Five Iraq war protesters arrested

Five war protesters were arrested Monday on trespassing charges when they refused to leave the Army National Guard recruiting station on Division Street.

The five were part of a group of 10 who arrived shortly before 1 p.m. and asked the recruiters to telephone Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire to insist she recall all deployed Washington Guardsmen.

“We don’t want any more people from Spokane to be sent to fight an illegal war,” said protester Rusty Nelson. The protest marked the third anniversary of the U.S. war in Iraq.

Some recruiters talked with the protesters while others stepped outside or tried to work.

Master Sgt. Martin Steele, who heads up the recruitment center, was frustrated by the protesters, who he said they don’t understand what the United States is doing in Iraq. Steele said the United States is making a difference for the Iraqi people.

“I don’t mind if they’re out there,” Steele said pointing to the sidewalk. “They have things to say, but this is a place of business.”

When the police arrived about 2 p.m., some protesters voluntarily left the building while the five remaining activists were handcuffed and taken away in squad cars.

All but one of them later was cited and released. One remains in jail.

Those arrested were Nelson, Mark Hamlin, Jim Sheehan, Nancy Nelson and Jay Sullivan.

“I came down to say ‘No.’ I’m not going to be complicit in this war that’s going on, to the immorality of it. There’s a point when as a thinking, caring, feeling person you’re required to stand up and say ‘No,’ ” said Sheehan.

About 500 Army and Air National Guard members from Washington are now deployed overseas, down from a high of about 4,600 in late 2004 and early 2005, said Maj. Philip Osterli, the Washington National Guard’s public affairs officer.

The arrests were peaceful, but police Sgt. Russ Cox said while he supports free speech, responding to illegal protests is a waste of tax money because of the manpower they demand.