We’re all people but the war has divided us. The Pasadena City College Police Department (PCCPD) has 6 sworn officers, not including the Chief of Police, The Lieutenant, and the Sergeant; The PCCPD also employs approximately 60 police cadets, according to a dispatch unit, who’s primary duty is to “observe and report” for the officers in order to establish “a safer learning environment” for the students at PCC; cadets are not officers and lack the training to respond in any other matter other than reporting. They are solely the ears and eyes of the campus police in any volatile situation. On an average there are about 2 officers and 6-8 cadets patrolling the campus daily, not counting dispatch units and “immobile” police cadets stationed in the campus offices. These officers and these cadets are living, breathing, and thinking people. They are working people. They stir from their homes before the sun rises and others don’t go home until it does the same. They give their time, effort, blood, and sweat just as any other working class student (most cadets are students as well) or person does to make their living, feed their families, and often contribute what they think is a positive addition to our community. Then what happened Thursday March 20th at the peaceful student march at PCC when approx. 150 students walked against the imperialist aggression of the United States against Iraq? Why did these officers, these people, whom serve and work to create “a safer learning environment” for the students at PCC, instead of support the rally, lash out and use excessive unprovoked force to detain four peaceful protesters? After all, it isn’t like they see the oil profits and enjoy the economic hegemony through the United States’ heavy-handed military imperialist actions. Just like any working class member, they are subjected to the consequences of budget cuts and labor cut backs, not to mention, receive only a small percentage of what their labor is truly worth. In fact, the reason there are even so many police cadets is because the campus wanted to cut back and save money, thus relieving many officers to assume much cheaper and disposable security guards – cadets. Then why? They are uninformed; just as people, the same people the protesters are trying to reach, they are blind to the motive and moral of the anti-war movement. They receive orders from their superiors; they are in accordance with federal agencies and the U.S. Patriot Act; they are subjected to the mainstream media that in support of war portray most protesters and activists as pseudo-terrorists and unpatriotic threats to social and economic stability. If the anti-war movement is demonized then it is that much easier for these officers, these people, much like a lot of the public, to lash out in highly adrenaline pumped situations, such as a protest, when emotion runs high and dissent against the status quo is more than evident. When they watch the television and see nationwide, worldwide, crowds of angry people protesting and when they hear of terrorist threats, and when their heads are clogged with the propaganda of the Bush regime, when they see a crowd of energetic, loud, and passionate protesters, it is easy for them to overreact, especially given the case that they are not as experienced in these situations as other larger, older, and active police departments. The same goes for many inexperienced, young protesters who yell aggressively and taunt and provoke the police; they forget that they’re people and they don’t even stop to think: perhaps this officer –doesn’t- support the war either. Regardless, there is an important point that needs to be made clear; we are all in this together – police officer, cadet, protester, faculty member, and every single breathing person. This is an unjust war that will affect the entire world. Thus, as we are all in this together, we shall educate everybody. If the movement wants to reach people on campus and people everywhere, then they shouldn’t exclude those 6 sworn officers and approximately 60 police cadets on campus. They shouldn’t exclude the 34 sworn officers of the South Pasadena Police Department, and they shouldn’t exclude the 230 sworn officers of the Pasadena Police Department. At the anti-war rally during the Academy Awards in Hollywood, 800 L.A. Officers and 200 Highway Patrol units arrived to “control” and “disperse” the rally; there is another 1000 people, 1000 working class people, also victimized by this system and manipulated by the media of this war that need to be reached. Let’s reach them. Instead of standing off with these people, let’s educate them. In our rallies, let’s include them and not yell at them. Let’s invite them to teach-ins. After all, if they are our friends and they are well informed, then perhaps it will be that much harder for them to shoot us, beat us, and gas us. Once we break the illusion that we are unpatriotic potential terrorists then it will be evident to the public that what we want is peace. The harder we try to reach them the harder it is for them to demonize us. It will help us prevail, stop this war, and perhaps change this world. Thus, don’t let this war divide us – the more it tries, the harder we try and the more people we will reach through the image of our empathetic outreach to the authorities most people respect.