[lbo-talk] times letter

[westrich at miser.umass.edu]

I wasn't there (I live in Boston now) but the local press said there were 2000 
at that Westover (March 22nd) protest.  Everyone I know who was there confirms 
there were "way" more than 1000 "easy".  Also, there was a small and hostile 
counter-protestors at this protest.  If you have been to a protest at Westover 
you know the traffic, the hostile cops, and the massive planes can be pretty 
intimidating.

It is also important to note that most of the area students were on spring 
break the week prior to the Westover UFPJ protest.  When the students got back 
things got a lot more interesting evidently (much different and varied actions 
and tactics).  There were 25 student arrests in Northampton when (400 according 
to press accounts) people protested local Navy periscope maker Kollmorgen and 
then blocked traffic.

Jim

Quoting Liza Featherstone <lfeather32 at erols.com>:


> 
> As a point of contrast to today's supposed apathy,  Zernike mentions a 1972
> sit-in at the Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, not far
> from Amherst College, which drew 1,000 people. Funny she should bring that
> up: on March 22 of this year, 1,000 people protested at that base, including
> students from area colleges.

"Be reasonable; demand the impossible now"

--Robb Johnson