Ward Reilly
Dear Mr. McMorris and Faculty,
Greetings from Ward Reilly of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I was very much disturbed to read of the treatment given to students from your University as they tried to exercise their basic Constitutional right to protest.
It is troubling to see that a University with Hamptons long-time reputation of representing minorities and the black culture of our nation starting to act like little more than a reflection and mouthpiece of the current police-state that is evolving in our nation and the policy of the Bush/Cheney administration. Surely each of you administrators understands the Bill Of Rights?
As a war-time volunteer Infantry soldier, from the “Viet Nam Era”, I am angry to learn that the sacrifices my fellow soldiers and I made FOR those rights, are being tread upon by your heavy-handed tactics, in dealing with something as basic and elementary as the right of expression, particularly in speaking out against the (criminal and imperialistic)”war” against the innocent nation of Iraq.
It’s bad enough to know that the neocons have taken over the (very) White House, but to see that same form of gestapo-like rule coming from Hampton University officials and campus police is despicable.
PLEASE reprimand your campus police, and drop all pending punishment for those students involved, students that were expressing their Constitutional rights in speaking out against what they realize is an unjust war.You should all know better, and everyone knows that the campus police institute YOUR policies.
Those students should be treated as heroes, NOT CRIMINALS! Stop this heavy handed treatment of the students NOW. Please take a moment to study the Bill Of Rights, as you are my employees, and I insist that you practice those rights.
Thank you for your time, sincerely yours, Ward Reilly
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
S.E. National Contact, Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Veterans For Peace