Groups gather to discuss war effort
About 20 anti-war demonstrators and a smaller group of counter
demonstrators gathered at Meyerhoff Park Tuesday to make public
their views on the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
Anti-war demonstrators carried signs reading “War is state
sponsored terrorism” and “An eye for an eye makes the
world go blind,” and said they were protesting not only U.S.
military strikes against Afghanistan but also backlash against the
Muslim community.
“We can stop the war, we can stop racism, and we can sure
as hell stop the attacks on our civil liberties in this
country,” said Behzad Raghian, a fourth-year political
science student and organizer for the Student Coalition Against
War.
A small group made up of members from Bruin Republicans and the
president of Bruin Libertarians had a different perspective.
Bruin Republican member and third-year political science and
philosophy student Andrew Reinicke said he advocates
“targeted attacks against admitted enemies of the U.S.”
and supports the U.S. war effort so far.
ACLU sues L.A. on McNeilly’s behalf
The city of Los Angeles was sued by the American Civil liberties
union Tuesday for allegedly violating an artist’s free speech
rights by ordering him to take down his latest mural displayed on
the Westwood Medical building after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks.
Artist Mike McNeilly put up the nearly 10-story-tall banner on
the building, with the owner’s permission.
Entitled “9-11,” the flameproof canvas had
images of a New York City firefighter, an American flag, the Statue
of Liberty’s face, the World Trade Center and the words
“God Bless America.”
But on Sept. 21, the city ordered him to remove the mural,
alleging he had violated 24 ordinances related to commercial
signs.
The city attorney’s office said McNeilly is anything but
an abused patriot.
“It is a beautiful piece of art,” spokesman Ben
Austin said. “We support his right to display this art, just
not illegally.”
New legislation enhances safety
Fifth District City Councilman Jack Weiss announced new
legislation on Friday that called for provisions to enhance Los
Angeles’ Threat Preparedness Task Force.
“If a terrorist strike occurs here, it will be L.A.
police, fire and rescue officers ““ not federal agencies
““ that will be the first on the scene,” Weiss said.
The legislation includes four provisions:
“¢bull; The purchase of 3,000 emergency protection masks for the
LAPD and LAFD.
“¢bull; An increase in intelligence staffing which calls for the
permanent assignment of LAPD and LAFD representatives to the L.A.
County Operational Area Terrorism Early Warning Group.
“¢bull; An increase in LAPD Explosives Detection Capabilities,
proposing the acquisition of four additional bomb detection
technicians and canines for the LAPD Bomb Squad.
“¢bull;Additional hazardous materials suits and bio-detection
equipment for the LAPD.
Legislature looks at master plan
A joint committee of state senate and assembly members is
working to build a new education master plan that will incorporate
K-12 education in the existing master plan for higher education,
according to the committee’s Web site.
The committee, called the Joint Committee to Develop a Master
Plan for Education ““ Kindergarten through University, is
chaired by Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego, and is currently on a
two-day retreat.
The committee first met on Aug. 24, 1999, according to a senate
Web site, and has discussed such issues as Tidal Wave II ““
the influx of 60,000 students over the next decade ““ and
encouraging collaboration between K-12 schools and
universities.
“The comprehensive master plan will provide frameworks for
governance, resources, policy development and accountability that
will ensure the state and its citizens receive maximum benefit from
California’s enormous investment in education,” said an
Aug. 2000 statement.
Reports from Daily Bruin staff and wire services.