Anti-war protesters target recruiting offices in Tacoma
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TACOMA -- Anti-war activists gathered for a demonstration outside the military recruiting station near the Tacoma Mall on Thursday night.
The protest has become an annual event, but this year's event takes on new importance due to the violence encountered at the anti-war protests in Olympia this week.
With two huge military installations just a stone's throw away across the freeway, the protesters, many of whom were young, decided to target the small storefront recruiting offices for the demonstration.
Whether it's on the streets of Seattle, the port entrance to Olympia or at military recruiting offices in Tacoma, the message is the same -- end the fighting in Iraq, bring the troops home. More specifically, the young demonstrators want the military recruiters out of their schools.
"I lost someone really close to me in the war and ever since then, I can't support it," said Stephan Breazile, a teenage protester.
Two counter-demonstrators stood a distance away.
"They're protesting. I'm here to support the troops," said Tineke Geringer.
Inside the Army recruiting office, it was business as usual for those trying to bring in new recruits to replenish the all-volunteer Army.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Kelley said the protests have not hurt their recruiting efforts.
Kelley recently served with the 3rd Stryker Brigade when it first deployed to Iraq.
"My thoughts on them showing up, coming out of the infantry unit is they're pretty much acting on the rights that we protect for them," he said.
Kelley said he has no problems with the protests as long as they remain civil.
No one was arrested in Tacoma on Thursday.
The protest came on the eve of the National Student Walkout, the organizers of which are urging students to walk out of their classrooms at noon on Friday and join an anti-war demonstration at Seattle's Westlake Park at 1 p.m.
The protest has become an annual event, but this year's event takes on new importance due to the violence encountered at the anti-war protests in Olympia this week.
With two huge military installations just a stone's throw away across the freeway, the protesters, many of whom were young, decided to target the small storefront recruiting offices for the demonstration.
Whether it's on the streets of Seattle, the port entrance to Olympia or at military recruiting offices in Tacoma, the message is the same -- end the fighting in Iraq, bring the troops home. More specifically, the young demonstrators want the military recruiters out of their schools.
"I lost someone really close to me in the war and ever since then, I can't support it," said Stephan Breazile, a teenage protester.
Two counter-demonstrators stood a distance away.
"They're protesting. I'm here to support the troops," said Tineke Geringer.
Inside the Army recruiting office, it was business as usual for those trying to bring in new recruits to replenish the all-volunteer Army.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Kelley said the protests have not hurt their recruiting efforts.
Kelley recently served with the 3rd Stryker Brigade when it first deployed to Iraq.
"My thoughts on them showing up, coming out of the infantry unit is they're pretty much acting on the rights that we protect for them," he said.
Kelley said he has no problems with the protests as long as they remain civil.
No one was arrested in Tacoma on Thursday.
The protest came on the eve of the National Student Walkout, the organizers of which are urging students to walk out of their classrooms at noon on Friday and join an anti-war demonstration at Seattle's Westlake Park at 1 p.m.
