The petition
SUPPORT FREE SPEECH at Northeastern Illinois University: Drop the Charges Against Student Antiwar Activists!
On February 28, 2007, at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) two Campus Antiwar Network activists and NEIU Socialist Club members, Ken Barrios and Matt Larson, were arrested for the “crime” of trying to enter a school sponsored meeting with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
They have been charged with “disruption” and “assault” despite multiple witnesses who say neither ever touched the school employee in question. The employee, Robin Wagner, attempted to physically obstruct the entrance to the meeting and claimed that the students needed reservations. However, none of the publicity for the CIA meeting informed students they needed to pre-register.
This is just the latest attack on students’ free speech on campus. While the administration has invited homophobic groups, corporate salespersons and military recruiters to campus, the Office of Student Affairs recently decertified almost half of the school’s registered student clubs.
Last spring, Larson and fellow student Mallory Bernstein were threatened with suspension for peacefully protesting military recruiters on campus. Administrators were recently forced to back down from plans to limit protest to a so-called “free speech zone” that would have drastically curtailed the rights of students to protest and assemble.
WE DEMAND that the university drop the trivial misdemeanor charge of “disruption” with which Ken Barrios has been charged.
WE DEMAND the university drop the more serious charge of “assault” with which Matt Larson has been charged.
WE DEMAND the right to freely exercise our legal right to protest the presence of military recruiters on campus without threat of administrative or police retaliation and harassment.
WE DEMAND that Ms. Robin Wagner, Chief Clerk of the Placement Office, be disciplined for physically attempting to obstruct the entry of registered NEIU students into an event advertised on campus as open to everyone.
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