Students Arrested at Rep. Price's Office, Court Date March 26

On Friday, February 16, 2007, six youth and students were arrested at Representative David Price's home office for speaking out against the Iraq War. Specifically, we demanded that Representative Price pledge to defund the Iraq War by voting NO on the upcoming $93 billion war supplemental. Second, we demanded that Representative Price use his power in Congress to urge others to defund the war and bring the troops home NOW! Third, we demanded that Representative Price resist any aggression against Iran, be it via sanctions or militarily.

Members of the UNC-Students for a Democratic Society have called, emailed, and met with aids in DC on January 27th to talk about defunding the war. We were told repeatedly that Representative Price's position on the upcoming supplemental vote was unclear. Additionally, members of the 4 th congressional district legislative action team that UNC-SDS organizes with, met with Representative Price himself, in Durham on January 26th to see where he stands on the defunding issue. Again, Representative Price would not directly engage the issue but only direct us to proposed soft legislation that asks the President to come up with an exit strategy or to hold contractors liable for fraud. It is important to note the Representative Price has voted for every single supplemental war funding bill thus far.

According to the latest Pew Research Center poll, a majority of Americans say that they want the troops out now. While Congress is busy losing a debate on a non-binding resolution condemning the president's proposed escalation in troops numbers, the will of the American people is being suppressed! Congress has the powers to investigate the criminal actions of those who lead us into war and more importantly, to cut of the funding for the continuing illegal and unjust Iraq Occupation.

This past Friday, youth and students visited Representative Price's office to talk with his political advisor, Rose Aumen about Price's stance on defunding the Iraq War. We were told that Price was against the war from the beginning and working very hard to end it. With the 4 th anniversary of the Occupation fast approaching and a death toll of 650,000 Iraqi civilians and over 3,000 US service people, we are sick of waiting. We asked to speak to Representative Price by phone. Our request was denied. Ms. Aumen then offered us a meeting with Price on February 26 th, which we turned down based upon our earlier unsuccessful attempts to get a straight answer out of Price on the funding issue. We were then asked to leave. We sat down.

The building manager was summoned and told us that we were trespassing. Trespassing in a space paid for with tax dollars for the sole purpose allowing our elected official to listen to and meet the needs of the people! We refused to leave and the police were summoned. At this point we were in the office for less than 20 minutes.

One member of our group read our demands and official statement (which can be found at chapelhillsds.org ). As she was speaking out, she was handcuffed and dragged off by police. One by one we were walked or carried out and placed in waiting cop cars surrounded by the raucous chants of 40 fellow war resisters gathered outside.

We were booked and charged with misdemeanor first-degree trespass and released on our own personal recognizance with a $500-750 unsecured bond. Our court date is March 26 th, at 9 AM at the Hillsborough Court House.

Our message was amplified by the courageous actions of other youth, nationwide, who went on student-strikes, closed down highways, and sat down in their Congress people's offices ( http://michaelmoore.com/ see February 17th actions). We will continue to resist this war until it is over.

We, the youth and students of the 4th district, demand an immediate cessation to any and all military action in Iraq and aggression against Iran. We call on all youth, students, and progressives to stand up and speak out—Defund the Iraq War and bring the troops home NOW!

In Struggle,

UNC-Students for a Democratic Society and Raleigh F.I.S.T. (Fight imperialism Stand Together)