The Jewish Advocate | This Weeks Issue | News: "Policeman attacked by anti-Israel protester
BY TED SIEFER - Thursday October 27 2005
Israeli consul general Meir Shlomo
Activist arrested at synagogue talk led by Israeli consul general
LEXINGTON – A man was arrested on Oct. 23 for assaulting a police officer at a demonstration staged by a small group of anti-Israel protesters outside a post-Gaza disengagement talk at Temple Isaiah, which featured Meir Shlomo, Israel’s consul general to New England.
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The assailant was identified as Newton resident Peter Lowney, 35, a veteran protester whose activism has previously led to confrontations with law enforcement. Lowney has an outstanding warrant for disorderly conduct charges stemming from a protest at the Waltham-based technology company Raytheon earlier this year.
Lowney was deported from Israel in 2004 for his activities with the International Solidarity Movement, the pro-Palestinian group known for bringing western activists to hotspots in Gaza and the West Bank.
Police presence at the talk, titled “After Gaza: Looking Ahead,” was increased after Lexington police discovered a protest announcement on the Internet which contained language the authorities found alarming. Referring to Shlomo, the announcement stated: “This is a rare chance for people to corner this notorious and blood soaked human rights abuser and criminal. Please join us to make a citizens arrest of an IDF occupier for crimes against humanity.”
Shlomo said of those who organized the protest: “I think the language shows exactly who they are. To use this kind of description for anybody shows that they’re probably not really interested in discussion …This kind of language really doesn’t deserve a response.” As for the demonstration itself, Shlomo noted that it was “a free country.”
The assault occurred just after the talk began, when police asked the six protesters to move for safety reasons. While being escorted across the street, Lowney broke away and shoved an officer, prompting the arrest, said Lexington police Lt. Joe O’Leary.
Lowney was charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, assault and battery and resisting arrest.
The Temple Isaiah discussion, which was attended by an estimated 250 people, was free and open to the public, although because of heightened security concerns, police and temple officials didn’t allow anyone to carry in bags or signs. Discussion moderator and Temple Isaiah member Jeff Robbins told the Advocate that while a couple activists did make it into the event, the only disruption occurred when one had to be coaxed into a question after making a long-winded anti-Israel statement.
Lowney, a former resident of Valdez, Alaska, has been in the Boston area since his deportation from Israel last year and appears to have been very active in local anti-U.S. and anti-Israel protests. In addition to being charged with resisting arrest and defacing property at the April protest at Raytheon, Lowney was also most likely the person who staged a one-man protest outside the Boston University Hillel in late September, although he refused to give his last name to a reporter from the student newspaper at the time. Lowney was also arrested for disorderly conduct at a small protest on the campus of Harvard on Oct. 10. He could not be reached for comment.
Lexington police have taken to monitoring local activist Web sites after several extremist groups had announced their intentions to stage demonstrations in the town, although Lt. O’Leary noted that most of the previous activity involved white supremacist groups and issues such as same-sex marriage and diversity in the schools.
It is not known if Lowney was working with one of the several pro-Palestinian groups in the Boston area, although O’Leary said that many of the people who were present at Sunday’s protest showed up for his hearing and offered to post bail, which was set at $1,000.
After his arraignment in Lexington, Lowney was transported to the Lawrence district court on a warrant for charges related to the April protest at Raytheon. His court date in Lexington was set for Nov. 21."
