Hundreds of N.J. protesters expected at D.C. anti-war rally
Friday, January 17, 2003
By THÉODEN K. JANES
Staff Writer
Steve Cooper thinks an American attack against Iraq is a disaster waiting to happen.
The Hackensack man, who will be leading a contingent of protesters during a demonstration in Washington on Saturday, feels a war will cost innocent lives and diminish America's standing in the world.
"It's basically seen as a clear-cut aggression on the part of George Bush. It's an invasion of a sovereign country,'' said Cooper, who chairs a group called New Jersey Independents.
"If the roles were reversed and someone was invading the United States, people would be horrified.''
Cooper acknowledges the New Jersey contingent in Saturday's march may be smaller than at a similar march in October.
"Middle of winter," Cooper said. Prior to the Oct. 26 march, "we received over 400 calls,'' he said. "To date, our calls are about 100. I think the weather has something to do with it."
Protest organizers claimed up to 200,000 people answered the call last fall to challenge President Bush's willingness to go to war to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
This time around, about half that many are expected to join actors Jessica Lange and Mike Farrell and demonstrators from religious groups, labor organizations, and schools.
Organizers say at least 1,200 people from New Jersey are scheduled to head down by bus during the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Others will drive or take trains.
Protesters oppose war for a variety of reasons. Although many of the protesters consider Hussein an evil dictator, they believe America's willingness to attack reflects greed for cheap oil. Others feel it will increase America's vulnerability to terrorism or weaken the economy.
Some feel that America is basically initiating a war, and that this will reduce the nation's standing in the world.
The protest, being organized by International A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop War and Racism), begins with the rally at 11 a.m. on the west side of the Capitol. The organization is headed by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
Protesters will march to the Washington Navy Yard to "demand the immediate elimination of U.S. weapons of mass destruction, and a people's inspection team will call for unfettered access and a full declaration of U.S. non-conventional weapons systems," according to InternationalAnswer.org.
But Mahwah native Demetrius Marcoulides, 19, said he's not expecting that he and his fellow protesters will change Bush's mind.
"Do I really think this is gonna stop a war?" asked Marcoulides, a sophomore at Ramapo College in Mahwah. "I hope so - with all my heart, I hope so. Looking at it realistically, though, probably not. However, what this does do, this gives the movement inspiration. This gives us something to rally around."
Some, like Marcoulides, view the protest simply as a chance to get "charged with energy" that can be channeled, upon their return, throughout local communities to spread the message of peace.
Others, like Stuart Shaw of Fair Lawn, have more ambitious plans.
"If he [Bush] goes into the land warfare, we are calling for a non-violent but physical, using-your-body shutdown of the United States," said Shaw, the state coordinator for Clean Money in New Jersey. For instance, his organization would welcome a truckers union refusal to transport munitions for the war.
Shaw and Marcoulides will travel to Washington on buses sponsored by the Bergen County Peace & Justice Coalition.
Also heading down will be Mike McLean, 19, a sophomore at Montclair State University.
"I see little to no need to go to war with Iraq,'' he said.
"Additionally, I think it's practically something out of a Western movie how the Bush administration is making such highly publicized plans for war."
The Darul Islah mosque in Teaneck is sending buses as well, and expects to send 300 to 400 participants.
"It's not just the Muslim community who are coming with us," said Waheed Khalid, the spokesman and former president of the mosque. "We as fair-minded Americans will be opposing this war. It is not fair and necessary."
Khalid said that war is a very costly way to get rid of Hussein.
"The civilians will pay the price. We certainly don't believe Iraq is in any position to be a danger to the United States," he added. "Why should we be the policeman of the world? Why should we have to go and attack a country to get rid of its leader?"
Even if demonstrators don't get the cold shoulder from foreign policy leaders in Washington, on Saturday, they'll likely get it from Mother Nature.Temperatures in the nation's capital are forecasted to be 14 degrees lower than normal - 28 degrees is the day's expected high.
Staff Writer Christina Joseph contributed to this article. Théoden K. Janes' e-mail address is janes@ northjersey.com |
