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Protest marks 5th anniversary of Iraq war |
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By InFocus News Staff and News Agencies
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LOS ANGELES — As the United States prepares to send more than 20,000 troops to Iraq as part of a new security plan and to further reconstruction efforts, anti-war opposition remains strong. Despite the cold weather and scattered showers, thousands of protesters gathered in Los Angeles and in cities all over the world on March 15 to mark the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
The biggest local protest, which was organized by the ANSWER coalition, began when demonstrators began gathering at Hollywood and Vine at 11 a.m. An hour later, thousands of people were cheering for speakers at the opening rally. As the march began, thousands of people filled in behind the lead banners, chanting and waving signs in the air. Former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, actor Mike Farrell and others helped lead the protest.
The march filled the street from sidewalk to sidewalk and ended at the main rally point at Sunset and Cahuenga, the site of the CNN building.
“CNN, can’t you see? Put the peace march on TV!” the protestors chanted.
Vietnam war veteran Ron Kovic, whose book “Born on the Fourth of July” was turned into a film starring Tom Cruise, joined the march in his wheelchair. Shot and paralyzed in Vietnam 40 years ago, he told AFP he felt sorrow and anguish for the Iraqi people and for the U.S. men and women fighting there “who are suffering, who are losing their arms and legs, who are being killed.”
“But I feel more than anything, when I see what’s going on in Iraq, I feel determined, determined to fight with everything within us to stop this madness,” he added.
In a situation where the government has continuously ignored the voice of the people, many wonder why they should protest.
“It’s the least I can do,” said Mariam Moustafa. “I honestly couldn’t sleep at night knowing that atrocities are occurring around the world. I know protests are not going to better the condition of the Iraqis or free the Palestinians from life under apartheid. I’m trying to resonate the message that they are unable to.”
A recent study puts the civilian death toll in Iraq at more than 100,000, while the number of deaths of American troops is now more than 4,000.
The Council on American Islamic Relations said the war’s five-year military and civilian death toll has severely damaged America’s security and international image.
“After the tragic deaths of 4,000 American military personnel and of uncounted thousands of Iraqi civilians, we are less secure and less respected as a nation,” CAIR National Director Tahra Goraya said in a statement. “As we enter the sixth year of this war, it is time to finally withdraw our troops and to do what we can to mitigate the damage caused by our unjustified and counterproductive invasion of Iraq.”
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