Students lead Indy war protest

INDIANAPOLIS – “Give peace a chance.” “Support Our Troops – Bring Them Home.” “Make Peace, Not War.” \nThese were just a few of the signs held by more than 250 demonstrators Saturday at Indianapolis’ Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Organized and led almost entirely by college and high school students, the protest, titled “Four Years Too Long: Students for a New Agenda in Iraq,” promoted peaceful resistance, tolerance of differences and gaining understanding as human beings sharing one world.\nValparaiso University students Libby A’Hearn and Scott Osthus spoke of the importance of the college students’ generation and actions that can be taken in order to secure a more peaceful world. \n“We are students,” A’Hearn said. “We are demanding a new agenda in Iraq. This is a democracy, and the people will force the government to stand by those principles.”\nOsthus spoke next to the crowd.\n“People say that our generation is apathetic, and that we don’t care,” he said. “But we do care, about our troops, about our veterans, about the Iraqis and about the future of the world.”\nMany of the student protesters held signs with the names, ages, hometowns and date of deaths of the 75 Indiana residents who had lost their lives in the war in Iraq. \nHarold Donle, one of the few non-student planners who is also in charge of communications for the Indianapolis Veterans for Peace chapter, presided over the protest and encouraged students begin taking action for a less violent war.\n“On March 19, 2003, our nation declared war on a nation of children,” Donle energetically shouted, getting much response from his audience. “When we entered Iraq, half the population was under the age of 15. When did that become our America, to attack a nation of children?”\nDonle, who is a former Marine, teaches interpersonal communications at IUPUI. To the students, he asked, “Do you see how the administration is treating our veterans? Since Vietnam, the treatment and funding for disabilities, education and a standard of living for veterans have slowly declined.” Donle suggested that the demonstrators visit the veterans’ hospital to observe the lack of facilities and technology available to the disabled soldiers.\nThroughout the demonstration, emotions and sentiments were elevated by multiple music acts. Bolth, a political punk band from Indianapolis, sang about changing policy and not being able to justify the war. \n“The American ego is sometimes a lot bigger than weapons of mass destruction,” the lead guitarist said between songs. “And no one ever sees the long term effects of war.”\nBolth was followed by veteran Vince Emanuelle, a marine stationed in Iraq for nearly four years. He gravely recounted the first time that he had killed another person. “At that moment, I felt accomplished, satisfied, like a hero,” he said. “Afterwards, I only felt numb and fearful, as if the man I had just killed was watching my every move.”\nAfter hearing from the living veteran, Donle commemorated the 75 deceased Indiana residents, who gave their lives for their country, by beginning a solemn vigil. For each name read aloud, the student holding that soldier’s image came forward as a bell rang honoring that person’s life and service. \nHowever, as peaceful as the protesters’ intentions were, a conflict was inevitable. Greenwood, Ind. residents Jim and Kathy Gibson circled the monument multiple times on his motorcycle, revving his engine and playing country musician Toby Keith’s song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” during the vigil. One furious protestor, Chris Cosner, a student from Manchester College, jumped in front of the motorcycle to cease its looping around the monument.\n“I was holding my sign, Craig A. Boling from Elkhart, dead at age 38, and this man was being so disrespectful,” Cosner said. “This is a peace movement and a memorial for fallen soldiers. So, I stopped in front of him and told him that this is a funeral and memorial for those who are dead ...”\nGaining back the attention of the demonstrators after the confrontation was a student speaker.\n“These people were good-intentioned, beautiful people, children, who are dead,” she said. “But we are all connected, even to the people we don’t like. We are all human, we are all alive and we all share the same planet.”