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Hidden with code "Submitted as Feature" |
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News :: Peace |
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Prospect For Peace: Back By Popular Demand! |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ricky Baldwin
Email: baldwinricky (nospam) yahoo.com (verified)
Phone: 217-328-3037
Address: 801 E California Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 |
05 Sep 2003
Modified: 04:53:56 PM |
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Local protests against US war and occupation begin again this Saturday. |
(Champaign) This Saturday, Sept. 6th, from 2-4 pm, will mark the return to North Prospect of local protests against the US war and occupation of Iraq, announced Urbana-Champaign’s own Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort (AWARE). Protesters plan to occupy the same prime piece of sidewalk where they became a virtual fixture for thousands of weekend shoppers over the last two years.
He weekly protests were discontinued in May 2003 to focus the group’s attention on organizing educational events.
AWARE has a table at the Urbana Farmers’ Market every Saturday, had a table at the recent Sweet Corn Festival and Quad Day at the University of Illinois campus, and marched in the local Fourth of July parade. AWARE had planned to march in the local Labor Day parade, which was rained out.
“What have been the consequences of the war in Iraq?” asks one new pamphlet. The answer: “Over 6,000 Iraqis killed, over 1,000 US troops killed or wounded, up to $615 billion estimated costs, no ‘weapons of mass destruction’ found, terrorist threat worse than before, Iraq under military rule.”
According to discussions at AWARE meetings, the decision to return to protesting on North Prospect was based on two factors: world events and popular demand (probably related). Many protesters say even they were surprised at how thoroughly the Bush Administration’s justifications for war have unraveled. And volunteer-organizers say they have been approached at various events by supporters who ask when the group would begin protesting again.
From October 2002 to May 2003 the all-volunteer group organized weekly protests that attracted over 800 area residents, many of whom returned week after week. Attendance at the demonstrations peaked just before the US invasion of Iraq, when war supporters began holding corporate-sponsored counter-demonstrations.
Hundreds of area residents also donated thousands of dollars to support AWARE’s peace work, even though local pro-war leaders claimed the group was “controlled by foreign puppet-masters.”
“Damn those foreign puppet-masters!” joked one protester. “I’m still waiting for my check!”
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See also:
http://www.anti-war.net
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