his complicity in Nicaragua during the Contra War in 
the 1980's).


Briefly after Negroponte began his address, Michael Colby, a horse logger 
from Worcester, VT stood up saying, "In the name of democracy I object to 
this man speaking.  He has blood on his hands from his work in Central 
America and Iraq.  He shouldn't be at the podium, he should be in jail. He 
is a war criminal."  Colby was grabbed by police and security and escorted 
out of the auditorium to awaiting police cars.


As Colby was being escorted away, Negroponte told the audience, "Now it's my 
turn."  But before he could continue, Boots Wardinski, another logger 
quickly rose stating, "No!  It's my turn!  When the headmaster intorduced 
Negroponte, he forgot to tell about all the people tortured, killed and 
raped (under Negroponte's helm in Honduras).  You should be ashamed to stay 
in here and listen to this man."


Some of the protesters assembled outside started to move toward the 
auditorium.  Palmer Legare and Brendan O'Neill, both from Vermont School of 
the Americas Watch, were grabbed by the police and arrested.


O'Neill shouted to reporters and bystanders, "They are arresting the wrong 
people.  This man (Negroponte) teaches war not peace.  He is responsible for 
the murders of 30,000 innocent Nicaraguans."


"Negroponte should have been arrested," stated Legare as he was being 
arrested and put into a police car.  Legare continued, "he is a war 
criminal."


All four were arrested for disorderly conduct and trespass although both 
Colby and Wardinski had tickets allowing them inside for the Negroponte 
speech.  Both Colby and Wardinski represented Horse Loggers for Peace and 
Wardinski is also a member of Veterans for Peace.


After the four were released, Colby said that he told the arresting officer 
that, "I come in peace."  Colby said then the officer punched him in the 
stomach.


Wardinski said his arresting officer called him a, "punk asshole."


Fliers handed out by protesters made the accusation that while Negroponte 
was "ambassador to Honduras from 1981-1985, he collaborated with the 
Honduran military government overseeing one of the most scandalous and 
shameful periods of U.S. foreign policy overseeing:


"-An increase in military aid to Honduras from $4 million a year to over $77 
million
--An illegal and unauthorized 'Contra' war against the Sandinistas in 
Nicaragua
--Increased collaboration between U.S. military, CIA., Honduran military and 
the Nicaraguan Contras forming paramilitary death squads, secret torture and 
detention camps and widespread assassinations of peace and justice activists
--The disappearances of 32 American women social justice church leaders
--Collaboration between the CIA with the School of the Americas's trained 
founders of the infamously violent Honduran paramilitary organizartion 
Batallion 3-16
--Censorship of the media's reporting on the war
--The now infamous Iran-Contra Scandal...after the U.S. congress voted to 
withdraw support for the (war) due to widespreadhuman rights abuses by the 
Contras..."


Although Negroponte did not speak about foreign policy or government spying 
on people in the U.S. during his speech, most protesters were alarmed that 
Negroponte was chosen as the Commencement speaker for St. John's Academy 
(even though Negroponte's son was graduating.)  Long time activist Brian 
Tokar told reporters, "It's outrageous that he's being given a position of 
honor in our community."


Activists also pointed out that another Vermonter, Robin Lloyd,  is in 
federal prison after being convicted of "crossing the line" at a Fort 
Benning, GA, School of the Americas protest that happened last November.


Orin Langelle and Anne Petermann are Co-Directors of Global Justice Ecology 
Project and are contributors to various publications internationally.




Global Justice Ecology Project
P.O. Box  412
Hinesburg, VT  05461  U.S.
+1.802.482.2689 ph/fax
+1.802.578.6980 mobile
<mailto:info at globaljusticeecology.org>
http://www.globaljusticeecology.org