Scott BresslerDressed in orange jumpsuits, bearing signs and chanting anti-Gonzales slogans, more than 100 Washington University students and members of the St. Louis community protested former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ speech on Tuesday night.
“In a few minutes, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will speak about civic duty,” said Denise Lieberman, a professor of political science, during a rally that preceded the speech. “He has a right to speak, but we have a right to speak back.”
During his remarks, Gonzales addressed the protestors, asking them to consider how they would act if they were the President facing an imminent threat. Gonzales’ speech also detailed the imperative for civic action, even for those who don’t vote.
“[The protestors] are saying they disagree with something and they want to change something. But it is not enough to protest,” said Gonzales. “Many who complain the most do not even vote.”
While the formal protest remained in an area outside the main entrance of the 560 Building, there were several occurrences during the speech itself meant to draw attention to the discontent over Gonzales’ speaking appearance; these actions did not disrupt the flow of the speech.
On three occasions during the speech, individual members of the audience yelled out the phrases “liar,” “traitor” and “perjurer” before walking out of the building while Mr. Gonzales was talking.
“Perjurer, you broke the law, you should be in jail,” shouted one student who left during the speech, whose name was not available.
In another instance, a group of students that had left the protest to listen to the event chose to turn their backs on Gonzales, rather than applaud him.
The largely respectful treatment that Gonzales received broke with his reception at some other university appearances. For example, while speaking at the University of Florida, students dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods walked onto the stage and stood next to the former attorney general as he spoke.
“I think its great. We’ve got students on both sides and probably in the middle,” said Jill Carnaghi, vice chancellor for students. “They’re doing it in a respectful way. They organized [the protest] and I give them a lot of credit.”
Even though the protestors’ actions did not prevent Gonzales from speaking, some students expressed frustration about their choice to take action within the speech.
“I think that while I would support anyone’s right to protest, there was a more appropriate time to voice disapproval at the forum beforehand. It is rude to interrupt him and it violates my right to hear him,” said Jason Friedman, a junior. “More people should have taken advantage of the forum. I commend him for doing it; not very many politicians would have.”
The protest began with marches from the Big Bend Metrolink station and Ursa’s to the 560 Building, where Gonzales’ speech took place.
At the rallying points, organizers distributed pre-made signs, buttons bearing the slogan “No Torture” and over 75 orange jumpsuits.
The primary organizers of the protest were the College Democrats and the Washington University Peace Coalition, but several other groups took part including the St. Louis chapter of Amnesty International.
The protestors’ slogans and signs drew attention to Gonzales’ role in several controversial policies that had been implemented under the Bush administration, including extraordinary rendition, waterboarding and the denial of Geneva Convention rights to enemy combatants.
“There’s a lot of issues we have with the policies Gonzales instituted when he was White House Council and Attorney General, [like] justifying torture, opening the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, systematically eroding civil liberties,” said Eric Reif, treasurer of College Democrats. “All of these policies really take a toll on the founding ideals of this country, take a toll on our justice system.”
-additional reporting by Perry Stein and Mindy Wang