'War on Terror'   
anti-war actions  
-Hartford  
Weeks later, police also charged a peace march headed toward the office of Senator Joe Lieberman in Hartford, Connecticut, this time more brutally than in Denver and resulting in 18 arrests, a marcher's broken rib and felony charges.

The events of October 25 began at Bushnell Park with a rally against the bombing of Afghanistan. About 200 people then marched - without a permit - to the senator's office. The march remained on the sidewalk much of the way, but eventually took over one lane, changing sides of the road at each intersection to allow traffic to pass alternately in both directions.

Police tried to intimidate the marchers, blocking their path with patrol cars and pushing people back toward the sidewalk. Marchers remained resolute, walking around the cars and absorbing the shoves. As the march neared the Senator's office, police, including at least one undercover officer, began fingering individuals in the crowd, while other officers pushed into the crowd to make arrests. Some marchers were knocked to the ground, or sprayed with pepper spray, and one man's rib was broken when police kicked him while he was down.

Eighteen people were arrested and jailed on various charges, some including felony inciting to riot. Bond was set at $10,000-$50,000. The bail commissioner was told not to comment about the high bail, but did remark that "these are serious crimes, given the times we live in." Community support helped to bail everyone out the following day.

Police later reported that some were targeted for arrest because they wore masks or bandanas over their faces. This "demonstrated to this officer that they were inclined to violence," since the cloth provides "minimal protection" from tear gas and pepper spray. Another report alleged some marchers were "radicals" and a "mob" chanting "anarchy now" and "attack the police." A police spokesperson told the Hartford Advocate that radicals by definition advocate "extreme change," and he determined that an immediate halt to the bombing would be an extreme change in government policy at this time.

Four of the eighteen faced minor charges in community court, and received a sentence of two days community service. Others had separate arraignments in late November, and community-wide legal defense efforts are underway.

For more information, contact the Free Speech Legal Defense Fund, 13 Farview Ave., Danbury, CT 06810, http://madhattersimc.org.