European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday october 22, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 7protesters decry Gulf deployment from wire reports anti War activists mobilized their own 11u iut hot inn satyr Ria in a pin inc across the nation saturday in dem lust rations demanding that . Troops i withdrawn from the persian Gulf Redon before blood is shed. G the protests organized by such diverse interests As labor unions veterans groups and religious organizations were held m East 20 major cities. There were several counter demonstrations. In Washington about 200 demonstrators picketed in front of the White House and then sat Down across Pennsylvania Avenue forcing District of Columbia to Jyce to close the Street to traffic for nearly two hours. The protesters carried a huge Banner Reading a no . Troops in Middle East. No  they Sang a we shall not be moved a and chanted a Send the occupation with  _ the four hour rally came to an end in the late afternoon As police arrested More than a dozen of the demonstrators including Veteran peace activist Daniel Ells Berg. Federal and local police had blocked off the Street in front of the White House and had moved in about three dozen police vehicles before they began arresting the activists. The demonstrators were dogged much of the afternoon by a dozen Young people who ardently supported president Bush a policies in the Middle East. One carried a sign that read a kill peace Niks hippies not  one wore a Saddam Hussein mask and carried a sign Reading a thank you american  one wore a a nuke Iraq to shirt and some carried signs with the same words. Other supporters of the administrations policies Sang a America the Beautiful on the sidewalk. About 200 people gathered for a 19608-style rally on the Boston common. The protest was organized by the new England coalition to Stop . Intervention in the Middle East an umbrella group including labor unions peace activists and Church leaders. Some protesters wore the Long hair and army fatigues familiar during the protests of 20 years ago when demonstrations demanded that . Troops withdraw from Vietnam. A Loudspeaker played old peace songs As activists worked the milling crowd Selling a revolutionary workers and a the militant magazines. Protesters toted signs and banners that read a defeat . Imperialism and a read my lips a no War for  army reservist Stephanie Atkinson from Illinois and air Force reservist Ronald Baptiste from new York both opponents of . Military involvement in the persian Gulf acknowledge the crowds cheers at an anti War rally in new York City. Those sentiments were echoed in Cleveland where More than 200 people rallied outside the Headquarters of Cleveland based British Petroleum America to condemn american involvement in the Gulf standoff. A there is no reason for this country to be involved in that War a said Jerry Gordon an organizer. A a it a for big Oil and profits and control of the Oil interests in Kuwait and to restore the Emir a dictator to his throne in Kuwait. A we say a let the people of that Region determine their own  a in Atlanta anti War demonstrators labelled Bush a the son of Reagan Stein in calling for . Withdrawal from the Gulf. Watching the 100 protesters March in Woodruff Park were about 10 members of the desert shield family support group. They held a demonstration of their own Complete with . Flags and signs supporting Bush. As elsewhere saturday there were no serious incidents. A we do not need another Vietnam War a said Carrie Morris the president of the Atlanta chapter of the All Peoples Congress. A i done to believe in no Damn red White and Blue Flag. It ainu to nothing but a piece of rag. Liberty and Justice Are for the Rich  but Ray Truelove the founding president of desert shield families said that he was haunted by memories of the angry reception that often was Given to american soldiers who returned from the Vietnam War. A we came Home from Vietnam to utter chaos in the streets a Truelove said. A they were burning flags in the streets draft cards in the  he said that does no to want his son Marine sgt. Rick Truelove 30, who is now in saudi Arabia to face that kind of hostile Homecoming. In new York City protesters claimed that they had nearly 15,000 people at their peace rally. However police estimated the crowds size at 5,000. Marching from col Umbus Circle Down Broadway to times Square the protesters chanted a hell no we wont go we wont fight for Texaco a in san Francisco about 1,500 people gathered for their rally against the . Presence in the Middle East police said. A protest in Seattle brought out about 400 people. They Sang and carried signs with such messages As a no blood for Oil a a fill stomachs not body bags a a bring the troops Home a and a Stop King Georges  the rallies capped a week of smaller protests and the debut of a televised peace message starring Ron Kovic the Soldier who was crippled during the Vietnam War and eventually became a staunch anti War activist. He wrote his Story in a born on the fourth of july a which became a Hollywood movie. In Fairfield 111., an army reservist who claims that she is now a conscientious objector and who refused to report when her unit was activated has been listed by the military As absent without leave her father told reporters saturday. Spec. Stephanie Atkinson did not report to the Fairfield armory on wednesday when her postal unit mustered for Active duty As part of operation desert shield. Steve Atkinson said that he has not spoken with his 23-year-old daughter since the Day after she received her official notice to report. A a she a my daughter. I love her. But in a not in her Corner on this a he said. A i do not support what she a  Stephanie turned up at the anti War protest in new York City where she Drew cheers when she spoke to the crowd. Atkinsons unit the 331st adjutant general postal co based in Fairfield left thursday for fort Sheridan near Chicago. Military officials at fort Sheridan said saturday that they could not comment on the Atkinson Case. In an interview published in the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale Atkinson a Murphysboro iii., resident said that since joining the military at age 17, she has changed her mind about War and has become a conscientious objector opposed to violence of any Type. A the Recruiter painted this As some sort of glamorous Job a she said. A there was never any emphasis on the possibility that you a go to  the woman could face arrest and prosecution for failing to report for duty. She said that her enlistment was to have expired sept. 24, but the iraqi invasion of Kuwait  get this new yorker s Dander up by Vera Haller new York apr it could have been a heartwarming new York Story bystanders leap to the assistance of the victim of a subway pickpocket and Nab the Crooks. It Wasny to to be. A group of jeering youths interfered with the Rescue and helped the muggers get away a but not before one of them hit the victim in the face and knocked her to the platform. While this subway drama lacked a perfect ending Tor victim Lisa Polk it reinforced her Faith in new workers and disproved the notion that people Here done to get involved. A it says a lot for people a said Polk a City administrator. A there have been so Many real tragedies that started from Small crimes like this one. I was amazed that people were willing to get involved with that Type of a  snatching and lesser crimes Are daily events in new York but they Are overshadowed by More sensational and violent incidents a rash of child shootings the Central Park Jogger rape the Benson Hurst racial slaying. The City has pledged to hire thousands More police once is and mayor David Dinkins has asked citizens to help fight crime. Polk who got her Wallet Back said what bothered her most about her ordeal was that the Man and woman who attempted to Rob her were not caught. A that upset me More than being hit in the face a she said. The incident started As Polk 35, boarded a Broadway local train at 103rd Street on Manhattan supper West Side. A woman entering the train in front of Polk jostled her and tried to Block her Way. Polk who grew suspicious reached into her bag and discovered that her Wallet was gone. She yelled for the conductor she said but the doors were already closing. At that Point a Man a he apparently was working with the woman who jostled Polk a dropped the Wallet Polk said. Another passenger picked it up and returned it to Polk. The train rolled along to the next Stop and the Man and woman acted As though nothing had happened. He read his newspaper and she looked at advertisements posted on the Walls. The next Stop was 96th Street. Polk got out and yelled for police. A the thought crossed my mind that i could just not do anything a Polk said. A but i decided to yell because i thought they did it to me and they could just continue their Day doing the same to other  passengers waiting for the express train across the platform grabbed the suspects As they tried to run away. Other passengers asked the conductor to Call police. A everybody was very supportive asking me if i was Hurt offering to help and just saying generally comforting things a she said. But before help arrived a group of youths entered the station and began heckling the people holding the suspects. They said the incident was racial because the victim Polk was White and the suspects were Black. A scuffle broke out Between the youths and the passengers. In the ensuing struggle the two suspects fled but not before the Man hit Polk in the face. Polk reported the incident to police. No arrests have been made. A a in a not sorry i tried to Stop them. I would do the same thing All Over again a she said. A if in a going to live Here in a going to stand up and say it s just As much my town As anyone