Protest held against Iraq war

Protests were held around the world Saturday to oppose the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The protest in Washington D.C. drew the largest number of people, totaling somewhere between 10 and 15 thousand protesters. They marched under the banner "End the Occupation of Iraq, Bring the Troops Home Now!" \nHere in Bloomington, local residents gathered on the courthouse steps on a dreary Saturday afternoon to express their support for the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The protest was organized by Cindy Hoffman, head of the Bloomington Peace and Action Coalition, and Mike Gasser, a Professor of Cognitive Computer Science and member of IU's Progressive Faculty Coalition. \nProfessor M. Nazif Shahrani, a Muslim-American from Afghanistan, began Saturday's program with a speech that questioned the war on terrorism. \n"If terrorism is a disease, how can we have war as a medicine for curing the disease?" Shahrani said. "All war produces is mistrust and hatred. Our justice system should've taken over. They should've hunted them (the terrorists) down and put them on trial."\nHoffman also spoke to the crowd. In her speech, she addressed the dilemma cited by many as reason to maintain occupation: How can we take responsibility for our actions if we leave Iraq? \nHoffman's answer: "In the occupation begin truth and reconciliation." \nHowever, she did emphasize that "unless we speak the truth out loud, it is not the truth." \nShe then led the protesters in repeating these "truths" aloud with her. \nWhile the number of IU students in attendance was low, a few did attend. Ursula McTaggart, a second year graduate student in the English department, found out about the protest through several e-mail lists. She said she supports the removal of U.S. troops because "we're taking over, taking resources, creating more destruction, creating more conflict." \nMcTaggert expressed the belief that the occupation is one of the reasons "democracy in Iraq is more of a puppet government." She said Iraq could build a true democracy only "if people were actually deciding, instead of being forced."\nMost student involvement came from those who made comments as they strolled by. Sophomore Matt Kovacinski stood on the sidewalk for a moment to express his opposition to the protest as he yelled "Support our troops." Kovacinski said he believes protests demonstrate a lack of support for our soldiers. \n"If the president says 'Go over there' they go without a question," he said. "They are protecting our freedom." \nAs the protesters listened to speakers, many of the people who walked, drove, and biked past the courthouse expressed their opposition to the event. Several passersby chanted "USA" from across the street. One car drove by as the driver yelled "You must take responsibility for the freedom you enjoy!" Caught at a traffic light down the street, he continued, "If we don't support the virtues of the world, who will?"\nAcknowledging the disagreements regarding how we got into the conflict and how we should get out, Computer Science professor Mike Gasser helped organize the protest as a way to highlight the widespread "agreement within the peace community: the troops should come home now." Gasser said he believes the biggest problem surrounding the issue is that people are poorly informed. \nGasser said rather than trying to prove each other wrong, the protesters instead were united Saturday by their commitment to peace. One protester held a sign that read: "Support our troops AND bring them home." \n-- Contact staff writer Vanessa Caruso at vcaruso@indiana.edu.