Anti-war rallies cover the globe this past weekend
More than 4,000 people took to Santa Monica Beach on Saturday to demonstrate their opposition to possible U.S. plans to attack Iraq.
The event, organized by the Agape Church, was just one of hundreds held around the globe that drew millions of people together in calling for peace, unity and an end to talk of war.
Hundreds marched along the boardwalk from Venice to Santa Monica Beach near Ocean Park Boulevard, chanting “What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!” Others meditated on the sand before the rally. As a finale to the event, hundreds of people formed a human peace symbol of Picasso’s “Guernica” on the beach that was photographed from the sky.
Saturday could well be marked in the history books as one of the most important days in the peace movement, say activists, because ordinary citizens are finally fed up enough to take a stand against the U.S. government.
While much of Saturday’s event at Santa Monica Beach was a plea for peace, a half dozen speakers sent a message to the Bush administration that an estimated $200-billion war with Iraq is not going to solve the country’s problems.
Their messages to the crowd — which were met with ongoing applause — were that the money being spent on military forces should be redirected to address America’s more serious problems like improving health care, homelessness, environmental protection and lack of funding for education.
But George W. Bush, the President of the United States, would rather fight his own battle than listen to what the American people want, protesters said.
“They are wasting our own money,” said Blase Bonpane, a longtime and well-known political activist. “They are willing to kill our sons and daughters with uranium.”
He also said the average age of an Iraqi is 14 years old and there will certainly be much bloodshed if U.S. military forces start bombing civilian targets.
“It’s the greatest child molestation in the world,” he said. “We must protest in every city and town in this country... any incompetent can start a war.”
“We must protest in every city and town in this country... any incompetent can start a war.” — – BLASE BONPANE Political activist
Ron Kovic, a Vietnam veteran and author of “Born on the Fourth of July,” told the crowd that war will only make it worse for America in the future.
“The policy of our government in Washington will only make us greater targets of terror,” he said.
“The policy of our government in Washington will only make us greater targets of terror.” — –RON KOVIC Vietnam veteran and author
But if enough people stand united against war, the Bush administration will have no choice but to back off, Kovic said. Just by sheer numbers alone, Saturday’s protests around the world has given him hope that people aren’t going to stand for anymore violence.
“We are tired of war,” he said. “The tide is turning and we are moving away from this war... This is an extraordinary day. This is an historic day. This is the greatest day in the peace movement.”
Kovic warned that the days ahead will be difficult for Americans, particularly because the current administration doesn’t represent the people.
“This country is your country and we need to be the leaders,” he shouted.
Tom Hayden, a longtime activist and former California Assemblyman, said Bush’s approval rating is quickly slipping because citizens around the world have realized he is nothing more than a “puppet” for people building their own empires.
“If Bush invades Iraq, we bury Bush politically in 2004,” he told the crowd. But there is hope, Hayden said, because even leaders from countries like Germany and France are standing up to the United States and willing to accept the consequences. And the people are following suit.
“This is the largest and maybe the most mysterious movements for peace in the last 50 years,” he said. “My friends, you are getting out of control... Where are your elected leaders? Why are you speaking for the millions?”
At least two government representatives turned out on Saturday to speak on behalf of their constituents — City Councilman Kevin McKeown and state Sen. Sheila Kuel.
Last week, the Santa Monica City Council passed a resolution opposing the war. More than 70 cities around the country have taken such action.
“I have spoken for peace for months, but I couldn’t speak for Santa Monica because Santa Monica hadn’t taken a position,” he said. “Last week, peace passed in Santa Monica. We’ve been referred to the ‘People’s Republic of Santa Monica,’ but now we are the ‘Peaceful Republic of Santa Monica.’”
Jodie Evans, who recently traveled to Baghdad with a delegation of American women, said the press has not accurately reported the issues surrounding war and it serves as a mouthpiece for the United States government.
“The press is letting us down,” she said. “We need you to be the press.”
One event organizer even suggested boycotting every product advertised on Fox News because of its coverage of the war.
Organizers pleaded with the masses to spread the word of peace through demonstrations and have conversations with others in their communities to seek solutions instead of creating new problems.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 17, 2003. Read the original PDF.