Eureka Recruiting Center Shut Down

The Eureka Military Recruiting Center was shut down for the day by approximately 200 peaceful protesters of the U.S. led war on Iraq. Present at the protest were students, peace groups, Buddhists meditating for peace and people young and old who are disgusted with Bush’s war for oil.

Participation in this sparsely populated area was high, partly in protest of police brutality and the arrest of four cyclist on route to an earlier war protest held on November 2 at the Eureka federal building. Bicyclist riding from Arcata to Eureka for the November 18th protest tripled to approximately 100 riders.

Like the earlier protest, a CHP helicopter brought in from Redding circled overhead and police used scare tactics with the presence of rubber bullet weapons and tear gas launchers. This is not a usual tactic in this area for protests and represents to activist an escalation by the police. No arrests were made but at least 6 harassment citations were given to protesters for such things as riding a bicycle on the sidewalk and obstructing traffic.