More than 30,000 Bostonians flocked to United for Justice with Peace’s anti-war rally on Boston Common Saturday afternoon, bearing signs and chanting slogans in an effort to promote peace.
The rally, a response to President Bush’s call for a pre-emptive strike on Iraq, was preceded by a march along Beacon Street and a ‘die-in’ on Boylston Street, in which more than 100 protesters laid down on the street pretending to be dead.
United for Justice with Peace (UJP), a coalition of peace organizations formed after Sept. 11, attempted to urge the United States government to end all military actions against Iraq, group members said.
‘The rally is for people to express their concern for the Iraqi citizens who are being killed and the American soldiers who are being killed,’ Louise Coleman, a UJP committee member, said.
With tens of thousands of protesters ranging from the elderly to infants joining together to stress the message of peace, UJP’s hopes were answered in what they deemed ‘the largest ever anti-war protest in New England.’
‘It’s great to see all these people out here with a common goal,’ College of General Studies sophomore Zack LaMothe said.
Scattered throughout the packs were college students who either had passionate opinions on the war or a reserved, on-looking approach. LaMothe illustrated the latter.
‘We just wanted to come down and see the rally,’ LaMothe said. ‘We support this movement, but it was really just something to do.’
A Dorchester family provided powerful words on behalf of their son Joe, a soldier currently fighting in Iraq. Nancy Lessim, Joe’s mother, gave an emotionally charged speech for the protesters.
‘Everyone here is doing the most supportive thing. Bush is using troops as cannon fodder to do his dirty work,’ Lessim said.
Joe’s father, Charles Richardson added, ‘they say us anti-war protesters aren’t patriots. Well the true patriots are standing right here today.’
Richardson also compared the war in Iraq to getting into an automobile with a drunk driver.
‘As a parent, you don’t watch your child get into a car with a drunk driver and salute him as he goes off,’ he said. ‘These troops are getting into a car with a drunk driver, and that driver, President Bush, is drunk with power.’
Though somewhat hampered by the occasional wind and rain, the rally entertained and enlightened the protesters with speakers, live music, dancers and skits.
Among the performers at the rally were Reflect ‘ Strengthen, Kiki Breevelife and The Foundation, three hip-hop acts that thrilled the crowd with raps against the war. Also present were a group of Arab dancers, Dabke, who performed a traditional Palestinian dance.
Before their presentation, the dancers of Dabke stressed that Arabs also want world peace, and that they see Americans as brothers.
Rana Abdul Aziz, a Tufts University student from Iraq, expressed the troubles of the Iraqi youth in his speech ‘I am the Iraqi.’
‘I am the Iraqi who Saddam Hussein gassed; I am the Iraqi who Saddam Hussein shot. I am the Iraqi who suffered from Saddam Hussein,’ Aziz said. ‘But … I am the Iraqi who wanted peace and vowed to prevent another war.’
The rally was also a chance for the organizations within UJP to reach out to the public. Dozens of UJP-affiliated organizations set up tables to inform others of their causes.
One organization, the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, a non-partisan group led by Mass. Green Party leader Jill Stein, explained the hardships that could be felt in the United States due to the war in Iraq.
‘Because of building up the military, there will be cuts in social funding, education, health and even veterans benefits,’ Boston resident Caroline Arpe said.
‘Vital programs are being cut and not enough people know about it,’ said Boston resident Jenn Sauve. ‘It’s an interesting game when the Democrats have to be the bad guys because they’ll have to raise taxes after the war.’
Other organizations and speakers emphasized the diminishing support for education and labor laws.
The rally on Boston Common ended at 1:15, and more than 20,000 anti-war protesters began a march on Beacon Street while riot police and officers on horseback watched. The protesters chanted slogans as they marched, such as, ‘this is what democracy looks like’ and ‘support our troops, send them home.’
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