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Thousands gather around the country to protest war in Iraq
By Benny Poosawtsee
Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO
Demonstrators gathered in cities around the country to protest the war with Iraq.
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Last weekend was a high point for worldwide protests against possible U.S. military action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s regime. Opponents of war gathered in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, along with other cities across the United States and the world.
As the United States continues sending military personnel and equipment to the Gulf region and seeks support from other nations, protesters continue challenging the wisdom of a “preemptive strike” by the Bush administration.
The United States needs to make a strong case at an end-of-the-month meeting of the U.N. Security Council, many of whose current members have expressed opposition to the proposed attack.
Lawyer Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a D.C. protest organizer, said, “Bush has said he intends to launch a preemptive war, and now he’s facing the most formidable obstacle, which is a preemptive antiwar movement,” according to the BBC.
President Bush was away at Camp David during the main protest on Saturday.
The Washington, D.C., and San Francisco protests, timed to coincide with the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, were sponsored by activist group International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and drew participants from across the country.
In the capital, Irish band Chumbawamba played an antiwar song and the sign-carrying crowd pressed together to combat the cold temperatures, which never rose above 24 degrees Fahrenheit. In San Francisco, buses, ferries and subways carried in demonstrators for a march downtown which included such diverse participants as a group of nude women and the Stroller Brigade, parents pushing their children along.
Mike Smith, a student protester in Washington, D.C., said, according to The New York Times, “The government is going to do what they are going to do regardless. But at least by coming we can try to make sure that people in other countries know that all Americans are not down with this war.”
“No war with Iraq” and “No blood for oil” were popular slogans in the protests, and an environmental group drove electric cars through San Francisco with signs that said “Go solar, not ballistic.”
Antiwar groups apart from International Answer contributed to the numbers in the marches.
The two main groups were United for Peace, which draws together over 120 smaller groups, and Win Without War, a religious, business and civic leaders’ coalition.
The capital also saw groups like the Gray Panthers, a social advocacy group, Code Pink, a women’s group, and the Muslim Student Association.
The D.C. march featured the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and actresses Jessica Lange and Tyne Daly. In San Francisco actor Martin Sheen and singer Joan Baez participated.
Many protestors, however, were simply regular citizens outside any group’s umbrella who felt inclined to let the government know their opinion.
Tim Kingston of antiwar group Global Exchange said, according to the BBC, “I’m hoping that the busloads of people coming as far away as Oregon and Nevada give an indication that this isn’t just the crazy loons in San Francisco – but we reflect the opinions of the entire United States.”
Across the country other cities witnessed demonstrations in solidarity with the two major ones.
Portland, Ore., had a march led by a drum ensemble and cheerleaders. In Albuquerque, N.M., people demonstrated near the University of New Mexico campus and outside an army recruiting office.
A few hundred marched to the Michigan capitol in Lansing. Coinciding worldwide protests occurred in cities including Moscow, Paris, Cairo, Damascus, and Islamabad.
In Washington, D.C., two hours before the large antiwar demonstrations, counterprotesters numbering fewer than 100 showed up to express support for the potential war.
The largest groups represented were Free Republic and MOVEOUT (Marines and Other Veterans Engaging Un-American Traitors).
Nina Burke of Fredericksburg, Va., said, according to The New York Times, “We need to disarm Saddam before he sneaks a nuke into Chicago or New York, not after.”
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