Money for Education not Occupation

Recap of Fridays Demonstration at Liberty Pole

April 18, 2003
[Rochester, NY] Weekly Rallies and Speak outs against US aggression continued today at the downtown Liberty Pole. Despite the illusion created by the Pentagon and the mainstream media that this war is over, people all around the world are continuing to voice strong opposition to the continued attacks on Middle Eastern Sovereignty. With RCAN (Rochester Campus Action Network) taking the lead, about one hundred demonstrators converged at 4pm Friday afternoon, to oppose the US occupation of Iraq and astronomical military expenditures. Speakers at the Rally demanded that our tax money be used for social programs, and especially for public education instead of for military purposes.
Rajesh, a Wilson Magnet high school teacher, talked about the contradictions he faces daily as a teacher who uses non-violent conflict resolution methods in the class room. He said that he feels that as a representative of the adult world in the school, it’s very difficult to teach kids conflict resolution when the "leaders" of this country so easily resort to violence and conflict escalation.
Dennis; from "Students Deserve Military Free Schools", spoke to the crowd about the importance of keeping one of this country's most violent institutions, the US military, out of schools. He said JROTC programs costs the Rochester City School District 100,000 a year. He posed the following question "Why do we spend so much effort and money educating our children, requiring them to attend classes from kindergarten through high school, teaching them to read, write, play music, solve math problems, perform in theatrical productions, play sports, and build friendships. Then we turn them over to the military which teaches them how to fight in wars so they can kill the educated kids that grew up in another country. All this because their older and wiser governmental leaders could not solve there differences peacefully. This is just another example of how the young suffer because of the stupidity of the old."
Sal Parlatto, a Korean era Vet, spoke out about how the Bush administration has completely abused the tragedy of 911 to push forward and agenda which trashes civil rights, social programs, and serves the interest of major corporations.
In addition to the speakers, Eastman Student Nico from Chile played some original guitar compositions which spoke of the struggle of common people in a Capitalist era. Mitch Jones, played guitar music which reworked some powerful street chants.
Several Rochester police were on hand, but maintained a subdued presence.
The Weekly Rallies against US aggression will continue every Friday, 4pm, at the Downtown Liberty Pole.

By Rochester Indymedia