Cultural- Anti-War Rally

Booming voices with fierce opinions spoke out from a stage underneath a white tent Saturday afternoon at Syracuse University's Walnut Park. These voices could be heard from many areas throughout the campus due to the two ten foot stacks of speakers located on each side of the tent. A huge sign hung behind the speakers titled, "Soldier Civilians Speak Out-Bring the Troops Home Now." The civilians spoke on behalf of the 3,500 soldiers that have lost their lives thus far in a "pointless war over oil" while veterans, couples, teens, and young children listened in.

The perimeter of the grassy area between Walnut Avenue and Walnut Place was adorned with countless tables and booths of people selling anything from anti-war t-shirts to political books and music. Five large pieces of political artwork stood on their appropriated easels. Twenty feet down from these pieces of art was an old-school, reddish-orange Volkswagen van similar to the famous Scooby Doo vehicle. Hippie-like people dressed in army green jackets covered in pins sat in the moist grass, rhythmically beating their bongos after the speakers' crucial points. They had their long hair tied in a tie-dye or americana bandana and the typical attire consisted of linen pants and Birkenstocks. Every other person carried a sign declaring, "Stop the War, Stop the $," "Stop the Racism, Stop the War" and other variations of such. One particular little girl stood there with her father holding a sign that said, "Bring my Brothers Home." While some carried signs, others wore posters that covered their entire bodies. A younger woman stopped my friend and I and we signed a war petition that will be presented in Congress in Washington, D.C.

Despite the many activities taking place, the main focus was the speakers. Many political activists spoke and even a band, "The Pat Humphreys and Sandy D" performed. Earlier in the schedule, a husband and wife spoke on behalf of their son that "came home in a box, wrapped in a flag" who was formerly a part of the Marine Corps. Lorraine, the wife, recited a poem that compared the stages of her son's life to the shoes he wore in each particular stage. It was a special moment, one that gave me goosebumps.

The anti-war rally was a lively, liberal event with a turnout of about 2,500 people. Each and every person was there for a similar cause, a similar belief. It was an eye-opening experience, especially for me because the war isn't necessarily something I think about each day because it isn't directly affecting me. Although, after seeing so many who have been and are continually affected by George Bush's actions is a shame. It's events like these that make me proud to be a part of Syracuse University. Yet, I'm not quite sure that the frat (ZBT) feels as strongly due the fact that during the entire rally they blasted their music from atop their hill.