HARRISONBURG, Va. – Students traveled to Washington, D.C., Saturday to take part in the first national anti-war marches since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Thousands of young protesters came from across the nation to dispute and march against war. The rally was generally a peaceful display against military retaliation, spoiled by only three arrests and some fights, said police officials, according to a Sept. 30 Washington Post article. Junior Progressive Coalition member Jenny Schockemoehl was one of many who traveled to D.C. to march.
“It’s really important to mobilize and have a demonstration against war,” Schockemoehl said. “We hope this demonstration will show our government that its people do not want to fight.”
The first march started at 9 a.m. at Union Station and was sponsored by the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (ACC).
According to ACC Web site www.abolishthebank.org, it is an organization that stands for “direct action against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings.”
They defend anarchy and global action, stating these organizations do nothing but hurt the poor and middle-class people while aiding the elite, according to the Web site. In an act to promote anarchy, the ACC did not get a permit for their march, requiring police to escort protesters as they walked.
A second march, sponsored by the International Action Center (IAC), started at noon at the Freedom Plaza on 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
It was originally scheduled to start at the White House. However, President George W. Bush decided that no protests should take place in that vicinity during a 30-day period. According to the IAC Web site www.iacenter.org, this proposal was an effort by the Bush administration to disrupt the demonstration.
“It was actually a really big deal that Bush called for the restriction,” Schockemoehl said. “It was an example of a restraint on our liberties.”
The IAC march was an effort to show the American government that it should concentrate on helping the victims of the attacks by setting up jobs, homes and health care, instead of lashing back against others, according to the IAC Web site.
Rallies were held both before and after the marches. Signs were held with statements such as, “8 million Afghan refugees need food now, not war and terror,” and “Amerika! Get a Clue!,” according to the Post.
The Post reported that many criticized U.S. foreign policy, blaming the United States government for American tensions with the Middle East.
The Post also reported that police officials and spectators said overall the demonstration went well.
Even though some arrests were made and tension between protesters and authorities seemed apparent, the focus on the event was peace, according to the Post.
Shockemoehl said she hoped to come back from her trip to Washington with the insight and motivation to “help raise energy for people at home.”
Junior Progressive Coalition member Andrea Morley attended the protest as well.
“Whether we accomplished something or not, [to have] energy to bring back to campus to share with other people is a high point,” Morley said.
Senior Amnesty International member Ellen Jenkins said she wanted to go to the protest to witness a peaceful approach to the country’s current situation.
“I don’t think America should be bombing other countries,” Jenkins said. “We need to think about what bombing is going to entail.”
