Ceilidh

Michael Zey
futurist3000@aol.com

By BILEN MESFIN
.c The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Police and anti-biotech protesters faced off outside a conference hall where the $40 billion industry is meeting. More than 150 people were arrested.

About 125 people who would not disperse from a busy intersection were arrested Tuesday. That came after 33 people were taken into custody earlier in the day, according to police spokesman Dewayne Tully.

An estimated 18,000 biotechnology scientists, executives and government officials are in town for the convention, which started Sunday and ends Wednesday.

``Arrest them, shoot them!'' protesters shouted when police helped attendees cross the barricaded street in front of the Moscone Convention Center, where the Biotechnology Industry Organization is being held.

Police wouldn't say how many officers were at the scene, but it appeared their number equaled that of the protesters. Police also wouldn't estimate the number of protesters.

Most of the protesters, such as Kamala Stuart, 53, of Oakland, were demonstrating against genetically modified food. ``They should label the food, if they think it's so good,'' she said, waving a sign that stated, ``label GM Foods.'' ``We want people to know, to question this stuff.''

BIO officials have said they support the right of protesters to peacefully demonstrate, but wondered how anyone could be against fighting disease, which they say is the main focus of most of the industry.

On the Net:

Protesters: www.reclaimthecommons.net

BIO: www.bio.org/events/2004



06/09/04 08:04 EDT
   

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