Posted on 02/07/2002 11:42:15 AM PST by rface
Columbia’s peace activists were out in force yesterday, four months after the United States started bombing Afghanistan, to protest the ongoing war against terrorism by holding signs at the city’s busiest intersections. While braving cold temperatures and sometimes hostile drivers, many protesters said they wanted to make people think.
"We want to make ourselves visible so people understand we’re not all united behind the goals of the president," specifically bombing Afghanistan and increasing defense spending, said Joan McElroy of Columbia.
Peace activists began demonstrating at the Broadway and Providence Road intersection immediately after the United States began bombing raids in Afghanistan. Yesterday was the first time a rush-hour protest was staged at both intersections - Providence Road and Stadium Boulevard and Providence Road and Broadway.
More than 30 protesters, who came alone or as part of a coalition of pro-peace political and religious groups, held signs at both locations asking drivers to honk their support.
"I’m not against the U.S. defending itself, but in this case, the first thing we did was start throwing bombs at people who don’t even know who we are," protester Rob Nix said, adding that the average Afghan had no involvement in Sept. 11 but is instead a victim of U.S. attacks.
Nix and other protesters said there are people in Columbia with similar opinions but who feel intimidated by popular opinion. The protest and anonymous horn-honking gives them a way to speak their mind.
People should seek out a different perspective on the war than the one offered by the local media outlets, Nix said. Across the intersection from where he stood, protesters held signs that read "Don’t depend on CNN" and "Network news = $ from war." Alternative viewpoints exist, Nix said, but they can’t be found in mainstream media.
The protest yesterday drew a more positive response than previous protests, said Jimmy Lappe, a member of Students for Progressive Action, formerly Campus Peaceworks.
"When we first started doing this, 80 percent of people gave us a negative reaction," Lappe said while waving a sign that read "New Bush, old war" to drivers at the intersection of Providence Road and Stadium Boulevard.
Now, he said, he thinks people are starting to see U.S. involvement in Afghanistan as a protracted war that isn’t really moving forward, and they are not as supportive of the war as they were in October.
Not everyone who drove by yesterday supported the protesters’ message. Activists couldn’t be sure if the drivers honking their horns were honking for peace or for other reasons.
"It’s hard to tell a lot of times. People will honk at us when they’re in agreement with us or if they’re angry at us," Lappe said as the sun set on his group of about 13 protesters.
Up the road at Broadway, McElroy said some people had driven by and said things like, "If you don’t like it here, move to Canada," of "If you lived in Afghanistan, you wouldn’t have the right to hold that sign."
As the protest wore into the 5 o’clock hour and rush-hour traffic increased, one woman slowed her car, rolled down her window and shouted at McElroy’s group: "If you’re not happy here, get the hell out!"
As they moved back from traffic on the road, some of the protesters smiled in response.
I think all right. I think that these pacifist need to go out and get a job. If they don't like it here, tell them to move to China, North Korea, Iraq, etc.
Wow. All 30 of them. Scary.
Not.
God bless that lady whoever she is, LOL!!!! I couldn't agree more!
Rob Nix, another prime example of why inbreeding is such a devastating occurrence.
"the average Afghan had no involvement in Sept. 11"
Note to Mr Rob, neither did all the people who were murdered in New York, Washington, & Pa
I don't!!! They should watch the FOX News Channel if they want to be informed, just like I do.
I see the skunks are trying to hide their stripes.
We didn't bomb the "average Afghan" you nitwit. We bombed Al Queda and Taliban.
A group of maybe 20 to 25 total people split on each of the 4 corners. Pretty much insignificant numbers, however the media made them look like a much larger group. I hate the Columbia news media, especially tv.
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