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To: Richnorth who wrote (82323)	2/19/2002 11:50:31 PM
From: long-gone	Respond to of 116984

OT(?) Give WAR a chance? Vandals Take Aim at Peace Protesters in Indiana Tuesday, February 19, 2002 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - War protesters who have set up camp at Indiana University have learned that not everyone agrees with their crusade. Vandals have started taking aim at the group, which is protesting the United States' actions in Afghanistan. "We welcome peaceful responses," said peace camp member Robert Powell. "But we're not getting peaceful responses." The protesters' cluster of tents is set up on Dunn Meadow, an area that IU has long designated for free speech. On Feb. 8, vandals raided a memorial set up by the protesters to honor the "victims" of the war on terrorism, pulling off a peace sign and setting it on fire. The activists put the symbol back up only to have it destroyed this past weekend. Undeterred, the protesters have duct-taped the symbol back together and again put it back up. "This is as scared as I've ever been," said Sean Bagley who prefers to be called "Steps," as in Steps to Freedom. "It's a kind of strange feeling being a walking target all the time." Prior to the weekend vandalism, Bagley had been watching a group of people in the meadow and became concerned. "I got scared and tried to walk to the emergency phone. They came after me and I ducked into a friend's house," Bagley said. Later, according to activist Jeff Gates, the protesters took pictures of the vandals. "We try to work with the IU police," Gates said. "The police have been real responsive, real nice." The activists have camped in Dunn Meadow since Oct. 7, when the United States started bombing terror targets in Afghanistan. Gates said BB guns have been shot at peace campers, and some passersby have thrown coins at them. "We needed the money anyway," he said. "They can throw some $20 bills at us." On Feb. 8, when the original vandalism took place, vandals actually rearranged the tents in the camp. But the peace camp activists accepted the change. "They helped us out on that one," Gates said. While one visitor to the site noted that vandals are getting bolder, those present were taking the attacks in stride. But they acknowledge that pursuing peace is not a simple, or entirely safe, task. "I've gotten three, four, five threats in the last two weekends," Bagley said. Added Gates: "It's not going to be an easy crusade." foxnews.com