Olmert faces rude welcome in Chicago

Former PM dubbed 'fascist,' 'war criminal' by students during University of Chicago speech

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3791236,00.html

<snip>

"Students in Chicago prepared a rude welcome for former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Thursday, dubbing him a "war criminal" and chanting other insults as he visited a local university.

"My university should be ashamed for inviting a murderer," one student at University of Chicago yelled at Olmert as he arrived at the school to deliver a speech. The loud protest continued throughout the former PM's address. According to posters of a YouTube video, the protest was the work of members of various pro-Palestinian groups active at the university.

The demonstration started outside the lecture hall, where dozens of people wearing traditional Arab headdress and carrying Palestinian flags chanted anti-israel slogans. However, the confrontation escalated inside the venue, with one female student yelling "you're a war criminal" at Olmert. Another woman said Olmert was "fascist," after he mentioned Israel's democratic regime.

At one point, the school's dean intervened and reminded those in attendance that the point of the discussion was to allow Olmert to answer student questions. In response, a woman in the audience yelled out that the former PM can make his views heard at the International Court of Justice."

Israel has the world in its pocket. If only they could show more restraint in their "self defense".

How subtle. :puke: Come on, just say it. We both know you want to.

Hamas should show more restraint in their rocket attacks.

<snip>

"Protesters heckled former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a speech in San Francisco Thursday, denouncing him as a war criminal and demanding his arrest.

As soon as Olmert took the stage at the Westin St. Francis Hotel — and following a warning by the discussion's moderator that no disturbances would be tolerated — a woman and man rose from their seats and shouted: "war criminal," "mass murderer."

Minutes after they were pushed out by police, another person stood up and yelled, "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

All in all, more than 20 people interrupted Olmert's 90-minute appearance, during which he answered questions on Middle East peace, Iran, the Lebanon War in 2006 and last winter's Gaza offensive, which was the point of attack for the protesters."

<snip>

"The protesters inside were part of a bigger demonstration that took place outside the hotel in downtown San Francisco.

On one side of the street, people carried placards with the names of children who they said were killed during the Gaza war and signs that said "Let Gaza Live" and "Israel X-prime minister Ehud Olmert mass murderer."

Jim Harris, of Berkeley, said Olmert should be "held accountable" for his actions.

"He should be facing the Hague," he said."

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13626325

...but then again, I rarely watch TV News. :thumbsup:

any mention of this at all.

Their local affiliate in the area, KCRA, has the story on their site as well.

That name sounds really familiar for some reason.

Does it ring a bell for anyone else?

You say that as if we should all assume that the guy is a nefarious character.

It's not uncommon for people in that city to be politically outspoken, in case you were somehow unaware of Berkeley's history.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I frequently denounced his tactics in these threads. The man was vile and I never defended him.

Still that doesn't mean that the person in the article was the same guy. It's pretty unlikely that there's only one person named Jim Harris in all of Berkeley.

Thus his question as to if anyone else thought the name sounded familiar. No paranoid conspiracy needed.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

gratuitous insult to KB