WNY Peace Activists Join with Millions around the Globe to Say No to US Occupation

More than 300 people braved intermittent downpours and icy cold
temperatures in Buffalo Saturday to join millions of others around the
globe to protest the Iraq War and occupation.

A number of Buffalo area organizations participated in and helped
organize the event, including the href="http://www.wnypeace.org">Western New York Peace Center, the
Buffalo Raging Grannies, Buffalo
A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the Buffalo
Forum, Buffalo Peace
People, Buffalo State
Students for Peace, the Buffalo Anarchist Collective, the Coalition
Against Police Brutality, and St. Mark's/St. Paul's Church (United
Church of Christ).



The rally began at Lafayette Square -- directly across the street from
the recruiting offices for all four branches of the U.S military. Led by
a banner declaring "End the Occupations -- from Iraq to Haiti to
Palestine -- Bring the Troops Home Now!" and carrying signs saying
"Support U.S. Troops: Bring 'Em Home!", "Bush: the American Terrorist,"
"Power to the People," and "Halliburton and Bechtel Get Rich, Our Loved
Ones Die," the protesters marched through pouring rain to the Erie
County Sheriff's Holding Center, past F.B.I. Headquarters and the
Immigration and Naturalization Service offices to the Federal Building.



Wet and bedraggled and shivering from the cold but in high spirits, the
marchers closed the event with speeches and refreshments at St.
Mark's/St. Paul's Church, a few blocks down from the Federal Building.



"I feel energized by the attendance in such awful weather," said Sandy
Currubba, chair of the Erie County Green Party. Currubba pointed out
that everyone came from diverse ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds
and were concerned with a wide variety of issues. "We don't see
eye-to-eye on every issue," she said, "but we respect the diversity and
people's commitment to making the world a better place to live in."



Julie Broyles of the href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/Zoar120403.html">
Friends of the Ancient Forest was also impressed by the turnout.
"It's incredible that so many people would brave the rain and freezing
cold to show their passion for peace." Friends of the Ancient Forest is
working to keep the href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/ZoarValleymsg.htm
l">Zoar Valley wild.



"You can't just say you agree with the protests and stay home," said
Green Party member Elizabeth Berry of Buffalo. "You have to get out and
do something." Berry carried a colorful sign with the slogan, "War is
not healthy for children and other living things." That slogan
originated with Another Mother For Peace during the Vietnam War
protests.



Ellie Dorritie, an organizer with Buffalo A.N.S.W.E.R., said many young
people had called their offices wanting more information and help
finding rides. One high school student in particular asked how they were
making the connection between police brutality and the Iraq war and
occupation.



Dorritie said the "war on terror" has militarized the civilian police to
the point that "they behave like an occupying army," sweeping in with no
regard for First Amendment rights. She pointed to an incident in Buffalo
where the transit police beat up on a teenage girl who had refused to
surrender her transit card to them.



The so-called "war on terror" has put people "into a box of fear," so
they accept repression and "send the police out to do whatever they want
to do," Dorritie said. "The war on terror is a lie," she added. The
government "uses the club of fear to take from us the freedoms we fought
for and won."