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News :: Peace |
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Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
Current rating: 6 |
by Zachary C. Miller
Email: zach (nospam) ucimc.org (verified) |
20 Mar 2003
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Between 400 and 1000 marchers took to the streets of campus town chanting, drumming, dancing, clapping, and shouting their messages of peace. |
At noon today the PRC held an emergency rally against the war in Iraq which officially began last night. The rally was an hour long and some estimated that between 400-600 people were in attendance. A variety of speakers talked about the reasons for opposing war, that this war is unjust, that this war is illegal, that this war will kill hundreds of thousands of innocents, that this war is being fought for business interests and with blatent disregard for human rights. The crowd was held in rapt attention on this beautiful spring day. Children throughout the crowd played. The Red Herring distributed free vegan food. People made and held signs with slogans such as "no blood for oil" and "stop this racist war". Jello Biafra who gave a lecture last night spoke at the microphone about the success of previous anti-war movements.
After the speakers were finished a march began led by the organizers from PRC. When the march reached Green and Wright (the alma mater) the organizers made an attempt to keep people off the sidewalks. After about 10 minutes, at a red light, independent protesters began venturing into the intersection and onto green street. Once a critical mass built up, chanting "whose streets? our streets!" the entire march pushed on to the streets and the PRC security detail gave up control.
As marchers proceeded down green street many pedestrians joined in from the sidewalk. All of campustown from Wright to Sixth was occupied by protestors shouting and dancing and chanting. 2 or 3 guitar players played some music as well. Police arrived and blocked traffic for the safety of the protestors.
Eventually the organic seemingly leaderless snakelike march headed down sixth street and back to campus. The march then snaked through 3 or 4 buildings on the Quad. Inside the building people came out of their classes and joined the ever growing mass of people. Garbage cans were used as impromptu drums.
By the time I left the march back at the student union it seemed as if the numbers must have grown to around 1000 people.
As I write this the march is still going, it went up to sixth street and I hear police gathering back on Green street. I don't know what exactly is happening as I am not there anymore. Stay tuned to this newswire for more information about ongoing anti-war events including tonight's AWARE vigil from 5pm-9pm at Westside Park in Champaign (University and State). |
See also:
http://ww.anti-war.net/
http://www.prairienet.org/prc/
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Re: Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Mar 2003
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The march is now heading toward the President's House from the Green St. area via Lincoln Avenue.
3:10pm CST |
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Disruption Of Routine Continues |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Mar 2003
Modified: 02:38:29 PM |
The marchers have been circling around in the campus area, continuing to snarl traffic. The eventual goal may still be the President's House, but the marchers are taking pains to make a maximal presence to gatehr the largest numbers possible.
3:35pm CST |
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Re: Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
20 Mar 2003
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Dear Zac,
You say the streets have been retaken. From Whom??? Most Americans are at home watching our brave forces kick the living shit out of the Iraqis who have not as yet surrendered.
On another note, US weapons inspector, Hans Blix, continues to search for SCUD missles that Iraq was forbidden from having under the terms of the 1991 ceasefire agreement. This despite that Iraqi forces have now fired about six at the time of this writing.
Finally, anti-war protester Jello Biafra will be unable to speak at tonights protest. His brother, Jello Pudding, will fill in. Thanks for your understanding.
Jack |
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March Now Proceeding To West Side Park In Champaign For Rally |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Mar 2003
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The march is now moving toward West Side Park from the campus area, tying up rush hour traffic in downtown Champaign.
4:20pm CST |
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Re: Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
by John Fettig
jfettig(at)ameritech(dot)net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
21 Mar 2003
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Jack,
You wouldn't happen to be talking about these scuds, now would you?
Uh-huh. |
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Re: Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
by Ashley
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
21 Mar 2003
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I think it's really ironic that you think we should respect your beliefs...when your opposition is not being respected--calling American soldiers/their actions, etc. scuds is pretty darn low. Soldiers don't have a choice where they go or what they do, but they support our country--which everyone should do. It makes a country look 100x worse and weaker when its own people are divided. -ashley. |
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Re: Streets Of Campus Town Retaken |
by John Fettig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
21 Mar 2003
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Ashley,
If I am wrongly assuming you are addressing me, forgive me. I'm not sure if you were talking to me.
You have to *read* the article that I linked to get the full effect. I was not referring to american troops.
From that article:
"U.S. and Kuwaiti sources initially reported all the missiles as Scuds, but the Pentagon later said it believes they were al Samouds or some other type of missile."
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