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40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, April 1, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 20, 2004 A group of peace activists meet Friday with Steve Gilmore, top left, Medford office manager for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden. Clockwise from Gilmore is Hal Jamison, Monty Walters, Mori Garloff, Wes Brain, Dagoberto Morales, Cynthia Zavatska and Linda Richardson Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Protesters pay another visit to Rep. Walden By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A year after peace activists were locked out of Rep. Greg Walden’s office, they were let in Friday to protest the war in Iraq. "The judgment of the international community is that this is an illegal war," said Monty Walters to Steve Gilmore, Walden’s office manager. Walters, with Peace House, and another activist were arrested last year when they refused to leave Walden’s Medford office. The charges were later dropped. Gilmore said aides had locked the door because they had been receiving calls threatening an attack on the office and because they were wary of unusual behavior on the part of the activists. "The first thing we saw was somebody climbing on our roof," he said, referring to a banner that was unfurled on the four-story building. Advertisement Walters responded that his group was trying to get some attention at a time when the Bush administration was dominating the media in its quest for support for the war. "We understand it may be disturbing to hang a banner, but we don’t have the budget of the Bush administration," he said. Walters and the other activists objected to statements the next day during a local radio interview with a Walden representative that branded the activists as "terrorists." "We’re just law-abiding citizens," he said. The activists urged Walden to work toward changing what they said was a climate of fear promoted by the Bush administration and toward abolishing the Patriot Act. Ashland resident Mori Garloff said a lot of the concerns they had last year have been amplified because of recent arrests and government searches. A friend of hers, former Ashland resident Pete Seda, is now living overseas after the U.S. Treasury Department began an investigation into alleged ties with terrorist groups. Gilmore responded that it was Seda’s decision to leave the United States, but he said he was unable to shed any light on how the investigation was proceeding. Medford resident Dagoberto Morales, who is a representative of the farm workers advocacy group UNETE, said that the heightened security in the United States has created increased fear among undocumented agricultural workers. He urged Walden to support a House bill that would give these workers the legal right to work in the United States. Morales said the international community might be wary of this country’s political role, but still respects U.S. citizens. "I don’t think people hate America around the world, they hate the policies," said Morales. Peace House of Ashland will hold a rally in downtown Medford from noon to 2:30 p.m. today in Alba Park at West Main and Ivy Streets. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times