Abortion protesters arrested at Citrus

2 men allegedly demonstrating in wrong place

GLENDORA -- Two people marching with anti-abortion signs were arrested at Citrus College for demonstrating in the wrong place and refusing to leave campus when asked, police said.

Abortion foes Harry Rader, 19, of Liberty, Mo., and Daniel McCullough, 40, of Twin Peaks, were walking and handing put pamphlets with five others at about 11 a.m. Wednesday on the campus, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd.

They also were carrying large signs depicting healthy babies and aborted fetuses, police said.

Problems erupted when the group wanted to march in areas not designated for free speech, said Glendora police Lt. Tim Dech.

Dech said the protesters told police and administrators the school is paid for by taxes and they could walk wherever they wanted.

"They wanted to march all around campus with these signs. If they'd have stayed where they were supposed to stay there wouldn't have been a problem,' Dech said.

The 85-year-old junior college is the oldest community college in Los Angeles County, and is a public institution, said spokeswoman Michelle Small. While it has never before had protesters, the school has a policy in place and three areas designated for open public speech.

But groups first must register and stay in the designated areas, Small said.

Wednesday's group wouldn't do that, she said.

"They refused to sign our policy and they went to our free speech area but decided to move out of it,' Small said.

Speaking in other parts of the campus disrupts classes and student traffic, she said, and the areas designated are central, high-traffic areas available to all students.

Student David Alvarado of West Covina watched the arrest.

He said police warned them repeatedly to move or leave. Students were talking, he said.

"Some students were wondering why they were getting arrested. They were saying 'I guess there is no freedom of speech at Citrus,' ' Alvarado said.

Rader and McCullough were arrested without incident, Dech said.

Rader posted $500 bail and McCullough was released on his own recognizance, he said.

The protesters could not be reached for comment.

The men are scheduled for arraignment Dec. 23 and face a maximum fine of $500 or a maximum six-month imprisonment in county jail or both if convicted for the first time, Dech said.

-- Diana L. Roemer can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2105, or by e-mail at diana.roemer@sgvn.com

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206%257E22097%257E992175,00.html