Students and community members took to the downtown streets in droves Saturday at the Eugene Federal Building, protesting President George W. Bush’s potential war efforts against Iraq.
The anti-war rally — organized by Progressive Responses, a local group that is part of a larger activist association — was one of many similar, simultaneous demonstrations that attracted millions around the world. Eugene Police Department officials said there were at least 2,000 protesters in Eugene, and organizers announced a count of 4,000 late in the event.
Before the downtown rally, hundreds of marchers, organized by Students for Peace, met at the EMU Amphitheater to hear speakers and begin a trek around the city that ended at the Federal Building.
Brian Bogart, director of IntelligentFuture, an anti-war organization based in Eugene, was one of the speakers on stage decrying military action and the Bush administration.
“Since 9-11, I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of urgency because not for one minute has our government addressed the cause of threats; instead it has exploited every sliver of fear to extend our military capabilities,” he said. “This has been my nightmare for over 40 years.”
After the presentations, the group massed along the sidewalk on University Street and began marching south, chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” and waving signs. The sidewalk march soon became disorganized, however, and protesters spilled into the streets.
AMMAN, JORDAN — Screaming her displeasure with President George W. Bush, a Jordanian woman joined at least 10,000 others Saturday to protest the pending war with Iraq in Amman, Jordan.
Marchers then walked on East 15th Avenue, blocking traffic. Many of the protesters eventually allowed vehicles through the throng, although some attempted to stir the pot.
“Protesting is inconvenient for commerce,” yelled one protester who blocked a city bus.
The group turned north on Agate Street, then went up East 13th Avenue and eventually stopped again at the EMU. Marchers regrouped at the campus hub and proceeded to march west on East 13th Avenue, blocking traffic the entire way to the Federal Building.
Although the march was entirely peaceful, a few small altercations broke out along the way as motorists either tried to dodge the crowd or got stuck in the middle. At one point, a driver exited his vehicle and began screaming obscenities. Some marchers yelled back at the man, but others quickly ended the confrontation by separating them.
Police officers on bicycles and motorcycles made their first appearance at Ferry Street, scrambling to clear the few blocks remaining before Pearl Street, where the crowd would turn north and head toward the Federal Building.
Students for Peace Co-founder Levi Strom said during the march that he was overjoyed with the turnout.
“I think people are energized that we took the streets over,” he said. “It’s really important that people in every city, big and small, come together.”
Shortly before 1 p.m., the Students for Peace march reached the Federal Building, spilling in among hundreds of other protesters in the stage area and crowding the intersection.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Eugene, was the first speaker to the podium, discounting the Bush administration and the war effort.
“As I said on the day of the State of the Union, the greatest threat to the people in the state of Oregon is the fact that many people have lost their job or can’t find a job, (and) don’t have health care,” he said.
Although the march and the rally both ended peacefully, police had to barricade a splinter march of 100 people who blocked traffic around East 5th Avenue later in the day. Three people were cited for disorderly conduct and released, police spokeswoman Pam Olshanski said.
“The small group seemed to have no apparent marching path,” she said. “They were clearly intent on engaging police.”
Olshanski added that police did not want the splinter group to cast a bad light on the main group of protesters, who she said were very peaceful.
Despite the disturbance at the end, she said the rally went well considering the potential for tension at a political event.
“(Protesters) were incredibly cooperative,” she said. “In reflection about what could have happened, the outcome was much more favorable.”
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