Boston Student Faces Felony Charges for Antiwar Demo

Boston Indymedia

Joe Previtera, a twenty one year old student at Boston College, was
arrested Wednesday and charged with felonies after dressing as a hooded
Iraqi prisoner in front of a military recruitment center on Tremont St.
in downtown Boston. In his arraignment today a Suffolk County District
Attorney suggested that Mr. Previtera's bail be set at $10,000.
However, a National Lawyers Guild attorney and Mr. Previtera's mother,
also an attorney, persuaded the judge to free Previtera on personal
recognizance.

Previtera faces misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace and felony
charges of making a false bomb threat and using a hoax device. The
charges apparently reflect the District Attorney's concern that Mr.
Previtera might have been mistaken for a terrorist. Witnesses say that
passersby seemed unconcerned by Mr. Previtera's actions.After his release today, Previtera said his arrest took him completely
by surprise. "I did this hoping that the image of an abused Iraqi
prisoner might make people think twice about joining the military ...
both for their own safety and because of the abuses they might be asked
to committ. Is it reasonable that I face greater punishment for my free

speech than do the soldiers who actually committ abuses? Well, this is
post-911 America, isn't it?"