Police Arrest Anti-War Protester, 80, At Mall
by Anastasia Economides & Matthew Chayes
Published on Sunday, March 30, 2008 by Newsday.com (New York)
An
80-year-old church deacon was removed from the Smith Haven Mall
yesterday in a wheelchair and arrested by police for refusing to remove
a T-shirt protesting the Iraq War.
80-year-old church deacon was removed from the Smith Haven Mall
yesterday in a wheelchair and arrested by police for refusing to remove
a T-shirt protesting the Iraq War.
Police said that Don
Zirkel, of Bethpage, was disturbing shoppers at the Lake Grove mall
with his T-shirt, which had what they described as “graphic anti-war
images.” Zirkel, a deacon at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in
Wyandanch, said his shirt had the death tolls of American military
personnel and Iraqis – 4,000 and 1 million – and the words “Dead” and
“Enough.” The shirt also has three blotches resembling blood splatters.
Zirkel, of Bethpage, was disturbing shoppers at the Lake Grove mall
with his T-shirt, which had what they described as “graphic anti-war
images.” Zirkel, a deacon at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in
Wyandanch, said his shirt had the death tolls of American military
personnel and Iraqis – 4,000 and 1 million – and the words “Dead” and
“Enough.” The shirt also has three blotches resembling blood splatters.
Police
said in a release last night that Zirkel was handing out anti-war
pamphlets to mallgoers and that mall security told him to stop and turn
his shirt inside out. Zirkel refused to turn his shirt inside out and
wouldn’t leave, police said. Security placed him on “civilian arrest”
and called police.
said in a release last night that Zirkel was handing out anti-war
pamphlets to mallgoers and that mall security told him to stop and turn
his shirt inside out. Zirkel refused to turn his shirt inside out and
wouldn’t leave, police said. Security placed him on “civilian arrest”
and called police.
When police arrived, Zirkel passively resisted
attempts to bring him to a police car, the release said. But
Zirkel said he was sitting in the food court drinking coffee with his
wife Marie, 77, and several others when police and mall security
officers approached and demanded they remove their anti-war T-shirts.
The
others complied, but Zirkel said he refused, and when he wouldn’t stand
up to be removed and arrested, authorities brought over a wheelchair.
“They forcibly picked me up and put me in the wheelchair,” said Zirkel,
a deacon at one of the poorest Catholic parishes on Long Island, where
a devastating fire recently destroyed the rectory and storage areas.
Zirkel was charged with criminal
trespassing and resisting arrest. He was released on bail. A
spokeswoman for mall owner Simon Property Group did not immediately
return calls seeking comment.
trespassing and resisting arrest. He was released on bail. A
spokeswoman for mall owner Simon Property Group did not immediately
return calls seeking comment.
Generally speaking, a mall
has the right to control what happens on its property, said John
McEntee, a Uniondale commercial litigation lawyer. Activists with dueling opinions had gathered to support and oppose
America’s five-year campaign.
has the right to control what happens on its property, said John
McEntee, a Uniondale commercial litigation lawyer. Activists with dueling opinions had gathered to support and oppose
America’s five-year campaign.
As
Zirkel was being wheeled to the police car, the crowd chanted “We shall
not be moved!” Moments later, they moved; police and mall security had
ordered them off the property. Many joined a larger anti-war crowd
assembled by the mall’s entrance, off mall property, on Veterans
Memorial Highway.
Zirkel was being wheeled to the police car, the crowd chanted “We shall
not be moved!” Moments later, they moved; police and mall security had
ordered them off the property. Many joined a larger anti-war crowd
assembled by the mall’s entrance, off mall property, on Veterans
Memorial Highway.
They were complemented nearby by protesters saying the Iraq war is
vital for security.
vital for security.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.