December 16, 2002
Protesting Bush's Warby James Bunn
Over one thousand people gathered at Buffalo's Lafayette Square on December 10th, at 5:00, just in time for the rush hour, in order to protest the Bush adminstration's plans for the invasion of Iraq. The United Nations had proclaimed that date International Human Rights Day, and people all over the world gathered to celebrate rights and to protest their abridgement.The night was cold, the sky sapphire blue, the moon brightly crescent, and the lights within the surrounding buildings lit up the Square as for a snow festival. The Rev. J. Michael Garrison, Episcopal bishop of Buffalo, led off with a canticle of peace. Then people from various groups spoke against the invasion of Iraq. Religious groups such as the Methodists, poltiical groups such as the Green Party, a spokesperson for the local Iraqi community, all had the same message. Some people sang protest songs from the 1960s, others sang religious hymns, and others belted out newly-composed satirical songs against the Bush policy.
At first glance that this mixed gathering seemed like the protests against the Vietnam war. But this time there were lots of very young people much in evidence. Not just college-age students, but high-school students from all over Western New York came and spoke informatively about the costs of the war and the loss of human services that would be entailed.
As if in support, ambulances howled their sirens as they went by, fire trucks honked, and the rapid rail saluted mournfully. There were lots of senior citizens there too quietly saying their piece. There were very few business types dressed in polished shoes and briefcases, maybe because they were not dressed for the cold.
The rally ended after about an hour and a half with a march across the street to storefronts where the branches of the armed forces have recruiting offices. Wreaths were placed, with "PEACE" in white letters written on them. After a few other songs of protest and hymns of peace the crowd disbanded.
Walking away rededicated, I thought of a second difference between this gathering and the Vietnam protests. Although the Vietnam conflict began in 1964, it took years for large groups to get the message and to protest. This gathering, on the contrary, was one of many such groups from around the world who were, early on, even before the onslaught, waving placards saying "No War Against Iraq."
(Click here for photographs and further comments on the Buffalo observation of International Human Rights Day.)