Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007

It is the constitutional right of the people of the United States of America to protest. In April of 2006, an anti-Iraq war protest was conducted in the streets of East Hampton Village by the East End Coalition for Peace and Justice. However, the protest was interrupted by the East Hampton Village Police, when five participants were arrested and charged with violations relating to disorderly conduct. This year, on August 25, the same group is planning another protest on Main Street of East Hampton to protest the war once again. The demonstration organizers include Joe Giannini, a veteran of the Vietnam War and president of the East End Veterans, Jim Henry and Betty Mazur. Henry and Giannini are both scheduled to speak to "the many people on the East End who want to bring the troops home" at the event and protest "the continuation of this godless war," said Mazur.

Last year's protest permit allowed the group to demonstrate on the sidewalk from the Chase Bank to the movie theater. However, during the event, the five protestors were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after they allegedly demonstrated outside of the zone. Gerard Larson, the Police Chief of East Hampton Village said, "a few people didn't follow the rules. They decided to step outside of the barricaded area, which prevented others from using the sidewalk." Cile Downs, a participant in the 2006 protest said, "there was a misunderstanding about what the protestors were permitted to do. We were within a yellow tape and we hadn't expected the tape to be there when we were undertaking to march. I am still very puzzled in this very inconsistent enforcement.

Downs also commented on the arrest which occurred in the middle of the protest, saying "it was intended to be a peaceful demonstration so when I saw the police hauling off one of our demonstrators, I started to boo." Mazur described the arrests in a phone interview as an "overreaction of the police," however, she refused to comment further. The five protestors charged with disorderly conduct are awaiting a trial before Justice Catherine A. Cahill on September 7.

Last week, on August 8, Giannini, Henry and Mazur met with the East Hampton Village Police to acquire their permit for the combined march and also to discuss this year's protest so zone requirements can be followed and arrests avoided. On the other hand, Julie Penny, another participant of the protest from April said, "one's right to demonstrate and walk around is a component of free speech. It should not be against the law to walk up and down the street with a sign." Larry Cantwell, the East Hampton Village Administrator, attended the meeting and said "we have agreed on what will take place and what the framework will be. It is in our interest for the demonstrators to practice their first amendment right and to make sure that it will not interfere with public safety."

Even though last year's protest resulted in five arrests, participants such as Downs were optimistic when they said, "I am sure that after all these bad feelings from last year, the police will have better instructions and behave themselves better." The number of people attending the protest is unknown as of now, but "I think this year's protest will be more successful because more are outraged," said Mazur.

This year's demonstration will include mounted pictures of fallen soldiers as well as a march down to the Hook Windmill at 5 p.m. Additionally, there is a possibility that Tim Bishop, the Congressional representative from the East End, may be speaking at the event. The message they are hoping to convey is "we are losing our children and we are losing our credibility in the war and it has to come to a halt," said Mazur. Also at the protest this year will be the East Hampton Village Police to "provide protection for the demonstrators...to help them cross the street," said Cantwell. Larson estimates there will be a larger police presence this year. "I don't expect any problems," even though, "I still have to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

The demonstration will be taking place in East Hampton from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 25. With an estimated 150 people at the protest in 2006, there is certainly a high expectation for this year. The people of the East End as well as those from all over will be raising their voices to end the war in Iraq, as Mazur said, "sooner, not later."