Two newspaper articles provide coverage of a protest against Blackwater (now called Xe)

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22 protesters arrested for trespassing at Blackwater site

 

by John David
QuadCities.com

MT. CARROLL, Illinois - A protest outside the Blackwater training site near Mt. Carroll landed 22 people a trip to the Jo Daviess County Jail on Monday. The military contractor, also called Xe, is under fire from protesters for its roles during wartime and with homeland security.

Nearly 75 protesters sounded off at the Blackwater gate Monday morning. But Dubuque's Rick Moody, an organic farmer, can only stand and watch as his wife is arresting on a trespassing charge along with 21 others.

"She's never done anything like this before," he said. "She's very scared about it and what might happen. It took a lot of courage to cross under the fence."

Yet what's courageous to some sounds just crazy to others. While Illinois state troopers make the arrests, nearby resident Owen Reeves captures the moment with his camera.

"I don't think (the protest) will accomplish much of anything," he said. "Most of the rabble-rousers aren't even from around here."

Among those taken away, some were from Minnesota and Missouri. Others came from Iowa and Illinois. None were from the Quad Cities.

The 22 protesters were processed at the scene and taken to the Jo Daviess County Jail. That's where they were each expected to post about $100 bond. If convicted, they face fines and possible jail time.

No training exercises were taking place at the site on Monday although Xe employees had reported for work.

And it's not the first time for this kind of protest. Nearly two years ago, some of these participants went to Blackwater headquarters in North Carolina and splattered red paint on themselves.

"We are here to make a foreclosure on the property of a company that's morally bankrupt," one protester announced.

Serving mock eviction papers at the gate and calling for a day to stand with peace.

Some of the 75 were really stepping out of the '60's. Others were much too young to remember those turbulent times. But all, on both sides, were delivering a message.

"Why are we paying for these things?" Moody questioned. "Why are we as a people paying for this?"

"This just brings unnecessary notoriety to our region," Reeves countered. "Who knows what might become of it later."

Both sides of the gate, so to speak, as this exercise in civil disobedience becomes an arresting experience.

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'Polite' disobedience

23 people are arrested after crossing over onto Xe property during a protest in Stockton. 

By Mary Rae Bragg
TH staff writer

STOCKTON, Ill. -- A protest at an area military contractor's training facility took place as announced Monday morning, as civil as disobedience can get.

Alerted by the protest's organizers that trespassing would take place on Xe corporate grounds outside Stockton, state police were on hand to arrest 23 protesters. Assisted by sheriff's deputies, they sent the trespassers on a bus to the Jo Daviess County Courthouse in Galena.

There, all 23 were processed and released, with notice to appear for their hearings.

Martin Hippie, an Elizabeth resident who coordinated a weekend conference that led up to the arrests, described it as a "polite affair."

"We were totally transparent in our attempt," Hippie said, "and I think (law enforcement) kind of appreciated that."

The protest was designed to draw attention to the private security contractor Xe, formerly called Blackwater, and emergence of the American military's dependence on security contractors in times of war. It came at the end of the weekend conference in Stockton co-hosted by the citizen action group Clearwater and The Midwest Catholic Workers Communities.

Monday's action began with a group of more than 50 people gathering outside the Xe company gates to take part in speeches and prayers. After no one from Xe appeared to accept a "Statement of Foreclosure" served by the protesters, those who chose to crawled under the gates and into the waiting arms of Illinois state police.<

Protest organizers notified authorities in advance that there would be protesters who would be going onto the company grounds in an act of what Hippie termed "entry-level disobedience."

"It was safe and nonviolent," Hippie said. "The police gave us our say."

It was not the first time protesters congregated at the Xe facility, but it was the first time they violated the law, Hippie said. Although no further protests are planned, Hippie said he believes the protesting groups will want to continue drawing attention to the business' presence in Jo Daviess County.

The TH was unable to reach officials from Xe for comment.

More info:

The Quad Cities article can be found here.

The TH article can be read here.

Areas of Focus:

Corporations and Democracy (Liberty Tree), Military Corporatization (Democracy Square), Military Corporatization

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