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P/SUNNY Temp: 63 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Wednesday, June 18, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 6, 2003 Ashland police keep student demonstrators from Southern Oregon University and Ashland High and Middle schools from blocking traffic on Main Street Wednesday during a protest against possible war with Iraq. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Student protest floods Ashland By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ASHLAND — More than 600 students walked out of their classes Wednesday as part of a national student strike to demonstrate against a possible war with Iraq and demand adequate funding for education. About 200 students from Southern Oregon University began the protest march down Siskiyou Boulevard to the Plaza shortly after noon, their numbers tripling as high schoolers and middle schoolers spilled out of classrooms and followed their beating drums. They chanted anti-war slogans and carried signs as they wended their way under sunny, blue skies. Once the students reached the Plaza, they erupted in loud cheers and kept up the drum beat under the watchful gaze of Ashland police. Although the marching students disrupted traffic flow, and a few climbed trees, statues and phone booths in order to see and be seen, the demonstration proceeded without incident except for a single arrest. Nigel Brooks, 19, of Ashland, was charged with disorderly conduct. Ashland Police Sgt. Teresa Selby said Brooks was arrested for intentionally blocking traffic near the university. Selby said Brooks is currently lodged at Jackson County Jail on $3,000 bail. Student organizer Keith Quick said he was pleased the demonstration remained orderly. "We did not want a flag burning," he said. "Peace is not destruction." Two of the demonstrators — costumed as Bush and a police officer — staged a mock arrest of the faux president for "crimes against humanity." The crowd roared its approval as Miranda rights were read to close the display of political "performance art." Quick, an English major at SOU, gave credit for the energy of the movement to the younger students. Looking at the crowd overflowing the Plaza, Quick said it was the enthusiasm of a group of high school students attending an earlier SOU peace rally that energized the campus crowd. "I wanted to get students involved," said Quick. "But it wasn’t really going anywhere until the high school students got involved and said, ‘Yeah. Let’s do this!’" Ashland High School student Hannah Clark said she wasn’t worried about academic repercussions resulting from the walkout, even though Principal Jeff Schlecht said today’s absences would not be excused. Schlecht said he used Rosa Parks as an example of civil disobedience, citing her willingness to be arrested to make her statement. "I told them, if you have a deep conviction, you’ll be willing to accept the consequences," said Schlecht. "But there are not a lot of consequences for one unexcused absence." "Peace is more important today," said Clark. Schlecht said the middle school required students’ parents to pick them up at the campus in order to attend the peace rally. Two middle-school students, walking unattended by parents, were filming the noontime events for a school assignment: "Watching Ashland Middle School." Parent Kay Jewell said she was proud of the activism of her middle-school daughter, Abigail Adams. Jewell said her daughter was organizing "Feed your Enemy" food programs in the middle and elementary schools. "I told her, kids need to pay attention because it’s their world," said Jewell. Not everyone was dedicated to higher causes on the warm spring day. One hopeful youth had a handmade sign taped to his chest which read, "Will make out for peace," with the parenthetical caveat "(Must be hot!)" When queried, the radical Romeo admitted he had not had any takers on his offer and was later seen in the crowd sans sign. By 1:20 p.m., the crowd had dwindled to one third its peak size. Lofting their "Books Not Bombs" signs, the students marched back up the boulevard to the cadence of their own chants and their drums of peace. Also at noon Wednesday, in Medford, more than 360 Women in Black stood silent in Vogel Plaza for the third consecutive week as part of an international vigil for peace. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or email [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times