March 2003 / War Declared - Arrested / 5 of 6

Our conversation inside the cell was lively. One kid had been pestering the officers with questions and holding a video camera, until they finally lost their patience and dragged him across the protest grounds for about 30 meters before tying his hands behind his back with plastic zip-ties. He had a large bruise/ scrape on his back. He was worried because he had the wallets and keys and camera of his housemate and girlfriend, and they didn’t know where he was. So, we told him to calm down. I pointed out that he was in a difficult situation; that his shoes had been removed and he had been manhandled, and tied up, and locked up, and yet, here he was worrying about his friends. I told him this meant his heart was in the right place, and that more importantly, he wouldn’t have to tell his kids that he sat by and watched the war machinery rolling by.

Eventually we were all released, except for the Spaniard, who was detained longer for some mysterious reason. He asked us to go by his house and tell his friends not to worry. As I got to his house by foot, he pulled up as well. We were delighted to see each other and big hugs all around, he insisted that I come and that he cook a pizza for us. We had such a good laugh. It felt as if we had been friends for years.

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