Truck scatters antiwar protest
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Driver puts rig on sidewalk near demonstrators

By William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A truck driver from South Fairmount was arrested Monday after he drove toward a group of anti-war protesters with his tractor-trailer rig in the West End.

"It (the semi cab) stopped about 10 feet from the nearest protester," Larry Schartman, one of the about 40 people who were participating in a "Peace in Iraq" rally, said Monday night. "Thank God nobody got hurt."

Police charged James Watters, 49, with aggravated menacing, inducing panic and reckless operation in the incident that occurred about 6 p.m. on the Ezzard Charles Drive bridge over Interstate 75.

According to the police report, an officer observed Watters drive his truck onto the sidewalk of the pedestrian walkway toward a large group of protestors causing them "to run in fear of being hit."

"It was an antiwar demonstration. We were holding up signs so the people on the interstate could see them," said Mary Ann Reese, 46, of East Walnut Hills. "There were 30 or 40 of us standing there holding our signs and I turned around and he was on the sidewalk coming towards us leaning on his horn.

"The general prevailing sentiment was that some of us were going to get hit. One person was in a wheelchair, so he really had to scatter. It was frightening. It (the semi) did stop before he hit anyone."

Protesters said the driver also appeared to be making an obscene gesture.

Schartman, a 50-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, said the demonstration had been a peaceful event until the truck appeared.

"I heard the horn blowing," he said. "He was up on the sidewalk. It stopped about 10 feet from the nearest protestor. It was really peaceful until that moment."

Police officers who were nearby responded to the scene quickly and arrested the truck driver.

"I'm a Vietnam veteran," the Mariemont resident said. "I think I've earned the right to stand out there with other citizens and oppose the war."

Watters was taken to the Justice Center.

Yep, that action really helped the coalition cause. :(

Pretty damned dumb to be certain. I live near Cinti, so got even more details. The truck driver was also a veteran and his son is presently fighting in Iraq.
It appears that the stress got to him, but that is still no excuse. Several of the man's sisters were inverviewed and pretty much laid out the treatment he had received as a young man returning from Vietnam, by like minded protestors. Now that his son was over there risking life and limb as well, I suppose he had, had enough. He was charged with enough crimes, to be put behind bars for some time to come.
For those "insurrectionists", calling themselves protestors" in NYC, by trying to disrupt the lives of other average citizens, merely trying to make a living, perhaps they should take notice. If they are desiring to be martyrs for their "cause", there is solid proof of people out there willing to help them.

Stupidity reigns on both sides of the argument in these instances.

Man, people are losing their minds.. They better lock this guy up.

Heya Elric! Long time no see [img]smile.gif[/img] How are things?

This, I think, raises one important point. He's exactly right that you get total morons on both sides, and you hear alot about them. However, you only hear about them because it doesn't sell newspapers or get viewers to report "Peace protest occurs peacefully. Peace reigned and points were made peacefully."

As IW and the other forums demostrate, for every nerk that does/says something stupid in defense of/opposition to the war, there are thousands of civilised, sane people who show their viewpoints rationally. I know all we hear about are the fruitloops, but I always try to remember that they *are* in the minority, despite what some media sources would have us believe [img]smile.gif[/img]

If I believed people like Mr Dangerous Driver were representative of demonstraters generally, I think what little faith I have in the human race would vanish faster than my wallet when my brother asks to borrow money ;)

But I'd be willing to bet my house that the violent thugs who are anti-war far outnumber the violent thugs on the pro-war side.

Well how the hell ya doing Elric?

[ 03-27-2003, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: khazadman ]

I think that perception changes depending on which side of the fence you're on, khazadman. ;)

I'll take that bet, how do you propose to prove this strange statement?

LOL - this conclusion seems to transcend all logic and the rules incumbent of it - please explain the hows and wherefore's of this recognizance of yours. [img]smile.gif[/img]

How many people have been arrested at rallies supporting the war? Do they try to throw acid into the faces of cops? Assault them with baseball bats? When do you even see the pro war people break the law? Hell, that's par for the course for the PEACE protesters.To cause as much disruption as possible is their goal.