if i make it to 80

i hope i can be as conscientious as jim barron and caroline bridgeman-rees. of course, there were all ages present at the protest. of course i shouldn't wait until i'm 80 to be conscientious, moral and patriotic.

Protesters gather for fifth anniversary of Iraq war
By DAVE COLLINS
Five people were arrested Wednesday for blocking the front door of a federal courthouse during a protest to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.Among the five were Jim Barron, 80, of New Haven and his minister, the Rev. Kathleen McTigue. Also arrested were Caroline Bridgeman-Rees, 80, of Hamden and father and daughter Mark and Keely Colville of New Haven. Police charged the five with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. They were led to police cruisers amid applause from about 100 other protesters gathered on the sidewalk.Barron has participated in protests for decades, but never risked a trip to jail. He opposed the war from the beginning and has written letters of protest to Congress, but his feelings intensified while hearing the names of the war dead read each week in his church.The final straw, he said, was reading an article about U.S. soldiers who suffered permanent brain damage in Iraq.........

Five Arrested In Iraq War Protest
By HILDA MUÑOZ And NOMAAN MERCHANT Courant Staff Reporters
A protest Wednesday by roughly 200 clergy members, religious activists and citizens marking the five-year anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq started with prayer and song and ended with the arrest of five protesters in Hartford.

The protesters had blocked an entrance to the federal building in Hartford.

Keeley Colville, 17, her father Mark Colville, James Barron, 80, Caroline Bridgman-Rees, 85, and Rev. Kathleen McTigue were taken into custody. Bridgman-Rees and Barron were released on a promise to appear. Keeley Colville was issued a $500 bond. Her father and McTigue were each issued a $1,000 bond............


ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE IRAQ WAR, an interfaith coalition gathered to oppose the war in Hartford. The rally, organized by the New Haven-based group Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice, ended at the Federal Building, where five people were arrested on trespassing charges for blocking the entrance to the building in protest. Hartford police help up 85-year-old Caroline Bridgeman-Reese before arresting her. At right is Jim Barron, who was also arrested. (SHANA SURECK / March 19, 2008)