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THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2007
ACTIVISM
Protestors gather for march after film
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Michael Sanger, Lawrence, leads a group of anti-war protesters down Massachusetts Street on Monday evening. Sanger served one year in Iraq during the occupation and recently formed a Kansas City chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War along with two other veterans.
Crowd walks against 'racist war after documentary showing
By Sam Carlson
scarlson@kansan.com
The anti-war movement took to the streets Monday evening as a group of more than 100 protesters marched down Massachusetts Street as restaurant patrons and passers-by looked on.
The crowd slowed traffic at times and chanted "One, two, three, four, we don't want your racist war!" on their way to a vigil at South Park. The crowd began the march at Liberty Hall after viewing "Sir! No Sir!" a documentary film about the G.I. resistance movement during the Vietnam War.
Betsy Hatch, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said she came to watch the documentary, but decided to stay and take part when she heard about the march.
*Yes, the Campbell Conference book signing will be back here next year!
"I was thinking how great it is when people can come together for something that they really feel is important," she said. "I think our message got across."
The film told the story of American soldiers in Vietnam who opposed the war and the tactics they used to make their voices heard. Certain parts of the film, such as when a veteran of the war called his peace symbol necklace
his dog tag, received cheers and applause from the audience.
The event was sponsored by Films for Action, Kansas Mutual Aid, and the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice.
After arriving at South Park, the crowd held candles and gathered at the park's pavilion to listen to a speech by an Iraq veteran from the Kansas City chapter of the Iraq Veterans Against War. An open forum followed, and several members of the crowd, including Vietnam veterans, spoke about various topics such as the media's role in the war and the presence of G.I. resistance in the Vietnam and Iraq Wars.
One person encouraged everyone to write their congressional representatives and voice their disapproval of the war. Another person urged those in attendance to take part in the anti-war movement by cutting down on their oil usage.
James Piller, 2007 graduate, said although he was impressed by the discussion, he felt more needed to be done.
"It's a good sign that they're actually here and being seen but it's very different from actually doing something about it," he said.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Susan Rose, Lawrence, holds a candle in protest against the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Protesters marched south down Massachusetts Street and congregated for a candlelight vigil in South Park on Monday evening.