Costa Mesa : 7 More Are Arrested in Protest of Arms Forum

Costa Mesa police arrested seven more peace activists outside the Westin South Coast Plaza early Thursday on the third day of protests against an annual weapons-technology conference. The arrests--all on misdemeanor charges of obstructing a public thoroughfare--brought to 22 the number arrested since nonviolent civil disobedience began at the hotel Wednesday.

The anti-nuclear protesters were demonstrating against the Winter Conference on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, which is meeting this week in classified sessions at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro. Buses carrying the delegates left the hotel at 7:02, and all seven protesters were arrested within three minutes after attempting to block the buses’ progress.

Arrested were: William E. Douglas, Huntington Beach; Peter E. Kent, Santa Ana; John Wilson, Fountain Valley; Laura L. Livingston, Fullerton; Peter F. Lacques and Catherine L. Allen, both of Los Angeles, and Gregory D. Hall, Yorba Linda. A police spokesman said that only Allen and Hall were taken to Orange County Jail. The other demonstrators were cited and released.

Nine of those arrested Wednesday night were arraigned Thursday afternoon in Harbor Municipal Court, where all but one pleaded guilty. One pleaded not guilty and a March 5 hearing was set.