Protesters: Halliburton profiting off war in Iraq

11:09 AM CDT on Thursday, May 19, 2005

By Reggie Aqui / 11 News

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Hundreds of demonstrators made quite a scene in downtown Houston Wednesday. They were protesting Halliburton's operation in Iraq.

A total of 15 people were arrested in the clash between police and civilians.

A husband waiting for his wife to get out of jail Thursday morning says he was fine with watching his two kids alone last night. He says it's the sacrifice he and his wife felt she had to make.

Katy Hemp, 27, was arrested during the protest and would possibly have to spend the night in jail.

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There were 15 people arrested during the protest against Halliburton. The husband of one of them said the sacrifice was worth it.

Her husband says the police got out of hand.

"There are a lot of people who are the silent majority that think that what Halliburton is doing is wrong, that they're profiting off of the war in Iraq. All of the money, George Bush's tax cuts and the money that has gone over there has gone basically into the hands of Halliburton," says Simeon Elkins, husband of the arrested woman.

Of the 15 in custody, police arrested seven for criminal trespassing. Those protesters actually made it inside the Four Seasons hotel, where Halliburton was holding its annual meeting. Another four of the protesters were held for assaulting a police officer. Charges of evading arrest were made against three others and the 15th person apparently assaulted a horse.

Other than some scratches and bruises, no one suffered any serious injuries.

What was the point of the protest?

"Halliburton currently has the blood of thousands of Iraqi civilians as well as U.S. soldiers and even 63 of its own employees on its hands. I'm here to blow the whistle on that," said one female protester.

The arrested protesters will be in court next week.