As the Bush administration continues to beat the drums for war, tens of thousands across the country have taken to the streets to call for peace and to question governmental policies. And from Washington D.C. to Portland Oregon to Portland Maine, police have cracked down on protesters.

On Friday, D.C. police arrested 650 at a peaceful protest against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. A night earlier police arrested 14 demonstrators at a protest in Portland, Maine.

In both cases protests charge the police used excessive force and made illegal pre-emptive arrests.

In California, Gov. Davis recently vetoed a bill that would have protected the basic of rights of protesters. This bill would have limited penalties for acts of peaceful civil disobedience to a maximum $100 fine and/or 6 days in jail, and provide background against which lawyers could further defend participants in peaceful protests.

Guests:

• Mark Goldstone, criminal defense and constitutional lawyer with National Lawyers Guild in Washington, D.C. He has represented thousands of political protesters representing a myriad of progressive issues since 1985. He chairs the Demonstration Support Committee of the DC Chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild.
• John Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace who was arrested on his way to work.
• Jesse Leah Vear, Maine activist who witnessed police brutality at anti-war rally in Portland, Maine.
• Lance Webster, Executive Communications Coach, Writer, Motivational Speaker, and Minister. Co-founder of Just Dissent movement.

Related links:

• Just Dissent
• Maine Independent Media Center
• Greenpeace