On Sunday, the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, students and community members gathered for a day of protest and marching to voice their opposition to the ongoing Iraq war and speak out for change, starting with a rally held in the EMU Amphitheater.
The Take Back Our America Coalition and the Community Alliance of Lane County sponsored the protest, titled “Sow Seeds of Peace,” along with 30 other community and University groups. Information about CALC can be found at www.calclane.org.
Zach Basaraba, coordinator of the EMU rally, said the free speech as part of the protest helps strengthen the democratic system. Student involvement is also crucial to change in the United States, he said.
“That’s the definition of democracy (voicing public opinion),” Basaraba said. “Dissent is the highest form of participation. I think if people aren’t free to speak out or denounce actions, there is no democracy. That’s the beauty of it. Statistically, we see one group voting and having influence in this nation. By involving everyone into the discussion, we ensure the higher goals of democracy.”
Following the EMU rally was a Peace Parade with the theme “The Empire Has No Clothes,” a Rally for Peace and Justice at the Old Federal Building, a community discussion at Cozmic Pizza and a candlelight vigil to remember Oregonians who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Michael Carrigan, peace organizer with CALC, said the protest is intended for “bringing together the campus and community” peace, justice and environmental groups to voice their opinions about the Iraq war.
“The importance of this event, combined with events all around the country, is sending a powerful message to Congress that we want to cut funding for the war,” Carrigan said. “It’s time to bring the troops home, now. Only by coming together can we have the strength to stop this war. The peace movement is not enough.”
The EMU rally featured several guest speakers and musicians, including Ari Lesser, a local hip hop musician with politically oriented songs, Ty Schwoeffermann, a University senior and co-director of the BSU and Gregory McLauchlan, a University sociology professor.
The message that Schwoeffermann said he was trying to convey to the public was the need to increase people’s awareness of all kinds of social issues going on in the world. The protest in Eugene only fuels the fire of opposition for the Iraq War that has been seen worldwide, he said.
“This is one large protest that’s been going on all around the world for five years now,” Schwoefferman said. “Millions and millions and millions of people have opposed this war, so we’re only contributing to that cause. The general point that I think people need to understand is that we need to raise our own consciousness of what’s going on and communicate (that consciousness) to everyone.”
The Rally for Peace and Justice at the Old Federal Building had even more guest speakers and musicians, including Mayor Kitty Piercy and Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehren Watada. Lt. Ehren Watada is the only U.S. Army officer to refuse service in the Iraq War because he believes it is unconstitutional.
According to www.thankyoult.org, he faces a court marshal and up to six years in prison. The mainstream media has not largely covered his story, but his parents have been especially supportive of his choice. They recently moved to Eugene because of the support received from the community.
Many who attended the rally and protest believe that voicing their opinions is very important, especially this close to a presidential election. Freshman Sydney McNulty said she thinks voicing public opinion about important issues at protests like this helps to promote action in the United States, and she wants “to be around people who want to see change.”
“Changes aren’t going to happen unless the people high up know the people want change,” McNulty said. “We need to raise our voices and show (the government) how many people oppose this. I just hope it broadens awareness. Enough people start getting together, and things get changed.”
University sophomore Nathan Montgomery, a member of the anti-war group Students for Democratic Society, said he thinks free expression is important to influencing the government and change the current state of war.
“The importance of it (public opinion) is that people have deep feelings about these things,” Montgomery said. “If they’re repressed, there’s no way to change the situation. The only way for change to begin is to have their voices heard. That’s democracy.”