“It remains to be seen how many people in our time will make that journey from war to nonviolent action against war. It is the great challenge of our time: how to achieve justice, with struggle, but without war.”
-Howard Zinn

To commemorate the second anniversary of the Iraq war I went to Chicago to join thousands of others in opposing the costly (in human and monetary terms) occupation of Iraq. Several hundred police officers were also with us.

We planned to assemble at Oak St. and Michigan Ave., then march down Michigan to the rally at Federal plaza. The police were at Michigan and Oak ordering everyone to disperse and herding them to a less prominent spot on Dearborn. There we stood until the police allowed us to march along Dearborn. At federal plaza we were surrounded by officers in riot gear, and they used horses to push us off the street.

Despite the police intimidation, there was a great spirit of peace and togetherness.
The liberal media barely reported the protests, and I was very nearly in a Chicago Tribune photo.

I read that eight people were arrested and one counter-protester attacked a police officer. Figures.

Another $82 billion has been allocated for the Iraq occupation. There are plans to build 14 permanant U.S. military bases. Over 1,500 U.S. soldiers have died, and according to a Lancet study 100,000 civilians may have been killed. But since the Pentagon doesn’t consider them important enough to count we don’t know the real number.

The BBC just reported that “The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq’s oil before the 9/11 attacks.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4354269.stm

It’s time that all who are truly concerned with human life and dignity stood and opposed this illegal war based on false precepts.

This is not a war for democracy, and it is not a democratic war. The majority of the world’s population opposed it, including the populations of the Coalition nations. Polls show that 70% of Americans think the level of casualties is unacceptable. No timetable has been set, nor has any intent been shown by the administration for removal of troops.

I opposed this war before it started. I am a pacifist and don’t believe in violence, but it doesn’t take a pacifist to oppose this war. I knew Iraq didn’t have weapons of mass destruction, and there were no ties to al Qaeda. The liberal media has been very complacent, and did not see fit to question these false justifications. I knew Bush & Co. wanted to go to Iraq long before September 11. And I knew this war would not be beneficial for the majority of the population. Wars have always been fought for power and profit, and this one is no exception.