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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, September-October 2008, pages 62-63 Waging Peace Four Anti-Rove Activists Arrested in Iowa
POLICE OFFICERS arrested four anti-war activists who attempted to make a citizens’ arrest of Karl Rove for war crimes when the former political adviser to President George W. Bush spoke at a Republican luncheon fund-raiser at the Wakonda Country Club in Des Moines, Iowa on July 25. “Major crimes are being committed by our government, and Rove has been one of the key players. I cannot be silent,” said Rev. Chester Guinn, a retired Methodist minister. Police took Guinn, 80, into custody, along with Des Moines Catholic Workers Edward Bloomer, 61, Kirk Brown, 25, and Mona Shaw, 57. The attempt to arrest Rove was the second for Brown and Shaw, who were first placed under arrest when Rove spoke at the University of Iowa in March of this year. Since March, Shaw said, thousands more have died in the Bush administration’s Middle East wars, including 151 U.S. troops in Iraq and 284 in Afghanistan. About 25 activists, including several Drake University students and other members of the Des Moines Catholic Worker community, the Catholic Peace Ministry, and other local peace and social justice organizations, staged a protest outside the gates of the Fleur Drive country club as the four who were arrested sought to enter and confront Rove. “I’m here because I think Karl Rove is a murderer,” said Karen Tegtmayer of Johnston, Iowa. “I am a lifelong Libertarian. I’m against all their bloody wars, and that’s why I’m here today,” Jean Basinger of Des Moines explained, “I’m here because I think Karl Rove is the mastermind behind the invasion of Iraq. I think he is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, not to mention millions of Iraqis, and he’s got to be held accountable. He pays no attention to the law. He’s in contempt of Congress. Citizens have got to say, ‘Enough is enough.’” “It’s outrageous that someone like Karl Rove is not only not in jail but is commanding big bucks for fund-raisers,” said Catholic Peace Ministry Executive Director Brian Terrell. “It says something not just about Karl Rove but about a political party that would lionize the likes of him. “What Karl Rove did was not a mistake,” Terrell added. “It was a crime. Thousands and thousands have died. This is not something that is in the past. People will continue to die from actions inspired by Karl Rove.” Terrell also noted that the war in Iraq has created millions of Iraqi refugees who have fled to Syria and Jordan, and millions who are displaced within the war-torn country. “Catholic Workers will work within the guidelines of the Iowa Code that obligate citizens to make such an arrest if they believe a felony has been committed and turn Rove over to police officials to bring Rove before a judge for formal indictment. By law, a federal judge should consider the charges and determine if an indictment should be made,” said Des Moines Catholic Workers in a July 24 press release. Bloomer, Brown, Shaw and Guinn were arrested on charges of trespassing by Des Moines Police Department officers and transported to the city jail, where they were cited and released. —Michael Gillespie |
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