Pira Kelly is frustrated.
Kelly, a freshman majoring in linguistics, is frustrated about the U.S. government’s reaction to the events of Sept. 11. “Millions of civilians are going to die,” she said of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. “This is an inappropriate response to terrorism.”
As a member of Students for Peace, Kelly will try to bring her frustrations to the street today at a 3:30 p.m. rally at the EMU Amphitheater. After meeting at the amphitheater, protesters will grab signs and placards and make their way down to the federal building at 211 E. Seventh Ave. to join other community peace groups for a candlelight vigil.
“I feel a complete sense of helplessness. Nobody voted for this war,” said Marc Moscato, another member of Students for Peace. “The only thing I can try to challenge this is to persuade public opinion — to get a lot of people in the streets.”
Moscato, a graduate student in arts administration, also admits to being a little frustrated trying to get the word out for his group’s last two weekly marches, which yielded approximately 80 and 35 marchers, respectively. The relatively small membership of Students for Peace makes it difficult to publicize the marches, he said.
Harvard University’s Institute of Politics reported that while large numbers of students approve of the war, the level of approval is not as high among students as it is with the general public. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 undergraduate students, was conducted in mid-October and found that 68 percent of students supported the use of ground troops in Afghanistan, compared to 80 percent of the general public. The study also found that 76 percent of students and 87 percent of the general public supported war against nations that harbor or shelter terrorists.
College newspapers around the country report fluctuating numbers of anti-war protesters. The Pitt News reported nearly 300 people at the University of Pittsburgh rallying against the war Friday, Nov. 9. The rally also included 30 people defending government actions in Afghanistan. The Daily Free Press at the University of Boston reported 150 anti-war protesters outside the JFK Federal Building.
At the University, students and community members have expressed concern with the war, flocking to weekly teach-ins and staging protests.
However, Pam Alejandre, a spokeswoman for the Eugene Police Department, noted that this war has spawned less tension and fewer protesters than previous conflicts. “I don’t think it’s specific to Eugene, but peace marches and rallies supporting the war are very different from past wars,” she said. Alejandre said the most serious offenses relating to protests happened on Nov. 9, when EPD cited seven protesters for disorderly conduct — which carries a base fine of $255 — for blocking traffic on E. Seventh Avenue.
Although the peace movement seems to be off to a slow start, University Philosophy Professor Cheyney Ryan said organized peace movements take longer than a few weeks to develop. Ryan pointed out that protests of the Vietnam War took five years to evolve into a discernible movement.
“It is not like something happens and the next day people will be out in the streets,” he said.
Ryan also pointed out that after Vietnam, the government and military learned to deter war resistance. He said when the draft was ended by President Richard Nixon in 1973, the anti-war movement diminished because the draft had given youth a direct, personal contact with the war.
Another factor, Ryan said, is that the methods of fighting wars have changed. He pointed out that there is a lack of photos of flag-draped coffins and body bags, such as were seen in the Vietnam era.
“Since Vietnam, we have been fighting wars mainly by bombing,” Ryan said. “This strategy is designed to minimize dissent.”