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Demonstrators Make Peace Pitch from Four Corners
Several dozen people gathered Thursday at the intersection of Carrillo and Chapala streets, brandishing flags, banners and signs in an effort to promote peace. The group, greeted with honks of support from passing motorists, was protesting the sixth anniversary of the Iraq War. The demonstrators voiced opposition to what they termed the “new definition of withdrawal,” which they say will leave thousands of troops in Iraq while sending more to Afghanistan.
Andrew Hankin, one of the organizers of the event, said he wants to see President Obama move quickly to completely withdraw U.S. troops.
“We’re trying to hold them to that campaign pledge,” he said of Obama’s oft-repeated promise to end the war without delay.
The assembled demonstrators included a collection of people from various organizations, such as the Santa Barbara Peoples Coalition and Veterans for Peace. Hankin said the coalition has been meeting since before the invasion of Iraq, as “sabers were being rattled,” and that a small group gathers every Saturday to walk up and down State Street.
If a residual force of troops stayed behind in Iraq, Hankin said, it would cost a vast amount of resources, which are badly needed domestically.
“The $600 billion war, that’s a stimulus package on its own,” he said. “We could have done a lot of good with that here ... There are all of these American issues that need money to be solved.”
Hankin said the rally was a show of solidarity, and to show passers-by that they are speaking out.
“It’s important for our spirits,” he said. “We know we’re right on this issue.
Standing nearby and wielding a sign, Lauren McElroy said she’s been protesting the Iraq War each year. For her, being out on the side of the road is about civic engagement.
“I feel that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing my duty as a citizen,” she said.
McElroy said it was “a little scary” to be seen protesting at the beginning of the war, but that staying involved is crucial. Under the Constitution, she said, “there’s a place for the people’s voice, and if we don’t make that heard, then the system starts to break apart.”
Across the street, Lois Hamilton, the MoveOn.org coordinator for Santa Barbara, said she had her own motivations for being out at the rally: Her two 17-year-old grandsons, who are close in age to many soldiers who have chosen to serve in the military.
“It scares me to death,” she said.
Hamilton said she worked tirelessly on Obama’s campaign, but didn’t want him to allow troops to stay in the country.
“This is the prime time to let them know that we don’t want this war in Afghanistan to escalate,” she said.
“We’re going to keep on him until he brings them all home like he said he would,” she said.
Click here for additional photo coverage of the rally from Robert Bernstein.
— Noozhawk staff writer Lara Cooper can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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» on 03.20.09 @ 03:55 AM
Wait, aren’t these the same people that elected this war monger? Damn these peaceniks are never happy. I guess you could call them malcontents. Wasn’t this supposed to shut them up? I thought Obama was the bottle they were crying for? I don’t get it. Buyer’s remorse so soon? Or is war protesting just the only hobby these aged hippies ever learned and they can’t give it up?
» on 03.20.09 @ 03:59 AM
I always love the “bring our soldiers home” thing. Have you ever considered that they may not want to come home? That’s kind of something they probably thought out pretty well before they signed up to go. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but there are actually people who are proud of fighting to protect their homeland and loved ones, who enjoy adventure and seeing the real world and doing something helpful and unselfish (service to others).
» on 03.20.09 @ 06:27 AM
Shouldn’t that be the headline? These people seem to have the idea that the world revolves around them, and everyone is paying very close attention to what they want. So we’re supposed to just bomb ‘em and leave without cleaning up after ourselves because we need money at home? How selfish and irresponsible of these conflicted peacesters. I thought they were so concerned about what the world thought of us. I thought you got the president you wanted. I thought it was all Bush’s fault. I thought we all had to wait and give Obama a chance, because he is perfect in every way? Never happy are ya?
» on 03.20.09 @ 09:40 AM
Slow News day Macfadden?
» on 03.23.09 @ 06:07 AM
Why so threatend by a group of individuals speaking up about what they believe in. They choose to stand on street corners and say how they feel, as is their right as Americans, you choose to make your comments here, as is your right as an American. Grow up and let everyone have their opinion.
» on 03.25.09 @ 04:02 PM
Thanks to Lara Cooper for reporting accurately. We want to end the occupations of overseas nations; scale back the American Empire (700+ miltary bases around the world); bring our soldiers, sailors and airmen back home to their families; and change wasteful Pentagon spending into better use in this country. For those who desire overseas work and on behalf of the USA, the Peace Corps would be a much better choice than any military service.
Many of us did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid, instead supporting peace candidates like Dennis Kucinich, Ralph Nader, or Ron Paul. We lobby everyone in power, regardless of political party, because there is still a lot about which to be malcontented. While unjust wars are going on, we peaceniks will be protesting and yes, we do have much better things we would rather be doing than standing on street corners with signs…
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