An exhibit from alleged members of an Ohio archaeological society was being put on at Grant Vocational School in Bethel Ohio and some of the local Native Americans wanted to go to this exhibit to try to determine if any of their sacred symbols or "human remains" were going to be disrespected, displayed or sold.
Dad and I decided to go with them in support. When we arrived it was apparent that we were not welcome. The State Police were at the door barring anyone wearing anything in the way of a protest tee-shirt or carrying any protest banners, flags of what have you. Some of us were barred from entry but those of us who did get in went through the exhibit, which was nothing more than people selling things like arrow heads, pipes, stone tools, feathers, and the like. One of our group
reported seeing teeth.
We gathered outside and based on what we saw, decided to set up a protest at the entrance. There were somewhere between 15 and 20 of us by that time and as we started the protest a State Police vehicle drove up from the parking lot and informed us that we were on private property and had to leave.
My dad then had a discussion with the officer and told him that we would certainly be glad to remove ourselves from the private property but had no intention of leaving and he instructed the officer to draw a line where the private property ended and the state property began and told the officer that we would not cross this line. The officer complied with this demand and we set the protest up on state property.
It was 15 below with wind chill and very cold. It did not deter us from this protest. Most vehicles seeing us standing on the road on both side of the driveway did not even bother to enter. All but one or two who did drive in stopped and asked us what we were protesting and when we explained to them our reasons most of them turned around and left. By noon all the "vendors" had left also and so we managed to shut them down which proves that if you stand up for what is right you can win.
Peacehq
FootPrints For 
