CR in the News

CR in the News

Two Catholic antiwar activists were arrested this Sunday at the Lakewood Military Recruiting Center.

Adam Woznicki 27 June 2010

Thirty activists gathered around noon at the Lakewood Military Recruiting Center, to protest the war and discourage potential recruits from joining the military.

While some read the names of those killed in the Iraq war, others gathered signatures that will be sent to Senators DeWine and Voinovich, asking them to bring the troops home.

Joe Mueller and Chris Knestrich took things a bit farther, and committed an act of civil disobedience. They entered the unlocked front door of the building, and knelt down inside to pray. After some time, three police officers showed up and asked them several times to leave. When they refused, both Joe and Chris were arrested and charged with criminal trespass.

When the vigil was over, twenty-four of the protesters went to the Lakewood Police Station, to show solidarity with them, and pray for them.

Joe Mueller and Chris Knestrich were later released on $124 bond each.

Photos Copyright-Adam Woznicki

Some opt out of military options

Judy Keen, USA TODAY 25 November 2011

11/4/2006 - USA TODAY

Judy Keen -

Kareem Miller, 17, left, greets fellow senior Kristofer Ozga, 17, as they pass each other between classes at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill.

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. — Brian Berman, a senior at Stevenson High School, doesn't want to join the military, doesn't want calls from recruiters, doesn't want them at his door.

So his parents signed a form that prevents the school from giving his contact information to recruiters. A provision of the No Child Left Behind law requires high schools to share students' names, phone numbers and addresses with military recruiters unless students or their parents choose to opt out.

Recruiters still come to school, he says, and "try to act all friendly." Berman, 18, doesn't buy their pitches about career and educational opportunities. "It's ridiculous," he says. "They're trying to bribe you to enlist."

Pentagon officials say recruiters just want the same information that goes to colleges and companies to make career pitches to students.

If Berman's parents had not signed the form, the school would be required to share his contact information with military recruiters under the 2001 law.