91 Arrested as Largely Student Crowd Marches in New York

New York – Anti-war protesters clashed with police on March 22 after refusing to disperse after an anti-war rally in the streets of midtown Manhattan. A police department spokesperson said 91 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and 17 police officers were treated for injuries received in the melee.
While chanting phrases such as, “Whose Streets, Our Streets,” and “The March Ain’t Over Until the War is Over,” protesters – mostly students – sat down in the streets in an act of peaceful resistance.
“We are not inciting a riot,” said Beth Wissman, 19, “We are peacefully rebelling [against] the system.”
A student at the city’s School of the Visual and Performing Arts, Wissman and other sit-in participants did not expect police to make arrests.
Daniel Williams voiced his disbelief and anger as three of his friends were bound by police.
“You would think [police would] be out fighting crime,” said Williams, who was not arrested himself. “They would rather arrest innocent people uniting to show Bush and the world that we will not stand for an unjust war.”
Police estimated that 125,000 to 200,000 turned out for the march.
Many said they felt an excessive presence of police made matters worse. United for Peace and Justice, a grassroots activist group that organized the march, was permitted to parade only from Broadway and 42nd Street to Washington Square between noon and 4 p.m., according to city officials. Officers tried to move the crowd from the streets into Washington Square Park.
Kiyoko McCray, 21, said she witnessed officers using pepper spray and batons to break up disorderly groups burning an American flag.
“We have the right to peacefully assemble and no violence has occurred,” said McCray. “The police are the ones inciting riots by spraying (pepper spray) into a crowd of innocent people.”
Yashou Muhammad said he took to the streets to protect his 17-year-old son, Josef.
“The police work for us,” he said angrily. “I am too old to fight, but I have to do it for the generations to come.”
The crowd even taunted the news media, urging reporters and cameramen to capture the true sentiment of the people.
“The world is watching, the world is watching,” people shouted as police tackled, subdued and hauled demonstrators into paddy wagons.
The protesters lingered in vicinity of Washington Square Park well into the night. Despite the outcome of the march, organizers say they will continue to voice their discontent.
“These are our streets and our country,” said 21-year-old Fray Fuller, “We will stay here until our soldiers come home.”