Hundreds of thousands of people from all across the country have been participating in anti-war protesting and peace rallies. Demonstrations have occurred from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. in hopes of sending the message, "Peace is possible! No war with Iraq!"

Here in Las Vegas at least a thousand demonstrators, including several Sierra Vista students, recently exercised their right to peaceably assemble and took to The Strip in front of the Bellagio fountains. The group gathered in front of the fountains to hear messages of peace from prearranged speakers, promoting a peaceful resolution with Iraq. It was not long before protesters organized for the march up to Tropicana Avenue and back.

Sierra Vista students Blake Farmer, David Kaplan, Janina Little, Eric Lowe, Daniel Steffey and Alexis Burke participated in the peace rally.

"I am here to peacefully express my opinions regarding the war with Iraq," states David Kaplan, a senior. "I don't want my biggest fear to become reality. This war will turn into Vietnam II if hostilities continue in which hundreds of thousands of civilians will die along with several thousand American soldiers."

"I am protesting the United States’ tyrannical war effort," says Daniel Steffey, a junior. "The United States is beginning to disregard international law and is using the threat of terrorism to achieve Middle Eastern control."

Although this demonstration was of a nonviolent nature, police officers still made their presence felt, both on foot and on horseback, acting as crowd control to the almost one thousand demonstrators.

"This isn't the first or the largest demonstration I've seen in Las Vegas, but we're still acting with protocol," says Officer J. Hall. "We're not expecting any violence today; we also have to make sure there is a cleared path on the sidewalk for pedestrians and to keep people out of the street."

There was only one arrest made after a man driving in a van swerved his vehicle towards the protesters on the sidewalk, where there was yelling back and forth between the man and protestors. The driver then pulled out a knife but was taken into custody by police.

While some expected that this anti-war protest would be largely comprised of "rebellious young kids," this was certainly not the case.

Many of the demonstrators were well into middle age and some were not even of the age of 10.

"I may only be 9 years old, but I know that if I had the choice of going to jail or being drafted, I would rather go to jail," says participant Chasen Najarian. "Those who support the war should send their own children, not other people's."

Moving along The Strip, it was not just demonstrators that made their opinions heard. Many passing tourists and cars shouted remarks in favor of the war with Iraq. When protesters passed restaurants, diners eating outside clapped at times and others made remarks such as "Go home!" or "Leave the country!"

The anti-war sentiment of the group struck a nerve in a few young marines on vacation in Las Vegas, when they witnessed the passing protesters.

"Don't these people want to keep their national liberties?" asks one marine. "Do you like your freedoms? None of you would have the right to protest anything like this if it wasn't for the military standing up to countries that try to walk all over us."

"I am from San Francisco where there are a lot more protests, so this doesn't bother me at all," states one tourist. "But what confuses me is, they are saying they don't want another war. What war are they talking about? Most of them are younger than me and have no idea what war is like. And if we don't go to war like they're fighting for, what should we do?"

Though the majority of the protestors all held one goal in common, it was apparent that many different types of individuals were among those marching. Some seemed to be reliving their youth and the Vietnam War protests, but this time bringing their children along for the rally.

"My boys are only 7 and 8, but I want to teach them about the political process and their right to peaceful assembly," says one father. "They're with me now holding signs, but I am not going to force them to share my views when they get older."

While protestors and others made their views known, some watching the group pass were not very forthcoming with their opinions. A Catholic priest refused to give comment on the rally. Hotel security guards also kept tight-lipped, saying that they were not answering any questions.

When asked why they opposed the war in Iraq, most protestors cited George W. Bush's lack of insight, his lust for oil and the vengeance of his father as the sole reasons why this war may take place.

While the protest itself only lasted three hours, it is hoped the effect of the "No blood for oil!" cry from one thousand protestors will last much longer.

-Return to March 2003 Issue-