Students Draw Crowd for Anti-war Rally

Transfered from old site <!--break--> &nbsp;<BR>By Elaine Russell, Rochester Indymedia &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>(March 14, 2003) A rally organized by the Rochester Campus Action Network (RCAN) drew about 1500 protesters in front of the Federal Building this evening. &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Underscoring the importance of this public stand against war was the presence of city police officers, federal marshals, the RPD command mobile unit and 19 pro-war demonstrators. &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Earlier in the day organizers received a greeting from Special Agent Joseph Butta of the Department of Homeland Security containing a copy of the U.S. District Court Order prohibiting protesters access to the Federal Building. The essence of the order was: stay on the sidewalk and do not prevent access to the building by authorized users or else. &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Speaking for RCAN Ahlea Howard, a student at the University of Rochester, called the rally a success. Ms. Howard said the rally was intended to provide a voice for the people. “We brought out a lot of people who hadn’t attended a demonstration before.” RCAN members represent the eight area colleges as well as a growing number of high schools. &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Many community leaders attended the rally. Judith Kiehl, Pastoral Associate with Holy Trinity Church, was one of the religious leaders arrested at the Ash Wednesday demonstration of repentance. Asked about the personal sacrifice she made to oppose the possible U.S. invasion of Iraq she commented, “It’s not as great as that of the people of Iraq or those being sent over there to fight. Even the poor have sacrificed as their resources are being diminished. We have a president who is not willing to listen to the people and that increases the urgency of our participation here.” &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Vic Vinkey with Veterans for Peace served in Korea. “It’s unfortunate that we have to depend on France and the world community to defeat this war monger who is preparing a pre-emptive strike on Iraq.” &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Father Jim Callan of Spiritus Christi Church commented, “I see no justice in our president’s action. It’s an opening to a whole new way of settling differences by bombing each other. I don’t believe in war.” &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>Brian Erway of the International Socialist Organization observed that it was great to see so many people at this rally, “but we have a long way to go. Bush is willing to alienate everybody to get what he wants. We need to look beyond the solutions offered in the past by the Democrats and Republicans and continue to build the movement.” &nbsp;<BR> &nbsp;<BR>RCAN members have been in the streets opposing war initiatives of the Bush administration since the first U.S. strike on Afghanistan and have carried the torch to light the way for others to take a public stand against war for oil and world dominance. They are rising stars with a proven gift for leadership. &nbsp;<BR>

<p>Transfered from old site</p> <!--break--><p>  <br />By Elaine Russell, Rochester Indymedia<br />  <br /><br />  <br />(March 14, 2003) A rally organized by the Rochester Campus Action Network (RCAN) drew about 1500 protesters in front of the Federal Building this evening.<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Underscoring the importance of this public stand against war was the presence of city police officers, federal marshals, the RPD command mobile unit and 19 pro-war demonstrators.<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Earlier in the day organizers received a greeting from Special Agent Joseph Butta of the Department of Homeland Security containing a copy of the U.S. District Court Order prohibiting protesters access to the Federal Building. The essence of the order was: stay on the sidewalk and do not prevent access to the building by authorized users or else.<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Speaking for RCAN Ahlea Howard, a student at the University of Rochester, called the rally a success. Ms. Howard said the rally was intended to provide a voice for the people. “We brought out a lot of people who hadn’t attended a demonstration before.” RCAN members represent the eight area colleges as well as a growing number of high schools.<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Many community leaders attended the rally. Judith Kiehl, Pastoral Associate with Holy Trinity Church, was one of the religious leaders arrested at the Ash Wednesday demonstration of repentance. Asked about the personal sacrifice she made to oppose the possible U.S. invasion of Iraq she commented, “It’s not as great as that of the people of Iraq or those being sent over there to fight. Even the poor have sacrificed as their resources are being diminished. We have a president who is not willing to listen to the people and that increases the urgency of our participation here.”<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Vic Vinkey with Veterans for Peace served in Korea. “It’s unfortunate that we have to depend on France and the world community to defeat this war monger who is preparing a pre-emptive strike on Iraq.”<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Father Jim Callan of Spiritus Christi Church commented, “I see no justice in our president’s action. It’s an opening to a whole new way of settling differences by bombing each other. I don’t believe in war.”<br />  <br /><br />  <br />Brian Erway of the International Socialist Organization observed that it was great to see so many people at this rally, “but we have a long way to go. Bush is willing to alienate everybody to get what he wants. We need to look beyond the solutions offered in the past by the Democrats and Republicans and continue to build the movement.”<br />  <br /><br />  <br />RCAN members have been in the streets opposing war initiatives of the Bush administration since the first U.S. strike on Afghanistan and have carried the torch to light the way for others to take a public stand against war for oil and world dominance. They are rising stars with a proven gift for leadership.<br />  <br /></p>