After 29 years of military experience and then as an employee of the federal government, retired Army Col. Ann Wright said she never thought she would be arrested for civil disobedience.

However, last night she explained her experience of protesting in front of the White House and eventually being arrested alongside Cindy Sheehan last Saturday.

"As a federal employee all my life, I am very, very proud of this badge," Wright said while waving her wrist and displaying the plastic bracelet she received after being arrested.

"It is important to stand up and say the government is wrong," Wright said to a crowd of more than 30 people
who gathered at the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., to hear Wright and former Department of Justice attorney and ethics adviser Jesselyn Radack. Both came to speak about their experiences of working and eventually resigning from government jobs.

Wright said she resigned because, as a diplomat, she was not able to speak out against the war. She said she also disagreed with the position the United States government had taken after entering into a war with Iraq.

State College Resident Peter Shaw said the candlelit vigil held at the Allen Street Gates each Wednesday night was originally started because of Cindy Sheehan's efforts, which Wright was involved in.

"They [Wright and Radack] are doing a three-stop tour in Pennsylvania," Shaw said. "Last night they were at Westminster College, tonight they are here, and tomorrow they will be at Juniata College."

John Groenveld, Penn State computer programmer and State College resident, said that although he does not agree with everything that was said by the guest speakers, he thinks it is important to listen to their side of the story.

"Just because they are passionate doesn't mean that they are right," Groenveld said. "I wanted to hear their prospective."

Groenveld said he was very impressed by Wright's biography,
but he did not agree with her position and he continues to support the war.

State College resident Kevin Gombotz, Class of 2002, said he came because he wanted to hear their stories and he agrees with the argument against the war.

"I wanted to hear a voice from the inside of the government," Gombotz said.

Gombotz said he was appalled, but not surprised, by Radack's story of being forced to leave her job as an ethics adviser at the Department of Justice after she said she expressed concerns about the way John Walker Lindh was interrogated.

Lindh pleaded guilty to aiding the Taliban in July 2002 and has been in prison since January 2003, according to CNN.com.

Radack said in addition to resignation, she was under criminal investigation and continues to be on the no-fly list.

Wright expressed the need for citizens to continue to support the troops, but protest the "illegal" war in Iraq.

"There is no need, there should not be any more Americans killed," Wright said. "There should not be any more Iraqi's killed."