Anti-war rally planned for Saturday

Although the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq was Monday, protesters are not finished making their voices heard. \nThroughout this past week, multiple rallies in support of ending the war have been held all over the nation, including in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and even in Bloomington. But this weekend, a student-led protest titled “Four Years Too Long: Students for a New Agenda in Iraq” will begin 11 a.m. Saturday at downtown Indianapolis’ Monument Circle.\nLawrence North High School senior Kelly McGuire was a key planner in putting together the protest, but McGuire gives most of the credit to Valparaiso student organizers Scott Osthus and Libby A’Hearn. McGuire said the two have secured the proper permits from the city and are working with the private group that maintains the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument.\n“Really, I’m just some pissed off kid,” McGuire said. “After reading the organizing statements Scott and Libby had come up with, I immediately wanted to get on board and they unofficially gave me the responsibility of the Indianapolis region schools.”\nHe also said that although there is a permanent police authority around the circle, the organizers believe that full cooperation between the two parties will be present.\n“The objective of this event is to bring together motivated anti-war students from all over Indiana,” McGuire said. “We hope to create an anti-war movement in the heart of this conservative stronghold.”\nMcGuire, who said he learned of the project from a friend, has been helping to plan and organize this event for almost 1 1/2 years.\nA detailed itinerary has been scheduled, including several musical acts, speakers and a vigil. The guest speaker list is comprised of representatives from various peace-driven organizations, such as Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, an Iraq War veteran, the Quaker Society and a handful of student speakers.\n“When people walk away from this event I want them to walk away with an arsenal of tools from information, organizing resources and contacts of other motivated students as well as the inspiration and motivation to make a long-term commitment to social change and ending this war,” McGuire said.\nOrganizers encourage anyone interested in ending the war to join the protest this weekend.\n“Our task is a huge one, a complicated and difficult one, especially for kids here in Indiana,” McGuire said. “But if we don’t do it, who will?”