War protestors gather downtown
A group of protestors gathered next to City Hall on Friday to rally the streets of Logan and send their message of peace.
Corine McCann, one of the organizers of the rally, explained that the protestors are a group called Witnesses for Peace and aren’t affiliated with any organization or church.
“We are just concerned citizens, worried about the war, wanting people to come home safely,” she said. “We don’t believe in destroying life or killing anyone. We support the men and women in the military. We believe they’ve been duped, but they are out there doing their job.”
Displaying signs, such as “Peace is patriotic,” and “Hegemony is not peaceful,” protestors hoped to “raise consciousness so people will protest the war and say, ‘Bring our troops home; enough is enough,'” McCann said.
Nathan Alley, a student at Mountain Crest High School, said, “Some people ask, ‘Why keep protesting? The war is already started,’ but if enough people support it, it could be stopped. Peace is better than killing.”
Protestor Catherine Groseclose said, “I just want to let people know that there are two sides; not everyone sees it the same way.”
Alex Watanabe explained they weren’t there to provoke more violence and anger.
“We just want them to think and not be indifferent,” he said.
The group generated both positive and negative responses from the passing traffic.
Supporters would honk their car horns, shout, cheer, whistle, give a thumbs-up, a peace sign, a hang-loose sign or a wave.
Those opposed would peel out their tires, give a thumbs-down, flip the bird, heckle the protestors and yell profanities.
“People come by and think we are criticizing [the troops]. It’s not that at all. We want them to come home whole and healthy and not in body bags,” McCann said.
“We aren’t anti-American in any sense, we just think killing is wrong,” Watanabe said.
McCann said she is disappointed that the government has decided to go to war.
“If we believe that Saddam Hussein and his regime was bombed, why are we still over there bombing Baghdad? That makes me distrust anything [George W. Bush] says,” she said. “You probably got him. Quit until you find out where he is.”
Watanabe thinks the United States is sending the wrong message to the world.
“Peace is an option. It is just as strong of an action. It is standing up for what you believe in,” he said.
Protestor Joan Labby was disappointed that the United States didn’t go through the United Nations.
“As the most powerful nation in the world, you would think that we would not miss this opportunity to further peace. We had the chance, and instead we’re setting a bad precedent,” she said.
Groseclose said the dangerous precedent set by the pre-emptive strike is her biggest complaint.
“I don’t think it’s right,” she said.
McCann said the United States sends a message of arrogance by going alone: The United Nations is not as smart as the United States.
“I believe it’s going to hurt our relationships in the future with every other country. They are not going to trust us,” she said.
Although the group has been protesting every Friday for seven weeks, many commented that it could be their last time there.
McCann, who requested the permits for the group, said, “I am no longer going to request a permit, because we have been invited to go to St. John’s [Episcopal Church] just to pray for peace. Anyone is welcome to come.
“My hope is that it is over by next week,” she said. “If it is, we won’t be here.”
–julia@cc.usu.edu