From staff reports
More than 50 protesters filled West Circle Drive Thursday night, beating drums, singing and chanting their message of peace.
"This is what democracy sounds like," they yelled.
Members and supporters of Lansing-based activist group Direct Action met at the Marriott Hotel, 300 M.A.C. Ave., at 5:30 p.m. to show their opposition to the war. From the hotel, the group marched through campus to the Capitol.
Lansing resident Sean O'Brien said the effects of the war "on the Iraqi people will be detrimental to society."
"The problem that occurred right now because of this war will take generations to fix," he said.
East Lansing police Officer Ryan Kuhn warned protesters to remain off the streets while marching through East Lansing.
"If they march in the street, they will be arrested," he said. "But we don't expect any conflict."
The protesters decided unanimously to remain on the sidewalks as a group.
Lansing Community College student Nicole Brimhall said she joined the march to support Iraqi youth.
"We're striking down children. That's not right," she said. "If we don't use our freedom of speech, we lose it."
War opponents say they are using the First Amendment in every way they can.
From writing letters to Pope John Paul II, senators and state representatives and President Bush himself, social work junior Jane Kilmer has spent a significant amount of time promoting peace.
"I wrote to the Pope because I knew that if he went to Baghdad that would hopefully stop the war," Kilmer said. "I have also prayed for peace and attended peace rallies since October."
But Kilmer added Bush still had many options before choosing war and he should have let the inspectors continue with their jobs. Now that troops have been sent abroad, Kilmer hopes they will return safely.
"Right now I'm mourning for the soldiers and the people in Iraq," she said. "This war is going to change the world."
Chalking anti-war slogans on the Romney Building and nearby pavement, members of the Greater Lansing Network Against War in Iraq met at 9 a.m. Thursday in a 24-hour vigil for peace. Multi-colored symbols of peace, including "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" and "Stop the War," attracted the stares of passers-by in the busy downtown district.
Passing drivers honked, some shouting obscenities at the protesters, who responded, "Peace, we love you."
State Property Security Officer Kurt Kelley responded to a call about destruction of property and instructed the group to stop writing or face arrest. The protesters complained that they were exercising their First Amendment rights to demonstrate, pointing out the sidewalk was public property.
One protester, East Lansing resident and Direct Action member Amy Field, scrawled "No free speech zone" on the pavement in a final protest. Kelley responded by detaining her, as he and building officials took her into the state office complex.
"The guy grabbed her and dragged her in the building," Direct Action member Lindsay Alexander said. She added friends of Field's, concerned over what they perceived as unnecessary force in restraining her, were denied access to the building.
Sgt. Jeff Held of the Michigan State Police Capitol Post, said since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the state has limited state building access to state employees or those escorted by appropriate personnel.
"He pulled her into the building for his safety and her safety," Held said, adding this is standard procedure to avoid a larger conflict.
But Field said she felt the officer had been rough. She added police have been supportive until this incident.
"I had no idea they were going to react like this," Field said. "I think the police are scared in general of the anti-war movement."
Although Field was not arrested, officer Kelley checked her identification after he escorted her into the building.
"In the interest of First Amendment and peaceable assembly rights, we decided to let it go," Held said.
