Student group marches across campus in afternoon war protest

A group of 200 students marched across campus Thursday at noon to protest the war in Iraq.\nShouting "This is what democracy looks like," and holding signs with anti-war slogans, students from the Citizens Opposed to the War in Iraq started from Dunn Meadow, wound past Ballantine Hall and the Union and ended at the Sample Gates.\nThe most important message from the march was that dissent is in fact patriotic, COWI member Daniel Mark said.\nHe said people who are anti-war are afraid to express it because they don't want to be seen as against U.S. soldiers. \n"The best way to support troops is to ask that they come home immediately and alive," he said.\nMark said he hopes the protest opened eyes to the peace movement. \n"The important thing is we let people know this movement is still alive," he said.\nSophomore Sam Lawrence, another member of COWI, said he wants people to know that anti-war does not equate with anti-American. \n"We want to let students know it's okay to be pro-peace," Lawrence said.\nA small group of students protesting the protest marched alongside, carrying pro-Bush signs.