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NEWS > U.S.A. > FIGHT ERUPTS AT PEACE RALLY
FIGHT ERUPTS AT PEACE RALLY
March 5 2008
Tampa, FL - What began as a rally to promote an end to the war on terror, ended up a nightmare for Tampa police.
The demonstration seemed doomed from the outset as two rival peace groups, the United Society of Equanimity, and the International Relations and Action Committee, showed up and clashed.
“Basically these two groups had been working together for years, sharing secrets, rallying together, even lending support to one another,” said police spokesperson Angela Ramirez. “At some point they had a falling out. There’s been a great deal of tension between the two since, and it seems to have come to a head here.”
The two groups have indeed had a tumultuous history. From what we’ve been able to determine, the tension is a result of the IRAC trying to absorb another smaller group a few years back. The USE protested this move and attempted to disband the much smaller rival but only succeeded in weakening them. The resultant tension over the last few years has had a ripple effect amongst the entire peace community. This day the tension came to a head.
“We were here first,” said Samuel Hansen, leader of the IRAC. “We were protesting and minding our own business, and then those jerks come swooping in with their fancy signs and start picking on us, trying to get us to leave. I know they were coming after me in particular, but I was able to get away and hide before anything really bad happened.”
From witness’ description, the IRAC gathering was small in number when the much larger USE came marching towards them, causing an immediate conflagration.
“The big group started yelling and screaming, then started hitting them with their signs and punching and kicking them, and it just kind of exploded,” said one man who preferred to remain anonymous.
Blame for the violence is being very squarely placed on the shoulders of the USE, but the group denies responsibility.
“It is very clear to us that the IRAC was the instigator here. They have continuously antagonized the rest of the community and threatened all of us with their actions. We will stay the course and be proven correct in the end.
Riot police are still in force in the Tampa area amid reports of continued fighting throughout the area.
Mike Michaels, American Correspondent
NEWS > U.S.A. > FIGHT ERUPTS AT PEACE RALLY
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