Antiwar protesters acquitted in demonstration
Six New York City antiwar protesters were acquitted Monday in a Philadelphia court of criminal charges stemming from a Sept. 12 demonstration outside the Army's high-tech Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills.
Six New York City antiwar protesters were acquitted Monday in a Philadelphia court of criminal charges stemming from a Sept. 12 demonstration outside the Army's high-tech Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills.
Defense attorney Paul J. Hetznecker said Municipal Court Judge James M. DeLeon acquitted the six of conspiracy and failure to disperse during a protest by about 200 demonstrators at the Army exhibit and recruiting center. Hetznecker said video of the six activists showed them disbanding and leaving before they were arrested.
The $12 million Army facility has drawn crowds because, in addition to recruiting information, it offers computer games and sports television. Antiwar activists have objected to the weaponry simulators that are popular with teens but that they say glorify killing and present stereotypes of enemy forces. - Joseph A. Slobodzian