Anti-war activists criticize Reno police handling of peace rally

RENO -- Anti-war activists said they will file a complaint over Reno police's handling of 300 pro-military demonstrators who crashed their peace rally at the federal courthouse.

The Reno Anti-War Coalition said 16 police officers who stood idle across the street should have intervened when protesters from the "Rally For America" a few blocks away unexpectedly converged on the peace vigil Saturday.

The coalition called off its rally a short time later, citing a fear of violence. About 150 anti-war protesters were only 40 minutes into the planned two-hour rally then.

The pro-military protesters included an off-duty Reno police officer and two Washoe County deputy district attorneys.

"It seems to me that's why police didn't do anything," said peace activist Patricia Axelrod of Reno. "What will they do? Chastise their own?"

The majority of the war backers, including police Lt. Jim Ballard and Deputy District Attorneys Jim Shewan and Roger Whomes, kept some distance from the anti-war group, drowning out hymns with chants of "USA" and "Support Our Troops."

But the atmosphere grew tense as some of the angriest pro-military protesters pressed within a foot of peace activists, calling them "cowards," "traitors" and other names.

"You support a murderous dictator," one man shouted to a peace activist.

"Who? Bush?" the activist replied.

While there were no reports of any physical violence or arrests, some anti-war activists said they feared for their safety.

"I had a guy put his finger on my forehead and say, 'I'll blow your head off,"' Axelrod said. "The police have allowed this mob to take over our demonstration and threaten us."

Kyle Bailey of Reno said he was called a communist and a common slur considered derogatory to gays, and was pelted by an egg before the rally began.

"This is an act of aggression and abuse, and is designed to stifle dissent," he said. "The cops are just standing still and should tell the demonstrators to leave."

Some anti-war activists said they would file a complaint with the city over the police response. They're also considering a federal lawsuit against the city.

Peace activists maintain the counter-demonstration was designed to intimidate them and was illegal because only they had a permit to gather at the federal courthouse.

"Why didn't they (police) separate them so we could continue?" said peace rally organizer Dan Morgan. "They have every right to express themselves the way they feel, but I'm disappointed they prevented us from presenting our point of view."

Police said they were prepared to intervene if it turned violent, but no one was injured. Police think pro-military protesters had a right to assemble outside the federal courthouse.

"I believe you can protest anywhere on public property unless you break the law," said police Sgt. Mark Morton.

"I understand (peace activists') frustration. The other group was bigger and louder, and they got drowned out. But (military supporters) didn't break the law, no one did. There was some heated discussion, but I thought it went very well," he added.

Morton denied the participation of a police lieutenant and two prosecutors in the counter-demonstration influenced the police response.

"I didn't even know they were there," he said. "Reno police officers don't represent themselves. They represent the entire community and in so doing we need to make sure we don't take sides."

Shewan and Whomes agreed the counter-demonstration was legal. They joined the gathering as private citizens to express their support for American troops, they said.

"The only permit we need to do this is called the First Amendment," said Shewan, who held a placard reading: "Anti-War Protest Isn't Patriotic, It's Idiotic."

"No one stopped them (anti-war protesters) from having their rally. It's a free country," Whomes added.

Police referred questions about whether counter-demonstrators needed a permit to federal officials.

Bill Dwyer, a federal security specialist for the U.S. Homeland Security Department, declined comment.

Kelli Baines said she and other organizers of the pro-war rally originally wanted to hold their event at the federal courthouse, but they found out they needed to obtain a permit 45 days in advance.

She said the rally wasn't intended to move to the courthouse or interrupt the anti-war gathering.

But a short time after the rally began, a half dozen pro-war activists urged the crowd to march to the federal courthouse and the vast majority followed.

"I was a little worried at first a confrontation would break out," Baines said. "At the end, I joined them."

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said he would be concerned if an investigation shows Reno police "looked the other way in a very volatile situation.

"As a matter of policy, we believe in the free speech rights of everybody and it's unfortunate when there's an attempt to drown other people out. Everybody's voice should be heard," he said.