Antiwar demonstrations lead to arrests, citations

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

In Brooklyn Center, police arrested four demonstrators, including Leigh York, at left, and Robert Kolstad, who had locked themselves to the front doors of a recruitment center Thursday.

Last update: April 23, 2009 - 11:46 PM

Antiwar demonstrators gathered at several military recruitment centers across the Twin Cities on Thursday, temporarily halting operations at some of them. In Brooklyn Center, police arrested four demonstrators, including Leigh York, at left, and Robert Kolstad, who had locked themselves to the front doors of a recruitment center.

Katrina Plotz of the Anti-War Committee said at a news conference that the demonstrations were organized because President Obama ran as an antiwar candidate, but was now planning to keep troops in Iraq through 2011 and was escalating the war in Afghanistan. First Sgt. Mark Lovin, who heads armed forces recruitment at several St. Paul recruitment stations, said: "We defend their right to protest. But to impede our right to do our duty is not right."

RANDY FURST