2 Arrested at DeAnza College While Protesting Colin Powell's Visit

Rock-throwing, arrest mark Flint Center anti-war protest

After a third day of demonstrations against Colin Powell's visit at De Anza College, the protests turned rowdy Friday night after one person stormed inside the Flint Center for the Performing Arts and refused to leave, and several others began throwing rocks at Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies.

The protester who refused to leave the auditorium, where Powell had been a featured speaker, was arrested, Santa Clara County sheriff's Deputy Terrance Helm said.

Although initially peaceful, the protests involving 50 to 100 people heated up after 8 p.m., when fewer than a dozen protesters in black ski masks started throwing rocks at deputies in riot gear and marching around the area, chanting and passing out fliers, Helm said. No one was injured during the protests, he added.

Helm said only a handful of people had been holding evening vigils outside the Flint Center during Powell's talks.

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