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March 25, 2007

NEIU Students Against War Protest the Arrests of Two Student Activists On Campus

*Wednesday, March 28, 2007 10am
*NEIU campus Village Square
*Press conference in order to combat the administration’s violation of free speech, student’s rights, and racism on campus

On February 28, 2007 seven student activists attempted to enact a non-violent protest of a school sponsored meeting with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Two students, Ken Barrios and Matt Larson, were unjustly arrested and brutalized by NEIU campus police for the crime of participating in a legal demonstration against the CIA. The two students have been erroneously charged with two misdemeanors stemming from the protest.

“I am disappointed in the administration’s harsh response to students practicing their right to free speech as well as their lack of support for the student body,” Chris Poulos, President of NEIU Students Against War.

We are imploring the University to drop the bogus charges against the two NEIU students. We are imploring the University to respect the rights of students to engage in lawful and permitted demonstrations on the NEIU campus.

INVITED SPEAKERS:

Brett C. Stockdill Ph.D. is an associate professor of the Sociology department at NEIU

Terry Schuepfer is a professor of Psychology as well as the President of UPI-NEIU

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is the president of NEIU’s Socialist club

Chris Poulos is the president of NEIU Students Against War

Victor Ortiz is Assistant Professor and Director, Latino and Latin American Studies Program

Spokesperson from Voices for Creative Nonviolence

We are demanding that the administration drop all charges against the students Matt Larson and Ken Barrios. We demand that the administration support its students and their rights to free speech on campus.

For more information, please contact Adam Norden: (312) 209-9851

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