50 protestors rallied on Pasadena City College campus today at 12 noon. Students for Social Justice and MEChA invited local peace groups including American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Worker, Foothills Peace Coalition, CodePink, ANSWER, Latinos against the War and others to join them in a protest against the Iraq war and for honesty in recruiting. At 1 pm we marched across the street to the sidewalk in front of the recruiting center where the Marines, Army, Navy and Airforce have offices. Maricela Guzman, Jane Song, Augustin and Helga Aguayo, Arturo Cambron spoke about their military experience or in Arturo case, his son's. After the statements 8 of us blocked the front and back entrances of the center. The Army and Navy locked their doors and did not try to stay open. The Marines however called the police and attempted to stay open. For the rest of the day the Marines and police took turns threatening to arrest us. We refused to allow anyone to enter the centers and the marine recruiters continued to threaten us and attempted to push us out of the way. After 4pm the marine recruiters packed up and marched out of the recruiting center and locked up for the day. It was a long difficult struggle but we felt good to finally win for that one day.

Students and Catholic Workers protest in front of the recruiting center.

We hold signs on Colorado for 1/2 the block.

Starting the rally on campus.

Recruits and marines try to get past blockade at back of Pasadena recruiting center.

Pasadena police officer confronts Ann and Kathleen at the military recruiter front door and tells them to stop blocking door.

The protest stretches down Colorado Blvd.

Ann, Kathy and Eve block the front door to the recruiting office.

Actually, if one were to read the entire subheading above the story, it says, "Groups of students and neighborhood protesters shut down recruiting center for the day" Of course, this kind of oversite isn't unusual in the U.S. That's why so many people thought invading Iraq was a good idea. : )