March 31, 2003
Intimidation Against Dissenters Begins
According to OPB, the antiwar vigil at the Capitol in Salem was harassed and attacked over the weekend:
The vigil's organizer Michelle Darr says early Saturday morning, someone fired paint balls at her group from the street. The next night she says three men in their 20s scattered the group's possessions in the street, threw their sleeping bags in a nearby fountain, and attacked one of the protestors with a broom.
Darr says one of the men said one of his family members is serving in the war and called the protestors unpatriotic.
For what it's worth, the man attacked with a broomstick is a veteran of the first Gulf War.
There's also a less complete story via the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, here in Portland, there was a hit-and-run at the Peace Encampment on Saturday, by (of course) some patriots sociopaths in a gas-guzzling pick-up truck.
In general, the advice circulating is fairly straightforward: Have plenty of supporters around for witness purposes, and make sure several of them have cell phones so any incidents can be reported immediately.