On Thursday, 23 March 2006, a panel discussion at the Staller Center on equity pay for women in the workforce was moderated by United States senator from New York, Hillary Clinton. But protest in response to Clinton's appearance with the panel, which also included Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny, keynote speaker Carol Frohlinger, and director of Women's Perogative Sharon Levin, erupted soon after discussion began. Through peaceful though assertive means, the protesting Stony Brook students made it quite clear that they are less than supportive of Senator Clinton's stance regarding the War in Iraq.
Senator Clinton was present to advocate the event and to highlight her efforts in the Congress, such as the Paycheck Fairness Act, to bring about pay equity for women.
As the panel discussion started with the next questions for Levin, the second guest panelist, 30 to 35 people stood up and faced away from the stage. As they turned, "TROOPS OUT NOW," the phrase that decorated the backs of their uniform black shirts voiced their message regarding Clinton's backing of the on-going war.
As expected, a zoo of photographers and video cameras was present by the time senator Clinton was to arrive at the panel discussion. But once the protestors stood up, media attention shifted from Clinton to the protestors. The media present at the panel discussion included Regional News Network (RNN), News 12 Long Island, and CNN.
A few state police officers were already present at some doors to the seating of the main stage during the forum. Once the protestors had stood up, Secret Service agents could be seen at various locations around the main stage and at the portal doors. The protestors continued standing for the remainder of the panel discussion, which lasted roughly 30 minutes.
Later, some of those protestors joined another demonstration located on the terrace in front of the entrance into the Staller Center after the panel discussion. The second demonstration was called a "Die-In" and was intended to protest the war in Iraq. Demonstrators were wearing mock body bags and laid on the ground throughout the terrace. There were also mock American flag-covered coffins amongst the demonstrators.
By Shawn Pottorf
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