[Ppnews] Protestors Disrupt Mueller's IOP Speech

Tue May 1 13:58:35 EDT 2007

News
http://www.thecrimson.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ref=518560

Protestors Disrupt Mueller's IOP Speech
Published On 4/27/2007 3:36:42 AM
By <http://www.thecrimson.com/writer.aspx?ID=1202903>MALCOM A. GLENN
Crimson Staff Writer

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.

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.

“Freedom for political prisoners!” the protestor 
shouted. “Justice for Herman Bell!”

Just seconds after security escorted the woman 
out, more shouts resonated from within the audience.

“We will never forget the role of the FBI in 
McCarthyism!” screamed Michael A. Gould-Wartofsky 
’07, who is also a Crimson editorial editor.

Two more students interrupted the speech with 
protests ranging from “stop the unconstitutional 
repression of the environment” to “close Guantanamo.”

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.

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.

Mueller said that despite the interruption, he 
was glad the students lived in a society that 
allowed them to “express their views.”

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.”

“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.”

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.

Straus Professor of Business Administration Max 
H. Bazerman said that he had lost faith in some government officials.

“I trust you,” said Bazerman, “but how do we 
trust the government when we know they’ve lied to us?”

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.

“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.”

Staff writer Malcom A. Glenn can be reached at mglenn at fas.harvard.edu.

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