Oregonians rally for peace
03/16/03
Thousands of drumming, shouting, singing Oregonians who oppose a war with Iraq filled the Portland waterfront Saturday and marched through downtown with hopes that their voices will help avert a U.S. attack.
Organizers said the crowd ranged from 30,000 to 45,000. Several news outlets, including The Oregonian and The Associated Press, made independent counts closer to the 20,000 to 25,000 antiwar protesters who gathered in the South Park Blocks in January.
The mass of hand-holding couples, grandmothers, young professionals, veterans, students and parents wound its way through downtown on the same day that President Bush warned in his weekly radio address that "some threats are so grave -- and their potential consequences so terrible -- that they must be removed, even if it requires military force."
The fourth large-scale antiwar march in Portland since October took place under skies that swung between brilliant sunshine and steady rain. It coincided with similar events in Eugene, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Tokyo and Spain.
Large American flags punctuated the procession, and some demonstrators wore red, white and blue clothing. More so than at recent protests against an Iraq war, protesters seemed intent on making the point that antiwar efforts aren't unpatriotic.
Longtime activists and newcomers to the protest scene said a pre-emptive attack on Iraq would be unjust and threaten world peace for generations to come. Others, although frustrated that Bush and administration officials had not heeded their concerns, said it remains important to make their opposition known.
"Please make it clear that we're very patriotic and we support our troops and we want them home safe," said Leah Darr of Manzanita, who held a banner with her husband, Don Long.
North Korea is a greater threat than Saddam Hussein, said Darr, a retired teacher and counselor in her 60s who last protested against the Vietnam War.
"If (the Bush administration) thinks we should be working on nation-building, let's do something about Afghanistan and the mess we left there, or the people rotting at Guantanamo Bay," she said.
Amy Embler, 22, of Gresham said she thinks Bush might be listening to antiwar activists after all.
"I truly wonder whether he's not changing his mind. This is the U.S. military. If they had wanted to go, they would've gone by now," said Embler, a student at Portland State University.
The rally that began about 1:30 p.m. and the roughly 90-minute march that followed were mostly peaceful.
John Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Georgia who was a key leader in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, delivered the keynote address before the march.
"By marching with your feet, you are sending a strong message that will be heard in Washington and around the world, despite what people are saying," Lewis said.
About the same time, a splinter group of protesters blocked the Morrison Bridge. Police officers in riot gear formed a line and marched them back toward downtown until the group broke up. A splinter group also blocked various downtown streets during the march.
Henry Groepper, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said Oregon State Police officers arrested one person on riot accusations.
A line of children led the march behind a yellow banner that read "The World Says No to War." The Lions of Batacuda, a Brazilian-style percussion ensemble dressed in white, followed a short time later, their rhythms reverberating through the otherwise quiet downtown streets.
At an intersection on Broadway, a man with a megaphone yelled, "You're supporting a tyrant" and "Go to Iraq and give them a big group hug." Marchers responded with puzzled looks, peace signs and chants of "Peace Now."
In the Willamette River, a few kayakers and canoeists paddled by with peace signs and "No War" signs taped to their boats.
Maya Flessas of Portland celebrated her 13th birthday by joining the march with her parents and about half a dozen friends.
"It's a fun thing to do, and it's for a good cause," said Flessas, clad in a blue bandana and Hello Kitty shirt. She carried a sign that read: "All you need is love," decorated with a peace sign embedded within the shape of a heart.
"By coming here, it shows we want peace and we should have a part in the decision to go to war," she said.
Sonia Manhas, 30, of Portland held a "Listen to the People" sign.
"It's important for people around the world to see that people in this country are standing up and saying 'No,' " said Manhas, a public health worker. "We don't want them to think that we're agreeing with our government."
Matt Melton of Vancouver questioned how much "substance" was on display Saturday, rather than folks simply waving flags and having fun.
"Unfortunately, probably only 10 percent of the people are really passionate. For the rest, it was more of just something to do on a Saturday and so they could say I went to a peace rally," said Melton, 24.
After the march, speakers representing veterans against war, gay rights groups and those who oppose the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories took the stage. The event was sponsored by a coalition of 157 religious, labor, human rights and students groups.
"I'm 62, I'm African American, I'm a lesbian, and I'm tired of struggling, but we've got to keep going," said Kathleen Sadat, a human rights activist. "There are many ways of coming out. I am out against the war."
"If you resolve the Palestinian issue, none of us would be here today. There is no divine plan to be in the Middle East and liberate Iraq. The voices you hear in your head are not divine voices, Mr. President. They're just voices in your head," said Mazen Malik, president of the Palestine Arab-American Association.
In Eugene, police arrested six protesters after a mostly peaceful march and rally turned into a confrontation with police Saturday afternoon. Several hundred people of all ages marched from the University of Oregon to the courthouse without incident. At the rally, a small group of protesters separated from the crowd, pounded on drums and began taunting police. When a dozen officers dressed in riot gear approached the group, six of the protesters, including three young women, sat down in the intersection and linked arms.
As police handcuffed the protesters, a crowd of about 150 onlookers jeered at police from the sidewalk, yelling "Shame, shame" and "terrorist, terrorist." |
