The following is the labor of three hours, a missed class and a lot of running. Although the flash resolution on the video really cuts back on part of this protest, it is a pretty comprehensive look (as much as I could do) at the protest against Halliburton at the Engineering Expo. The text beneath this video gives a little more context to the content. Hopefully, the first video blog in the history of the Badger Herald will not be the last. 01:12 PM: Live from the Halliburton Protest
They started off marching from Bascom Hill at about 12:15, went down charter, came around the engineering building and filed in slowly to the engineering expo, each one of them flashing an ID card stating they're a UW student. well, maybe not all. Pedro didn't have his and got in anyway – though the protesters remarked, "See you're oppressed!"
Right now, they're keeping to a murmur with their announcements and chanting, although a separate group of people dressed as a prisoner, clown and…well, I don't know what, are slowly banging a drum in the background.
Oh, wait a minute – they just led the clown out by police. It's a little less crowded now and traffic is moving smoothly.
There is going to be a comprehensive multimedia post later tonight documenting the whole thing. Stay tuned.
01:28 PM: Despite the protest…
There are still people who are managing to make it to the Halliburton table to deliver their resume. At the same time a kid named Joshua was chatting with the three recruiters in white, a professional with another company was having an argument with two protesters over their choice of Halliburton saying, "I mean, it's basically hanging on to a buzz word."
I couldn't agree more. Bush and Cheney are polarizing targets, they are the ones with the connections to Halliburton, so they make the best target. War profiteers? Sure. But there's a whole group of them here with ties that no one protests because it's not big enough.
Piecemeal research, anyone?
01:49 PM: “We will now read from the scripture…”
And now they're singing their hymns again. The rest of the crowd is dissipating and the CAN members are pretty obvious. they're clapping.
Also, they said they might march to Chancellor Wiley's office after this. If is true, then this can only get more exciting. Well, and potentially end badly.
I'll keep you updated until…well, as long as I can.
02:27 PM: And now, we’re at the Chancellor’s office…
But Wiley is not here. We marched up and were informed he was out of town. Probably is, he is very rarely on campus. Busy man.
The reporters are still here, including an AP reporter. They're all sweating bullets, as I am.
All of them are sitting outside of Wiley's office now as Chris Dols is really hitting the talking points pretty hard now.
We'll see what happens. Somehow, they're trying to compare this to the Jena 6? Give me a break. Socialist talking points with little relevance to this issue.
More, as it happens.
02:41 PM: Just talked to one of the members of the UWPD
According to Sgt. Jason Whitney, the protesters can stay here until the building closes, at which point, the Chancellor's office would have to make a decision along with UWPD as to what to do. That means there is another three hours before this thing has to either move or be moved.
Right now, it's like a rap session between all the protesters. They're starting to talk about deciding when to end this protest – they could end soon, but we'll have to wait and see if they announce an end date.
We'll wait and see. I would like it to be soon as I haven't eaten a thing today, but I suppose journalism means taking it to the limit. Right Pedro?
By the way – running down Dayton St. chasing the CAN protesters with a cameraman taking our pictures – priceless.
05:04 PM: Halliburton Protest – finale
As far as I could tell, the protest ended peacefully and was about to disperse when we left at 2:50.
As I mentioned, they'll be a blog post tonight (my Mac willing) with footage of the event compiled with a few interviews and such.
I think the protest was a success, and will probably draw more people to their cause while keeping those who marched today in the CAN organization. I actually agree with the aim of their protest, as Halliburton is a great example of some of the soulless corporations that manipulate our foreign policy decisions. Sure, soulless corporations who work for every cent in the process can be defended as taking capitalism to it's necessary conclusion, but it isn't just free market principals when the government contracted group is closely connected to the state. To those who cite the fact that Dick Cheney is completely separate from Halliburton and has severed his ties, I say, who are you kidding?
Halliburton did get one recruit, at least. Good job kid, it takes guts to wade through that crap and try and pursue interest anyway. They may criticize, but you were there for a job, not politics.
Good job to CAN as well, however, for not antagonizing the student. Really kept themselves within certain boundaries.
However, that being said, I felt the Chancellor Wiley measure was misplaced. I doubted Wiley would actually be there, and I was proven right. There seems to be this college habit of occupying administration when there is nothing else to do.
Maybe they should have gone to Lori Berquam's office and had a little rap session.
It would have at least been cooler than where they went. Ugh.
There will be posts later tonight, with some during and after the Students 4 Hillary kickoff.
Stay tuned, kids!
