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. <!--break--> <br><br> A number of Buffalo area organizations participated in and helped organize the event, including the <a href="http://www.wnypeace.org">Western New York Peace Center</a>, the Buffalo Raging Grannies, <a href="http://buffaloanswer.org">Buffalo A.N.S.W.E.R</a> (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the <I>Buffalo Forum</I>, <a href="http://www.buffalopeacepeople.org">Buffalo Peace People</a>, <a href="http://www.buffstatepeace.org">Buffalo State Students for Peace</a>, the Buffalo Anarchist Collective, the Coalition Against Police Brutality, and St. Mark's/St. Paul's Church (United Church of Christ). <br><br> 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. <br><br> 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. <br><br> "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." <br><br> Julie Broyles of the <a href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/Zoar120403.html"> Friends of the Ancient Forest</a> 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 <a href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/ZoarValleymsg.htm l">Zoar Valley</a> wild. <br><br> "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. <br><br> 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. <br><br> 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. <br><br> 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."

<p>More than 300 people braved intermittent downpours and icy cold<br /> temperatures in Buffalo Saturday to join millions of others around the<br /> globe to protest the Iraq War and occupation.</p> <!--break--><p><br /><br /><br /> A number of Buffalo area organizations participated in and helped<br /> organize the event, including the <a></a> href="http://www.wnypeace.org"&gt;Western New York Peace Center, the<br /> Buffalo Raging Grannies, <a href="http://buffaloanswer.org">Buffalo<br /> A.N.S.W.E.R</a> (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the <i>Buffalo<br /> Forum</i>, <a href="http://www.buffalopeacepeople.org">Buffalo Peace<br /> People</a>, <a href="http://www.buffstatepeace.org">Buffalo State<br /> Students for Peace</a>, the Buffalo Anarchist Collective, the Coalition<br /> Against Police Brutality, and St. Mark's/St. Paul's Church (United<br /> Church of Christ).<br /> <br /><br /><br /> The rally began at Lafayette Square -- directly across the street from<br /> the recruiting offices for all four branches of the U.S military. Led by<br /> a banner declaring "End the Occupations -- from Iraq to Haiti to<br /> Palestine -- Bring the Troops Home Now!" and carrying signs saying<br /> "Support U.S. Troops: Bring 'Em Home!", "Bush: the American Terrorist,"<br /> "Power to the People," and "Halliburton and Bechtel Get Rich, Our Loved<br /> Ones Die," the protesters marched through pouring rain to the Erie<br /> County Sheriff's Holding Center, past F.B.I. Headquarters and the<br /> Immigration and Naturalization Service offices to the Federal Building.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> Wet and bedraggled and shivering from the cold but in high spirits, the<br /> marchers closed the event with speeches and refreshments at St.<br /> Mark's/St. Paul's Church, a few blocks down from the Federal Building.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> "I feel energized by the attendance in such awful weather," said Sandy<br /> Currubba, chair of the Erie County Green Party. Currubba pointed out<br /> that everyone came from diverse ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds<br /> and were concerned with a wide variety of issues. "We don't see<br /> eye-to-eye on every issue," she said, "but we respect the diversity and<br /> people's commitment to making the world a better place to live in."<br /> <br /><br /><br /> Julie Broyles of the <a></a> href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/Zoar120403.html"&gt;<br /> Friends of the Ancient Forest was also impressed by the turnout.<br /> "It's incredible that so many people would brave the rain and freezing<br /> cold to show their passion for peace." Friends of the Ancient Forest is<br /> working to keep the <a></a> href="http://www.homestead.com/concernedcitizens/files/ZoarValleymsg.htm<br /> l"&gt;Zoar Valley wild.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> "You can't just say you agree with the protests and stay home," said<br /> Green Party member Elizabeth Berry of Buffalo. "You have to get out and<br /> do something." Berry carried a colorful sign with the slogan, "War is<br /> not healthy for children and other living things." That slogan<br /> originated with Another Mother For Peace during the Vietnam War<br /> protests.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> Ellie Dorritie, an organizer with Buffalo A.N.S.W.E.R., said many young<br /> people had called their offices wanting more information and help<br /> finding rides. One high school student in particular asked how they were<br /> making the connection between police brutality and the Iraq war and<br /> occupation.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> Dorritie said the "war on terror" has militarized the civilian police to<br /> the point that "they behave like an occupying army," sweeping in with no<br /> regard for First Amendment rights. She pointed to an incident in Buffalo<br /> where the transit police beat up on a teenage girl who had refused to<br /> surrender her transit card to them.<br /> <br /><br /><br /> The so-called "war on terror" has put people "into a box of fear," so<br /> they accept repression and "send the police out to do whatever they want<br /> to do," Dorritie said. "The war on terror is a lie," she added. The<br /> government "uses the club of fear to take from us the freedoms we fought<br /> for and won."</p>