Coverage of the Protests Against Henry Kissinger, “America’s Oldest War Criminal”

Democracy Now June 1, 2011:

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger came under protest Tuesday at a public event in New York City. A coalition of progressive groups organized the rally to call for Kissinger’s arrest for war crimes. Activist Richard Marini was ejected from the event after attempting to carry out a citizen’s arrest on Kissinger.

Richard Marini: "When he got up on stage, I stood up and tried to place him under citizen’s arrest for the murder of innocent civilians in Cambodia, Vietnam, Chile, Iraq, east Pakistan, East Timor. The list just goes on. I said he was convicted of war crimes, and I was placing him under arrest. Security then yanked me by my arm over three other people. People like this need to be confronted, so people need to get out in the streets and demand that war criminals like him and war criminals of the Bush administration are prosecuted. I mean, even today, these war crimes still continue. Obama is still continuing it. People need to demand that these criminals are prosecuted."

Stephanie Rugoff, Coordinator of War Criminals Watch:

Kissinger was greeted respectfully by the audience as was his interviewer Leslie Gelb.  It was explained by Gelb, or the Y representative who introduced them,  that Gelb was Kissinger’s student in college and they have maintained their friendship and discourse for some 50 years. 

Right near the beginning of the event Richie Marini, a World Can’t Wait activist, called out Kissinger,  in the balcony, as a war criminal for deaths and destruction in VietNam, Cambodia, Chile, East Timor, etc.  He was booed by a good part of the audience.  Kissinger said nothing – and never reacted to any of the loud commentary about him by the three protesters up to when I left – but Gelb said how rude this person is, why doesn’t he just protest outside and let them get on with their discussion.
Read more

This report was also picked up by The News Dissector in his blog which goes further into the demonstration.  Here is the rest of the blog by Danny Schechter.

From LibbyLiberal’s Blog:

I spent two hours last night protesting Henry Kissinger’s appearance at the 92nd St. Y in NYC. Kissinger is hawking his new 600-page book on American Chinese relations and in which he assuredly buffs, revises and rationalizes his lengthy and deadly role in global history. “Hawking” is the right verb for the aged but dangerous Mr. Kissinger.

There were about 60 of us. We caused a bit of a stir on a refreshingly mild and busy Tuesday evening as the pedestrian and vehicular traffic streamed along Lexington Avenue.

I held a sign that read “ARREST KISSINGER” and wore the small square orange pin “IMPEACH THE WAR CRIMINALS” that the back flap of my knapsack usually sports.
Read more

Deborah Dupre, the Examiner: Human rights defenders to protest Kissinger visit

“We are outraged that the 92 Street Y will host a war criminal,” said rights defender Stephanie Rugoff, Coordinator of War Criminals Watch that is organizing the protest.

“During his tenure, millions of civilians were killed in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos, in a war widely seen as illegitimate. Kissinger was responsible for crimes against humanity in Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Chile and other countries as well.

"In East Timor one third of the population, over 180,000 people, were killed when Henry Kissinger and President Ford planned, supported and sponsored an attack by Indonesia,” said Rugoff.
Read more

View more photos from the protest here.