------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the April 10, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
“BUSH & BLAIR—PUT THE HANDCUFFS THERE!” CLEVELAND YOUTHS HALT RUSH HOUR
By Martha Grevatt Cleveland
Instead of a typical Friday evening rush hour, Cleveland's downtown streets were virtually empty of automobiles March 28 as hundreds of anti- war youths took over the streets. They left their high schools and college campuses in response to a call issued a few days before to "Shut down Cleveland, no business as usual!" The action was called by a network of local activists and endorsed by the ANSWER coalition and Not In Our Name.
As in other cities, the murderous bombing of Iraq has ignited militant street protests here, with a rage that police have been unable to contain. In fact, the cops had to block off the main downtown area and divert traffic away from the demonstration. Although the marchers lacked a permit, they were able to hold the streets for almost two hours.
It wasn't until the march was nearly over that police began arresting leading activists and other participants, handcuffing people while they were forced to lay face down on the ground.
Then cops in riot gear surrounded the demonstration, forcing everyone back on the sidewalk, also shoving newspaper and radio reporters in the process.
The demonstrators responded to the arrests with chants of "Bush and Blair, put the handcuffs there" and "Let them go!"
Chanting and drumming continued into the night.
As of March 31, three of the five arrested activists remained behind bars and may face felony charges. The anti-war movement plans to pack the courtroom when they are arraigned and to mobilize to get the charges dropped against the dozen or more activists who have been arrested since the bombing began.
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