With an American-led war against Iraq under way, protesters across the country and around the world are taking to the streets, in many cases clashing with riot police, according to multiple news reports.
The Associated Press reports today that riot police faced protesters in Cairo, Egypt, and Manila, Phillipines, while CNN said that violent clashes with police occurred in Seoul, South Korea. In San Francisco, actions included attempts to shut down the Pacific Stock Exchange and snarl traffic in the downtown area, and riot police were meeting protesters in the streets. Protests also took place in Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, Minneapolis, Minn., and Chicago.
Both CNN and the AP said large but peaceful protests occurred in Paris, London, Moscow, Rome and Jakarta, Indonesia. The AP reported more than 45,000 protesters in Milan, Italy, and more than 100,000 in Athens, Greece.
Many world leaders have condemned the war, according to CNN, including Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Here in Eugene, the Justice Not War Coalition also released a statement opposing the war, writing, “To kill thousands or tens of thousands of innocent people, mostly children, to drive millions of people from their homes, and to risk a grave humanitarian crisis in a nation already widely dependent on food aid
is unconscionable.”
Jennifer Knowlton of the Justice Not War steering committee said, “While most of the world supports continued diplomacy and inspections, the Bush administration has chosen the immoral path of killing thousands of children and other innocent civilians.”
Read the full text of the group’s statement here.
The University group Students for Peace, working as a part of the Justice Not War Coalition, is assisting in the preparation of several events and activities today and in the days to come.
Today at noon, Justice Not War was planning to engage in “creative nonviolent resistance” at the Federal Building.
Later this afternoon, students and community members wishing to participate in a silent procession in recognition of lives lost in combat should meet at the EMU Amphitheater at 4 p.m., according to Nathaniel N-T, an organizer for Students for Peace.
The procession will travel on foot to the Eugene Federal Building located on East Seventh Avenue and Pearl Street. At 5 p.m. at the Federal Building, the procession will join in a candlelight vigil complete with speakers and musicians. Justice Not War suggests participants in the vigil bring their own candles and dress for cool weather.
“This is about people coming together,” N-T said. “There isn’t a set program. It’s just about getting people together.”
On Saturday, the Justice Not War Coalition will organize a march beginning at both the EMU Amphitheater and the Lane County Fairgrounds and continuing to the Federal Building. A rally in front of the Federal Building will begin at noon and will include speeches, music and a poetry slam.
On Sunday, Faith in Action will sponsor an interfaith service for peace at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 1376 Olive St.
For more information, contact Students for Peace at 346-4356 or the Justice Not War Coalition at 343-8548.
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