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<font size=3>News<br>
<a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ref=518560" eudora="autourl">
http://www.thecrimson.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ref=518560<br><br>
</a>Protestors Disrupt Mueller's IOP Speech<br>
Published On 4/27/2007 3:36:42 AM<br>
By <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/writer.aspx?ID=1202903">MALCOM A.
GLENN</a><br>
Crimson Staff Writer<br><br>
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Robert S. Mueller was
interrupted by protestors last night, during a speech at the Institute of
Politics’ John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. <br><br>
Mueller, who was set to speak before a full crowd managed by tight
security detail, had just begun his prepared remarks when the first
protestor interrupted with screams from the second floor. <br><br>
“Freedom for political prisoners!” the protestor shouted. “Justice for
Herman Bell!” <br><br>
Just seconds after security escorted the woman out, more shouts resonated
from within the audience. <br><br>
“We will never forget the role of the FBI in McCarthyism!” screamed
Michael A. Gould-Wartofsky ’07, who is also a Crimson editorial editor.
<br><br>
Two more students interrupted the speech with protests ranging from “stop
the unconstitutional repression of the environment” to “close
Guantanamo.” <br><br>
The student protestors included Gould-Wartofsky, Kelly L. Lee ’07, and J.
Claire Provost ’07, who is also a Crimson editor. The fourth student
could not be identified. <br><br>
Harvard University Police Department spokesman Steven G. Catalano
confirmed late last night that the four students were arrested at the
event, but declined to release their names. <br><br>
Mueller said that despite the interruption, he was glad the students
lived in a society that allowed them to “express their views.” <br><br>
Invoking the words of President John F. Kennedy ’40, Mueller said that
there is a “delicate balance between the need to keep the public informed
through freedom of the press, and the need to keep the public secure
through limiting the amount of information made available to America’s
enemies.” <br><br>
“Al-Qaeda is no longer just an organization, it is a movement,” Mueller
added. “Its followers may have no formal affiliation with al-Qaeda, but
may be inspired by its message of violence.” <br><br>
The sixth director in the Bureau’s nearly 100-year history, Mueller faced
tough questions from many audience members during the evening’s
question-and-answer session. <br><br>
Straus Professor of Business Administration Max H. Bazerman said that he
had lost faith in some government officials. <br><br>
“I trust you,” said Bazerman, “but how do we trust the government when we
know they’ve lied to us?” <br><br>
Vivek G. Ramaswamy ’07 challenged Mueller to address whether it was more
pertinent “for there to be some kind of outside check” on the FBI’s role
in affecting civil liberties. <br><br>
“We have to strike that balance day in and day out,” Mueller said. “We do
it with substantial input and oversight from Congress, privacy groups,
and the ACLU. We should not be protected from scrutiny.” <br><br>
Staff writer Malcom A. Glenn can be reached at mglenn@fas.harvard.edu.
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