Rallies push for both peace and war
Updated: 2/15/2003 5:26:25 PM
By: Susanne Robinson & Web Staff
The demonstrations lasted about four hours.
Thousands of people packed the streets around the state Capitol Saturday. They wanted to sound off about a possible war with Iraq.
Most were there to protest any military action. But a smaller group gathered to show support for President Bush and American soldiers. To some onlookers, it may have looked like a peace rally from the 60's.
Opinions in the Triangle about a war with Iraq are like most controversial topics, it depends on who you ask.
“We believe a war with Iraq is illegal and immoral," said Adam Sotak, war protestor for the N.C. Coalition for Peace and Justice.
"Unfortunately, war is sometimes necessary to achieve peace," said David Iannucci of the freerepublic.com.
Under the watchful eye of police, thousands of activists thronged the lawn at the state Capitol at midday. They want President Bush to back off.
They were part of a group called the North Carolina coalition for peace and justice, religious groups, socialists, ordinary families. The heart of their message is that weapons inspections and diplomacy can contain Saddam Hussein.
“There are a lot of issues that are happening in the Middle East,” Sotak said, “and we feel a pre-emptive invasion of the country of Iraq is simply going to escalate a lot of those problems.”
Just across the street, a much smaller group had a very different opinion. An event billed as a patriotic rally argued Saddam Hussein is a modern-day Hitler who doesn't listen to diplomacy.
“There are 25 million oppressed people in Iraq, many of which were killed,” Iannucci said, “many who don't have food, medicine they need to survive, and that's not because of the U.S., that's because of an oppressive tyrant who kills his enemies."
Raleigh police estimated the crowd at six to seven thousand.
The doves' messages weren't always peaceful. The hawks opinion of international diplomacy, was not always diplomatic.
The people on each side of Salisbury Street couldn't be more divided on their opinions on Iraq but ironically, their very presence here unites them in a uniquely American way. They are both relying on the freedom of speech to get very different messages out.
“We’re exercising our right to free speech and that's a great thing,” Sotak said.
“I think it's wonderful,” Iannucci said. “You don't see the opposing side in Iraq.”
Both sides know the debate will continue.
More information:
•Police kept the two sides separated with barricades.
•There was some shouting from members of both groups but no real problems.
•Both rallies were peaceful.
•The demonstrations lasted about four hours.
•The anti-war protestors marched around downtown Raleigh before going home.
•Raleigh police estimated the crowd at six to seven thousand. |
