2 arrests in Cambridge before Strauss-Kahn speech
Mar 9, 2012, 2:51 PM
CAMBRIDGE, England (AP) – Cambridge police on Friday arrested two people ahead of a speech by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former International Monetary Fund chief whose career collapsed after he was charged with sexual assault.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokeswoman Sarah Redman said a man and a woman, both in their early 20s, were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing the university’s debating society building with messages critical of the 62-year-old French politician.
The Cambridge News website displayed photos showing the walls of The Cambridge Union Society defaced with messages including “DSK GO AWAY” and “WOMEN DESERVE BETTER.”
Strauss-Kahn was scheduled to speak at the society later Friday despite protesters’ calls for the event to be canceled.
Strauss-Kahn resigned as head of the IMF after allegations last May that he sexually assaulted New York hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo. Prosecutors later dropped criminal charges against Strauss-Kahn, but Diallo has brought a civil case against him.
Her lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, was scheduled to speak on Diallo’s behalf at a rival event Friday.
A statement posted Friday on the debating union’s website states that the invitation was made before Strauss-Kahn’s controversial departure from the IMF.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
