Amidst the drums, whistles, shouts and chants, their message was clear and unmistakable in the energy that permeated the air.
“Don’t kill my dad,” one sign read.
“Drop BU$H, not bombs,” another said.
In an attempt to “welcome” President Bush to the Hub Friday morning, more than 300 anti-war activists gathered outside the Seaport Hotel in South Boston, where Bush appeared to raise money for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitt Romney.
From teenagers and students, adults and the elderly, to parents whose toddlers held up peace signs, each who attended the rallies had one demand: no war in Iraq.
“This war is completely unprovoked,” said Vietnam veteran Joe Kebartas, 53. “We haven’t even finished the war in Afghanistan, and now we’re starting another one.”
William Schreiber, a retired Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and World War II veteran, said he adamantly opposes war with Iraq because it goes against the Constitution, which grants Congress — not the president — the right to declare war. He also mentioned the lack of support from the United Nations.
“In my view, entering this war is completely politically motivated,” Schreiber said. “Not only is it a violation of the Constitution, but the UN charter absolutely forbids what Bush wants to do. Even now, polls show that both Democrats and Republicans are opposed to a war the UN doesn’t support.”
Boston Police kept demonstrators far from the hotel entrance, which was fenced off and lined with officers. Bush arrived and left the building without being seen, although curious faces frequently peered out of hotel windows at protesters below.
“One, two, three, four, we don’t want your oil war!” protesters shouted. “Five, six, seven, eight, stop the violence, stop the hate!”
Ten-year-old Max Corman-Penzel, who proudly held up picket signs with his mother and two siblings, said he came to the rally because he has learned that although Bush is president, he may not always make the right choices.
“Bush should use his brains, not weapons, to make decisions. Especially not nuclear weapons,” he said.
Corman-Penzel’s mother, Cathy Corman, said she brought her children to the demonstration to teach them the true meaning of patriotism.
“I want my kids to know that as Americans, they have the right to protest, and the right to ask questions of their government,” she said.
While police declined to comment on the rally, EMS Captain Bob Haley said he didn’t anticipate any problems.
“I expect this is a peaceful crowd,” he said. “I support their right to protest.”
The protest, which lasted for more than two hours, preceded additional peace rallies that occurred at various locations throughout the day. At Boston Common, morning demonstrators leftover from the Bush rally made their way to Harvard Square, where more than 150 people gathered.
“This is a fantastic show of solidarity,” said 20-year-old University of Massachusetts at Boston student Emily Saxton, who attended the Harvard rally. “But in order to be effective it has to continue.”
And continue it did.
At 6 p.m., in the largest event of the day, more than 1,500 protesters marched from Atlantic Avenue near the Aquarium to Boston Common — an event originally set to greet Bush at the Seaport Hotel before he changed his arrival time.
Weekly Dig Managing Editor Joe Bonni, who attended the evening event, said he believes there is a desperate need for focus and organization from the various activist groups who sponsored these events. The sheer number of protests, he said, belittles their impact.
“The media is entirely important to this fight, and when small organizations have 100 peace rallies in a day, it completely lacks the impact,” he said. “In order to end this war, we need Middle America on our side. Middle America watches TV; they don’t read up on [Noam] Chomsky and [Howard] Zinn.”
Contributing writer Leigh Held contributed to this report.