Associated Press
BELLINGHAM — More than 100 people signed up to speak at a Bellingham hearing on a proposed resolution that would order police not to detain soldiers they discover are AWOL.
The Bellingham Herald reported the Monday night hearing drew a standing room-only crowd.
The newspaper said a group of Western Washington University students asked the City Council to consider the sanctuary city resolution. The group argues that military deserters don’t deserve to be jailed for being absent without leave from what the group believes is an illegal Iraq war.
City Councilman Stan Snapp refused to attend the meeting. He said he’s received 50 e-mails in the past couple of days. Snapp says most of those folks tell him: “Don’t do this.”
City officials asked for a police presence after City Council President Barry Buchanan received an e-mail that included language saying if the council wasn’t careful “something could happen.”
No council members have supported voting on the resolution.
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