Peaceful march draws thousands against war (Oregon)

Oregonian ^ | 10/5/02 | MICHELLE COLE

[Andy from Beaverton]

 

Peaceful march draws thousands against war

10/06/02MICHELLE COLE

They came by the thousands -- grandmothers, teachers, students, doctors, military veterans. Together, they formed the largest peace march seen in Oregon in more than a decade. An estimated 6,000 people paraded through downtown Portland streets Saturday afternoon. Organizers said as many as 12,000 people participated in the march and rally that followed -- one of more than two dozen protests planned in cities nationwide in the next few days.

Although they were of different ages, occupations, religions and political persuasions, their voices spoke in unison on potential U.S. military involvement in Iraq: "No more war."

"I'm totally against our involvement in this war effort. I feel that it's being railroaded, and I feel that people have already made up their minds," said Carolyn Rux, 60, who cut short a vacation on the Oregon coast in order to march with her husband, Pete Rux, 61.

Like many others attending Saturday's march and rally, it was the first time the Portland couple had participated in a war protest.

"In the '60s, I was busy raising my family. Now I have time to be involved. I just don't feel that it's justified or that there's an immediate threat. I don't think war is the answer anymore," Rux said, as she hoisted a hand-painted sign that read: "World to Bush: Back off Iraq."

This was also the first war protest for 48-year-old Dave Kurtz of Sherwood. A member of the Portland Mennonite Church, Kurtz said he decided to come out on a gray and damp afternoon because it's "important to speak out for peace."

Others agreed it was not only important but imperative to speak out before it's too late.

"I believe we can make a difference if we make our voices heard," said Mike Hanson, 37, who marched with his wife, Lori, 36, and their 21/2-year-old daughter, Raina.

Even as President Bush prepares a national address to sway the Senate and public opinion in favor of using force against Saddam Hussein, many of the people who marched in Portland said the United States should give peace a chance.

"I believe that we need to teach our children, and we need to learn ourselves that issues can be settled without war," said John Liedel, 53, of Portland.

Wearing khaki slacks and a salt-and-pepper beard, Liedel said he's no stranger to peace rallies -- including a giant Vietnam protest rally held in the fall of 1969 in Washington, D.C.

Asked whether the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks made him feel reluctant or somehow unpatriotic to be protesting U.S. military action, Liedel shook his head.

"No," he said. "I don't believe that patriotism demands that you blindly agree to everything your government wants you to do."

Organizers said the last large anti-war protest in Portland was in January 1991, when more than 12,000 people rallied against the Persian Gulf War.

Kory Harding, 13, was another of the seasoned protesters in the crowd. The eighth-grader rode in with his mother Saturday from their home in Mount Hood. Harding said his first protest was against the Gulf War. "I was really young -- a toddler in my mother's backpack," he said.

On Saturday, Harding carried a sign he'd made himself.

"I want to tell Bush that we don't want a war -- especially over oil," he said.

The march stretched for dozens of blocks, delaying traffic at a number of intersections.

Portland Police reported no arrests and only one minor incident, where a young man climbed onto a portico at City Hall. The youth waved a protest sign, ate an orange and then climbed down.

"It shows that people can cooperate and get their point across," said Officer Henry Groepper, a police spokesman.

Organizers said the crowd exceeded their expectations.

"We're thrilled with the turnout and thrilled with how peaceful it was," said William Seaman, spokesman for a coalition of more than a dozen groups that sponsored the march and rally.

It's too early to say whether the response will generate more events of its kind. At the very least, Seaman said, "It is an opportunity for people who were very likely unaware of the work being done in the community to now plug into it."

Michelle Cole: 503-294-5143; michellecole@news.oregonian.com

[Andy from Beaverton]

I don't have any photos, but you can imagine the photos look like these. We just busted four terrorist in Oregon, I think the rest were at this protest here in little Beirut.

[ward_of_the_state]

I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony...

I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company..

[republicman]

Y3esterday I heard about a violent protest of the war on the AP. Imagine that, they're against violence when its using it on an evil guy like Saddam, but for it when attacking innocent people.

[JCG]

Kory Harding, 13, was another of the seasoned protesters in the crowd. The eighth-grader rode in with his mother Saturday from their home in Mount Hood. Harding said his first protest was against the Gulf War. "I was really young -- a toddler in my mother's backpack," he said.

I think Michael Savage calls these "red diaper doper babies."

America's Fifth Column ... watch Steve Emerson/PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

[mississippi red-neck]

They sure are hung up on that twelve thousand number. Same in '91 as now. Must be the same ones. Probably from Rent- A- Dope.

[another cricket]

An estimated 6,000 people paraded through downtown Portland streets Saturday afternoon. Organizers said as many as 12,000 people participated in the march and rally that followed -- one of more than two dozen protests planned in cities nationwide in the next few days.

Excuse me for a moment.

*gets out calypso louie calculator. *

12,000...carry the nine...the square root of nineteen...ah-ha!

According to the calculator there were exactly six hundred and nineteen people at this protest.

a.cricket

[dts32041]

"I believe that we need to teach our children, and we need to learn ourselves that issues can be settled without war," said John Liedel, 53, of Portland

I would like that to ask him of a citizen of Carthage, or maybe the knights templar, members of the souix nation, or maybe intellectuals of Hue City.

Can't find any, maybe war solved their problems?

[CT]

I got a free copy of the Oregonian this morning. Don't read it as a normal routine. But I do like to check and see just how far left it has moved on occasion.

Sure enough. From the front pages, to the letters to the editor, it might as well be the Daily Worker or some other solicialist commie rag. Nothing but pure unadulterated garbage.

If things get really bad here in terms of the terror war, hopefully someone in the REAL AMERICA will let us conservatives know before the attacks start.

We have a whole bunch of Hate-America-First crowders. And I suspect we could be ground zero for some really serious "rounding up" of our country's avowed enemies.

[WOSG]

I am wondering ... Did any of these loons oppose the war in Kosovo, our intervention in Bosnia, or our attack on Afghantistan's taliban?

Are they against all war or just the ones the far-left likes to oppose????

[Blue Screen of Death]

I too would like to avoid war and unnecessary death and suffering. Most reasonable people do. That said, If these folks are wrong, will they stand up after an attack by Iraq and say, "We were wrong. We apologize. While our hearts were in the right place, our heads were up our collective asses."?

[goodnesswins]

Will THESE folks APOLOGIZE, IF Iraq attacked us? Are you kidding....they would say we deserved it.

[Cold Heat]

Time to buy the socialist's a one way ticket to Canada so they can be with their buddies!

[Andy from Beaverton]

Almost none of them opposed the war in Kosovo. I went to an anti-Kosovo war protest in the same place and only about 50 people showed up. I think there was only one other conservative there besides myself.

[Blue Screen of Death]

To play devil's advocate, what about the opposite? What if we invade Iraq and get mired there, or destroy the country's infrastructure but don't rebuild it, or deepen the rift between the U.S. and the developing world? Who would apologize?

Exactly. This is not a clear cut easy decision. That is why, if Bush ever asks me to be the Secretary of State, I will tell him McDonalds just called and offered me a Manager training position.

I do think that conservatives will be more willing to accept the failures of their policies and decisions, learn from them, be honest in admitting their errors and pay the consequences. Liberals, on the other hand, have shown from the failed Great Society through the sanctions in South Africa that if they are wrong, you never hear from them again.

It is quite possible that taking Saddam out is the wrong decision and will lead to consequences worse than leaving him alone. It is also possible that Saddam could use a WMD and kill thousands and thousands. At some point you have to make the decision to support or not support based on if you trust the President. I think Bush is a good and honest man and that he is basing his decisions on what he truly thinks is best for the US and the world. He might be wrong, but to discount his decision because of some mindless accusation that he is doing this so his rich oil buddies can make more money is BS. I would not like to have to make the decision and I am glad Bush is the one doing it, as opposed to someone like Gore or Clinton.

[WOSG]

uh, remember these people WERE WRONG .... 11 years ago. They learned nothing, understood nothing, and are dragging out the tired old arguments that were wrong in 1991 against Iraq then.

I dont see any of them saying "we were wrong then, and we learned from that".

I do think there is obvious hypocrisy though: They are opposed to foreign interventions that are conducted by convervative Republican Presidents only, that are for our national security. These folks are NOT opposed to all forms of violence and warfare, otherwise they'd be opponents not supporters of eg Palestinian cause. our bombings of Kosovo, etc.

[IronJack]

They came by the thousands -- grandmothers, teachers, students, doctors, military veterans.

One grandmother, a former medical teacher in the Army ...

Together, they formed the largest peace march seen in Oregon in more than a decade.

Ever since the stoners realized that the Summer of Love was over ...

An estimated 6,000 people paraded through downtown Portland streets Saturday afternoon.

Actually there were only enough to form a weak kazoo band without the tenor section ...

Organizers said as many as 12,000 people participated in the march and rally that followed -- one of more than two dozen protests planned in cities nationwide in the next few days.

Organizers said they WISHED more than a dozen people had participated in the protests planned in more than 12,000 cities nationwide.

Although they were of different ages, occupations, religions and political persuasions, their voices spoke in unison on potential U.S. military involvement in Iraq: "No more war."

Although they represented the usual polyglot parade of left-wing fringe groups, their stoned voices mumbled in unison: "We are cowards. We don't have a clue. Pass the bong!"

[What Is Ain't]

A very balanced article. I wonder what side the writer is on.

Asked whether the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks made him feel reluctant or somehow unpatriotic to be protesting U.S. military action, Liedel shook his head. "No," he said. "I don't believe that patriotism demands that you blindly agree to everything your government wants you to do."

I don't believe that patriotism demands that you blindly object to everything your government wants you to do."

[Saundra Duffy]

Fools.

[unixfox]

An estimated 6,000 people paraded through downtown Portland streets Saturday afternoon. Organizers said as many as 12,000 people participated in the march and rally that followed...

So which is the lie? 6000 or 12000 people? These idiots can't even estimate without doubling the numbers...GEEZ !!!

I wished we could get this many people to protest getting the IRS abolished, now THAT would be a great cause.