War protesters entered the Armed Forces Recruiting Center, 901 Lucinda Ave., after marching from the King Memorial Commons Tuesday.

The Northern Coalition for Peace and Justice, an anti-war student group, organized the protest, which began as a demonstration in the MLK Commons. About 20 protesters marched down Lucinda Avenue, obstructing traffic flow and chanting slogans.

The protesters entered the recruiting station, ripping posters off the wall and stealing brochures, said DeKalb Police Department Officer Kent Quist. Quist filed the police report, which cited criminal destruction of property.

“We do have standing procedures in case of a demonstration,” said Bill Kelo, chief of Advertising and Public Affairs for the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion of Chicago. “In the case where individuals enter the federal installation it becomes a law enforcement situation.”

Recruiters informed the protesters they would call the police, said Jocelyn Grauer, a junior elementary education major who came upon the demonstration in the MLK Commons and joined the protest. At this point, some of the protesters exited the recruiting station.

About 12 protesters remained, marching west on Lucinda Avenue into the residence hall area, holding up signs and continuing to chant slogans.

The general reaction to their presence was negative.

“I was getting the impression that people did not want to hear what we had to say,” Grauer said.

The demonstration began at noon and featured free food, a performance by Arlington Heights hip-hop artist Agent of Change and several speakers talking about their views on the conflict in Iraq, including former armed service members. A group of about 30 onlookers attended the demonstration.

Freshman history major Dan Bono, a member of the coalition, helped organize and lead the event.

“I think this will inspire people to get active,” Bono said.

Some people were drawn in to the protest as they passed by the MLK Commons while others showed up to witness it.

“I’ve never been to an anti-war or pro-war demonstration, and I wanted to see what it was about,” said Sean Jensen, a sophomore English major who attended the event.

Jensen said he was in favor of the war at its outset, but has recently gotten closer to changing his mind on the issue.

“The thing I’m thinking most about is how little people seem to be doing [about the war in Iraq],” Jensen said. “It’s disheartening to see any side so under-represented.”