Anti-war Protesters Chain Together at CMU Facility

KDKA Channel 2
None Given
March 1, 2007

LAWRENCEVILLE (KDKA/AP) ― Protestors gathered and chained themselves together this morning in Lawrenceville to speak out against the war.

Numerous demonstrators linked themselves together blocking the entrance of the Carnegie Mellon University National Robotics Engineering Center.

Earlier today, KDKA's John Cater spoke with some of the protesters.

They said that they were barricading the war machine in Pittsburgh.

The protestors, representing several area groups, say they oppose work at the center, which includes development of robotic vehicles and weapons delivery systems for both the army and marines.

"You know a lot of the research done here is funded by the Department of Defense and military and so it's making that connection that people doing research towards those things are actually making the world less secure," said Jeffery Frost, one of the protestors.

There was an increased police presence at the protest as well as Carnegie Mellon University Police.

According to police, 14 protesters were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing traffic, and possession of an instrument of crime.

Officials say the protest ended orderly and without incident.