Saturday, March 19, 2005 marks the 2nd anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It also marks a moment in history where the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) used heavy-handed tactics on peaceful people expressing their opinions in a public forum, once protected under the U.S. constitution.

A group of over 90 people marched from L.V. Blvd. and Sahara between 6 and 9 p.m. with plans to have a candlelight vigil in front of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.

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However, when the group arrived at the Bellagio to peacefully assemble and begin the peace vigil, officers of LVMPD told the group they must cease and disperse as they did not have a permit.

Many in the group decided to sit on the sidewalk and refused to disperse. LVMPD officers began to arrest one individual after another, targeting those less-privileged and more vulnerable.

As officers began to arrest more people sitting, many stood up and followed orders to disperse. Police on foot and on horses forced the group to walk back to Sahara and LV Blvd.

While protesters were fully complying with the dispersal order, officers began to arrest one after another with no stated reason.

Approximately 20 to 25 peaceful people were targeted and arrested.

The above information was sent to all local media outlets as an official press release.

The ACLU has also been contacted and hopefully we will here back from Gary Peck in the morning.

We'll soon see who is willing and able to support those whom were arrested for simply exercising their FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Joe

I wanted to also mention that it was RAINING while everyone marched down the LV Strip!

Way to go everybody! The dedication, emotion, and solidarity was strong.

But let's not let the Peace Movement end here... We gotta continue this campaign until the troops are out of the Middle East.

Joe

How hypocritical of you to complain of a violation of free speech rights, when you've trampled all over my right to free speech.

Steve, how hypocritical of YOU to complain of a violation of alien speech rights, when you've kissed all of our alien rights!

while I agree most of the arrests were unprovoked, I thought things got violent only when some people in the group began physically threatening the police and cursing violently at them. While we can not know, the police may not have followed us all the way back had we not antagonized them so much. Maybe I'm wrong and obviously those officers were dicks especially Officer Connell. Maybe we should file a report on him.

Mike Swecker has shown his true class nature by making excuses for, and even partially taking the side of, the police.

Down with fascist pigs-- both those in uniform and out!

Steve Hampton has shown his true pen nature by making excuses for, and even partially taking the side of, the computer.

Down with pink pigs-- both those in uniform and out!

I wholly agree there is a problem with the pink pigs. Too much pinkness when there's the uniform on, and then when you have it off, well, you can see what a problem that would be.

Leev Pampton must take a pill and FOLLOW it down his own throat... That would make for a happy revolution. The little pill says "FOLLOW ME!"

Okay, little pill, here I come! Following you! Here comes the revolution-------