March 23, 2008
Six Arrested During Services at Holy Name
This just in. As Cardinal Francis George was beginning the homily at Holy Name, six people poured a blood-like substance on themselves and parishioners. They have been arrested. [Trib]
5:32 Update: The Trib is reporting:
The group—whose female and male members identified themselves as Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War—stood up at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George's homily and shouted their opposition to the conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary last week. As security guards and ushers tried to remove them from the service, the demonstrators squirted fake blood on themselves and parishioners dressed in their Easter finery.
The group, all 18 to 25 years old, shouted, “Even the Pope calls for peace,” as they were escorted out of the building by security and police officers. All have been charged with felony criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery for squirting the stage blood.
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About time some body stopped wasting tax payers money with these meaningless Urban Out fit protests
and did something of significants.
Nice work, MLK would be proud
i don't know if you're joking or not and i like a good protest, but pouring a blood-like substance on innocent bystanders attending easter mass is fucking retarded.
If I believed in Hate Crimes, this would qualify.
What exactly where they protesting?
If even the Pope calls for peace, why protest in a Church? Why not, say, protest somewhere where people disagree with you?
Um, the Catholic Church has been calling for an end to the war since, er, it began.
Watch the video of these chuckleheads. They can't even get off a decent chant or message. This was planned over a few too many beers. "Yeah! Let's go tell the pope to stop the war! Yeah!"
Now Gorrilla. This WAR is Retarded( the amount we are spending and the number of lives lost) and we we are Retarded for allowing it to continue!
And every American citizen should be arrested should be arrested for a progressive stand. Would I have chosen to do something like that? No, but who the hell am I to judge and who the hell are you to judge?
Happy Easter B*tches!
It's rare, but I agree 100% with spook on this.
these same protesters dont have the balls to go to the mosque and protest sept 11, maybe a nice safe protest the cardinal, the pope, and most parishoners are against the war lets protest there. no spook this was a dumb protest MLK didnt lead a sit in at Howard univ to protest civil rights they were already on the same side.
Ridiculous and shameful. These teenage (male and female) "Schoolgirls" need to take a few lessons in protest. Squirting fake blood all over families who probably already agree with you does not count as protest.
All this is is an ill-conceived way for college freshman, who think they know how the world works, to "do something" and then go blog about it and post on Flickr: "me in the back of the paddy wagon...woot!"
:rolleyes:
spook, there are right ways about getting your point across, and there are wrong ways. in this instance, the right way is to vote in candidates that will stop the war. a wrong way is to throw 'blood' on people during an easter sunday mass. 'progressive' is hardly a word that can be applied to this unbelievably moronic form of protest
People like this only hurt their cause. They feed the notion that people who oppose the war are naive, decadent, self-centered assholes with no concerns beyond Fighting The Man (who/whatever that may be) and getting attention.
As has already been mentioned in this thread, the Catholic church has opposed the war from the beginning. To invade that space, on one of the most sacred days of the year for the people in attendance, and start spraying stage blood and spouting lame attempts at chants, is moronic, shameful, and totally unproductive. Absolutely nothing about the trajectory of the war will be changed by this, and the perception of their cause has only been harmed (with the exception of people who already agreed with them anyway).
Man, what a buncha idiots...
JuliaPorter's comment: ftw. She said it far better than I ever could.
I thought the throwing of fake blood was reserved for the anti-fur protesters....
Although I agree this is a poor attempt at a protest, in a cheap effort to get media attention.
Anyone else think that felony charges for squirting blood is quite excessive? I would have thought there is a misdemeanor charge that is more appropriate.
This whole situation proves yet again how f-'d up times are these days
I thought this was amusing:
Booohoooo. I don't know what's more amusing:
-The fact that at least one of these 'tards needs "medication".
-The fact that the police don't care.
Voting may not be a sufficient response to the war, even if people under 35 actually vote in big numbers which, has that even happened ever? Despite the cringe and eye-roll inducing activities of these kids they aren't misguided in wanting to do something outside of the political process, but yes they do paint the anti-war folks as being frivolous and illogical amateurs.
Not that I as a reasonable person thinks it strange or bad for a person to need medication, but if they had a martyr in Ryan for their little protest they probably wouldn't mind either.
These mouth-breathing morons wouldn't know intelligent political discourse if it slammed a truncheon into their skulls. The problem is, people on the fence see this and think "oh, well, that's apparently what the anti-war movement is all about." I hate pseudo-intellectual a-holes like this.
juliaporter: very nicely said.
Hmmm ... well, I was going to support the war, but then a bunch of kids busted into my church and threw fake blood on me. Oh, how wrong I've been. Thank goodness for the chanting, or I never would have seen the error of my ways.
"....Despite multiple requests for his inhaler Chicago Police at the 18th District (near Division and Halsted) are refusing to give Ryane Ziemba the medication..."
Now THAT is priceless. I immediately thought of the busted-by-the-cops-during-intercourse, panic-striken Fogel, AKA "McLovin," sitting nearly naked at the side of the bed, vigorously huffing his inhaler.
Jimbo, I voted four years ago for the candadite who said that he would end the war.
America "picked" instead, the same criminal to continue this war to the tune of another two trillion dollars and thousands of more dead bodies not including those hurt and deformed for life.
But as I ( and Plum Plumkins) are in the clear minority in this cyber room. Why don't you tell me Julie, UTV, etc, what YOU are doing to end this monstrosity, this shameful horror of a war???
We know these kids, instead of spending millions of city dollars on hollow fashion protest down town (and shorting poor neigborhoods of police protection, took are a page from some brave folks who protested Vietnam back in the day. But as I'm wrong. Please, please due tell
what You are doing that's working? Tell me how You are demonstrating your courage. Yea lets talk Courage! How are you demonstrating courage? What risks are you taking to stop all this sleep walking instead of pointing fingers at few people
who have more courage in
their pinkies than your whole families! As for me I aint done jack sh*t, since the first protest when we closed down Lake Shore Drive.
But I will be on the look out for these brave kids defense fund because I want to contribute generously!
And Julie while you explain your efforts to me- the commentator of the month for April-
you know what you can do with your "one of most sacred days of the year" right?
Sin,
Spook,
Commentator Elect for the Month for April
I cotancted my senators and my representative before the start of the war to let them know I did not support it.
I educated myself as much as possible, and continue to do so, on the repercussions of what we're doing now, and the potential repercussions of various changes in course.
I support candidates whose policies are in line with my beliefs about the war.
But most importantly, I have NOT acted in a way that reinforces the notion that everyone who opposes the war is a spoiled, self-centered dilletante. THAT is my point.
I can't believe I'm actually answering Spook, as I usually just lurk, and Spook's a certified troll. But I just had to re-iterate what porter said above - there are better, more intelligent ways to draw attention to your cause. I like how Spook automatically assumes that by voting, we have all drawn the line at our disagreement with the war and stopped there. What a goddamn insult. The truth is that while some of us do just vote, see it go nowhere, and use that as our pass out, a lot of us DO get involved in everything from lobbying to organized protests.
The key factor, however, is in knowing what is effective (protests which actually have proper thought put into their message with definite gestures towards location and time to maximize raising awareness) and what isn't effective (namely unorganized rampant chaos in a church that already agrees with you). The former will make people look at something differently, and the latter will just make everyone hate you and disregard anything useful you might be able to bring to the discussion.
Finally, how ridiculous of Spook to poo-poo someone's beliefs; I don't agree with the Catholic church on most anything, and I don't hold Easter in any kind of sacred respect, but I *DO* respect the wishes of those that choose to do so, just as I disagree with pro-lifers, but let them do their thing. The point at which they prevent *ME* from making my own choices is when it becomes a problem. Case in point: if I were going to the service and these idiotic protestors had decided to protest out in front of the church in public spaces, that's fine with me. As soon as they decided to unwillingly pull me in and get unknown liquid in my face, they've crossed the line.
Honestly, I don't know what your issue is other than you want to stir things up.
spook, these kids were hardly "brave." being daring doesn't inherently make one brave - sometimes it just makes them dumb. if you want to stop the war, vote those out of office that support it. if you lose in the election, again, you have to accept that your desires aren't supported by society in general. it's how a democracy works.
these same protesters dont have the balls to go to the mosque and protest sept 11
I don't know where to begin when trying to disect the retardedness of this post.
i agree with Jimbo's latest comment on this charade. it seems to me that these people couldn't be any more dumb than the people that i see chanting and requesting the impeachment of Bush -- Election's in November fucktards and guess what? he's not running - unless of course, their whole plan is get Cheney into office as president, in which case, i totally see their impeachment argument ... but i digress.
pouring blood on people and quipping about the war is amatuer ... pouring real blood and dangling a bottle of spray n' wash in front of them while taunting "you'll never get THAT out!" would have been much, much better.
hey Msss Julie( Profiles in Courage) Porter. In between cubs games, eating designer cup cakes, thrifting, crafting, or what ever the F*ck you do, I am so amazed that you have
contacted your senators and my representative to let them them know you did not support the war.
and you "educated yourself as much as possible, and continue to do so, on the repercussions of what we're doing now, and the potential repercussions of various changes in course".
and you "support candidates whose policies are in line with Your Safe Middle Class White Bread Protected status que bullsh*t beliefs."
But most importantly,( How F*cking Lame!) you "have NOT acted in a way that reinforces the notion that everyone who opposes the war is a spoiled, self-centered dilletante."
So this is your most important Act?????????
Your courage??
Hey every body Julie Porters most important act is listed above for all to see!
No Julie Porter YOU are a self centered dilletante, which is why I bestow you with the following award .....
"The Rich Wrinkled Grand Ma living in Evanston with a rainbow colored "Eradicate Racsim" bumper sticker on her Volvo Award"
Thank Gawd, The civil rights and vietnam war movements didn't depend on self righteous self centered Cowards like you, cause half of Chicago would still be riding in the back of the bus
Hey Navin. I'm gone, carry on,
these jack a$ses are ruining my sick day
And from now on I'm only drinking with republicans because at least they stand for something and fight for what they believe in.
And not wanna be's like Ward Up
Hey Jimbo,why am I not shock that some one with a name like Jimbo actually thinks we live in a Democracy? If you had some money I'd sale you a bridge
p.s The kids who sponsored the Pillow fight agreed with you Julie
Hey Julia, well stated and great points.
Spook: How have you been courageous? Really, we would all like to know.
Spook-
You've done it. I used to believe that you just believed in things I didn't and passionately defended them with typo-laden posts.
Now, however, I've decided you're just an asshole. You've insulted me as a Catholic, you've insulted me as a reader, and you've insulted me as someone who looks to have positive discussions.
I'm done with this site, and it's because of you.
Thanks.
Seriously Spook, pretending to be an angry black man while you sit in your mom's basement in Winnetka is hardly courageous.
spook, as usual, your literacy is breathtaking. if i were you, i'd stick with the fake blood - it's easier to understand than your attempts at writing.
i just want to echo the majority sentiment here. i'm a progressive catholic. this may come as a shock to some of you, but many of us are. and to paraphrase Wu-tang, catholic social teaching ain't nothing to f*ck with. Any Catholics worth their weight in salt have stood firm against this war from the beginning, using their votes and their voices to protest in the proper arenas.
this assault has to be one of the most knuckleheaded things i've ever heard of. no one despises Bush more than me - I firmly believe that when he dies, he's going to be holding Osama bin Laden's hand in hell, because he is not only wrong, but prideful and unremorseful - but i think what the protesters were protesting was Cardinal George meeting with George Bush, and incorrectly interpreting that as the Cardinal supporting Bush's stance on the war. Stupid, stupid. I'm voting for the candidate who is talking about talking to our enemies to try to head off these conflicts afterall.
In any case, throwing blood on a congregation of people who probably agree with you fundamentally? Causing a disruption to a worship service? That should never, ever occur - in a church, meeting hall, temple or mosque. Interrupting a worship service shows a fundamental disrespect of people, and no matter what your intentions are, they will always be primarily interpreted as just that. So, no, Spook - MLK would not have been pleased.
Dumbasses.
As for me I aint done jack sh*t, since the first protest when we closed down Lake Shore Drive.
For every instance in which you actually make an intelligent point and come across as somewhat sensible, you manage to come across as a boorish douchebag who resorts to insults and unfounded generalizations in another...
You've stereotyped Julie Porter according to what you perceive every educated white person who lives north of Madison and East of Damen to be. You've issued an ugly, thinly-veiled insult against a major religion's holiest day. You consistently launch incoherent diatribes against anyone who would dare disagree with you as in this case, while simuletaneously admitting you've done little to change the course of the war yourself (let me know when you make that generous donation to the defense fund--I'm curious to see what your idea of 'generous' is)...
Seriously, what are you all about? Are you black? White? Latino? Did you attend only some college, or earn a four-year degree? Were you raised in a ghetto neighborhood? A working class neighborhood? An affluent suburb? What do you do for a living? Do you work for a corporation, or some other faction of "the man?" Were you raised in a religous household? Do you subscribe to any religion today?
It's easy to point fingers, judge and crucify others when you lurk anonymously in the shadows like a cockroach. Whaddya say to putting the spotlight on yourself for a change?
@celery:
Good post.
Consistently, spook, you ruin this comment platform for me. I'm happy to see various back-n-forth discussion, but generally you just seem(at least to me) to only be trying to be provocative.
And this time I honestly think you owe some people in here an apology, most especially Julie Porter, whom unless you know personally, could not possibly deserve this level of nastiness.
Let the chanting begin:
FASCIST JAILER
GIVE HIM THE INHALER
FASCIST JAILER
GIVE HIM THE INHALER
Hey Chicagoist moderators, my guess is that you are losing visitors to this site by letting one commenter dominate and ruin threads.
This has happened before and it's going to keep on happening unless you address the problem.
Hahaha, I cleaned up my act.
BAN SPOOK.
At least the protesters actions spurred discussion on the subject. The more protests that our government officials notice, regardless if the protest actions are appropriate or not, strengthens their understanding that the country disapproves of the war.
Grandma: It seems the protesters' action spurred discussion around one main theme: How their tactics were counter-productive to their cause, assuming they really were trying to make comments on the Iraq War and not merely trying to act as and feel like (cheap) martyrs for peace, or something like that.
I doubt our government--that is, the part of the government with the most power to wage and end this war--really gives a shit about these protests or any other protests, as protests are not elections. And these protests only serve to make other anti-war people, such as myself, look like fellow travelers to these hopeless, self-centered, far-left performance artists, people who, in another lifetime, would have been likely to support someone such as Stalin, or Castro, or the Jacobins. (Then again, I also think the power of the Vietnam War protests has been overrated, to say the least, so that's my bias.)
Spook: Don't bother telling me how impure I am when it comes to politics, and how I can't hold a free-trade candle to MLK or even you. I already know, brudda/sista/Che/Karl/Vlad/whatever. No one is as pure as you, and no one will ever be.
grandma, the only discussion that this action spurred was how poorly selected and executed this whole thing was. it characterized anti-war folks as disrespectful crackpots.
it did NOTHING to advance the case for peace. i promise you - it set us back.
Absolutely. People like the Michelle Malkin's of the world will use this as a way to validate the "anti-war types are a homogeneous group of punk hippys who don't shower, have jobs, or get hair cuts".
And people like me who are only barely against the war get kind of turned off from being vocal with the opinions because I certainly don't want to be identified with that group of crackpots.
I suspect that Spook is in this for the performance art aspect. It is funny that he does not speak up when questioned. I certainly see nothing courageous about him.
I am sure that this stint pulled by these arrogant asshole protesters will be highlighted on Bill O'Reilly tonight, and he will spew his propaganda, putting all anti-war people in the same box as these people.
Navin you begin by discussing why you believe something is retarded then you end by admitting your an asswipe
Well Pinko at least you decided not to selectively ignore what I wrote which I will restate again.
That I have done nothing
courageous since the first protest that closed down Lake Shore drive. I would like to think that I 'm laying/investing in the ground work so that I can be more courageous. But until this time, all I can do is admit MY culpability in this inhuman war, as an American citizen.
But something I will Not do is judge these kids who have demonstrated more courage than I and every one here. And, I will stand up for them when other cowardly liberals pretend to have a right to condemn them.
The fact that they have made US ( including me) uncomfortable is a great act. To accuse them of brining shame to a cowardly pathetic anti war movement is subterfuge to hide from the fact that we have failed,we have no courage, and because of this more people continue to die in Iraq as our war drained economy takes down more Americans with it.
All of US need to be made far more uncomfortable, especially on Easter. The fact that a gangster named George Bush addressed this nation on Easter is like throwing real blood on us.
Now Pinko, every comment I made regarding Julie Porter has to do with her comment and her cowardliness. Not her race, religion, etc. But I will do this. I will apologize for what every you want it you will apologize for being complacent and cowardly about your roll in feeding this horror of a war in Iraq. Any other takers?
Jake M don't let the door nob hit you in the back and please take Ward Up with you
Sin.
Spook
p.s Spav, you sold out! :-)
Sorry Spook, entering a place of worship on a sacred day and spraying an unknown substance on helpless people simply trying to practice their religion veers far from the definition of being brave.
Those people were entering a safe haven to pay respects to a sacred holiday. Its a big day for them. Those kids were far from brave to use those people to make a message. I bet after they get released on bail, they'll run off to Cananda to escape prison time. . .b/c that's a brave act from the Vietnam book too.
If you're going to catagorize a pillow fight as a silly attention warranting scene, how is this one different?
I'm as dumbfounded as others are. The Catholic Church has consistently opposed the war in Iraq since its inception. Their reward? A bunch of morons trying to desecrate Mass on the holiest day of the Christian calendar. I could understand it more, but not condone it, if they pulled their stunt at a church led by someone who was pro-Iraq War.
And why are they pissed that Cardinal George met with the President of the US? Would they prefer that Bush meet only with hawks?
I agree with Spav1. I don't agree with the hate crime law but since it's on the books it should be applied fairly across the political spectrum. I hope the prosecution uses it in this case.
This publicity stunt doesn't qualify as a brave protest. It hardly takes guts to scare churchgoers (especially old people and kids) on Easter. If the "protesters" had staged the same thing on Capitol Hill or the White House, where the real blame belongs, perhaps I'd be more sympathetic. Should their right to free speech allow them to interrupt innocent people exercising their freedom of religion?
There isn't much else to say that JuliaPorter, celerysalt, lidofido, Pinko and so many others haven't already said in a much better way than I probably could. I don't often comment here, in large part because of how insanely negative and irrational some of the "discussions" get (bikes vs cars, anyone?). I know that's part of the package with communities like this, I just find it sad. As repellent as Spook can be, and I think he reached a new low today (probably his goal, good job), his comments today elicited some of the most intelligent and well-written responses I've seen yet.
Hey all the debate has moved to the front page with a picture of the kids
.But honestly I do find MM's comment that I have reached a "new low" and badge of honor Also on my Chicagoist commentator of the month T shirt I'm gonna have "Jake M" with a X ontop of it like a notch in my belt. But how many people think Jake M will actually stay away or just appear under a new name?