A protest against David Petraeus at CUNY Honors by students and faculty turned violent when police forced demonstrators off the sidewalk into the street. Students were punched and thrown to the pavement. 6 were arrested on Tuesday, arraigned Wednesday evening. The video below shows the confrontation beginning at 01.56.
CUNY organizers state that this “blatant use of police brutality against peaceful protestors will not intimidate or deter those who expose the truth about the actions of David ‘Death Squad’ Petraeus and oppose attempts to turn the City University into ‘a war college.’”
The demonstration is part of an ongoing campaign by CUNY students, faculty and staff against the Board of Trustees’ appointment of Petraeus. This is because of his actions as Iraq/Afghanistan war commander and CIA chief. They include drone strikes on civilians, the use of “enhanced interrogation” centers and the use of white phosphorus weapons in Fallujah, despite international restrictions on their use. He has no place they say teaching at CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College.
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