Anti-War March Held in New York City

By: Elizabeth Bartek and Chelse Melina
Posted In: News

NEW YORK- On Saturday, March 20, anti-war and peace rallies were held all over the world on the one-year anniversary of the war in Iraq. Such rallies bring out diverse types of people, each with their own cause and view-points on the way things are, and the way things should be. Saturday’s march in New York City allowed for thousands of Americans to express their concerns over the war in Iraq.

As the New York Police Department declared, “Attention demonstrators! You are now allowed to walk in the streets,” thousands of people peacefully surged onto Madison Avenue. New York Police officers stood on the corner of each block, directing both traffic and chanting protestors. A large group of Asian-Americans, all wearing red bandanas faithfully repeated, “Bush, Anti-Asians! Bush, Anti-Asians!”

To the tune of “These Boots Were Made for Walking,” 10 females instead sang, “These bombs were made for dropping and droppings what they’ll do. Someday these bombs are going to drop all over you.”

Many of the marchers carried signs expressing their thoughts on the war and other concerns including education, health care and the environment. The wind challenged a group of protestors who held a sign made from a white bed sheet, the words “Money for Educators, Not War,” sprawled across it. Other signs included, “No Blood for Oil,” “Stop Mad Cowboy,” and “Money to Build, not Destroy.” Occasionally, a very solemn sign would pass by, paying tribute to a soldier lost during the war.

One young woman walking with a friend, held a sign that read “Don’t trust the media!”

“I’m having a hard time finding out what’s really happening in Iraq,” she said. When asked if she was a student, she replied, “No! I’m an unemployed American,” and kept marching on.

John Kruger, who resides in the Bronx, brought his four-year-old daughter to the demonstration.

“It’s her world, too,” he said. “She believes that children and adults all deserve the right to a peaceful world. She knows that the best way to solve conflicts is by talking the issue out.”

An older woman, in her mid-to-late 70’s, quietly marched with her husband. She shared the same sentiments about talking problems out. “I have been doing this for over 100 years,” she joked. She quickly turned serious though. “I think we ought to talk to people, not bomb them.”

Not everyone who attended the march though was as active as others. Billy Williams, a resident of Connecticut, stood to the side of the protesting marchers.

“I’ve got a bad leg. If I didn’t, I’d definitely be out there,” he said.

Gareth Jones, visiting from the UK, also stood on the side lines.

“I’m on vacation, so I don’t want to march. But there are these types of marches in the UK all the time. I guess no matter where you go, everyone’s got a right to demonstrate.”

That also includes those who protest the march itself. A woman, very obviously against the march, stood behind a barricade. As a group of women carrying balloons walked by, the woman yelled, “Don’t kill the sea turtles with those balloons. We have troops dying out there, we can’t afford to lose sea turtles as well.”

Sarcastic or not, for or against the war, many people went to New York city on Saturday to express themselves. With less than five people arrested, no injuries, or any major problems of any kind, the march remained peaceful.