As artillery exploded in the streets of Baghdad on the first day of war with Iraq, several hundred protesters gathered on Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo to voice their opposition.
Standing on a wooden platform, more than a dozen speakers addressed a spirited, rain-soaked audience of activists, community members and local college students.
"We are here to kick off a resistance that has never been seen before," said protester Beverly Hiestand of the group International Act Now to Stop War and Eradicate Racism. "We will stop this war."
Led by the speakers, the crowd chanted, "no blood for oil" and "bring the troops home."
John Wong, chairman of the Western New York Peace Center, served as the master of ceremonies and thanked the crowd for attending, despite the puddles and the dreary weather.
"Sadly, today our skies are weeping," said Wong, as he stood in the pouring rain. "Our country is doing what we all firmly believe to be wrong."
Marquis L. Woolford, a senior English major, read poems inspired by his daughter.
"I'm speaking out as a student, black man and father," Woolford said. "I'm speaking for the Iraqi children that don't have a voice."
The diverse crowd included high school dropouts, bricklayers, cancer researchers, students and university professors. Many UB faculty members showed up to speak out against the war.
English Professor James Holstun spoke at the rally and addressed President George W. Bush's claim the war was "a defensive effort" against terrorism.
"That's the argument Hitler gave before Germany invaded the Soviet Union," Holstun said. "All fascist wars are defensive."
Holstun also said he hoped for better protest coverage by The Buffalo News, which he said regularly underestimates crowd numbers at anti-war rallies.
"There's about 500 here now, but you'll only see 200 in print," said Holstun.
After about an hour of speeches, the crowd marched seven blocks to the Unitarian Universalist Church. Some of the protestors to take to the street were the "Resistance Radicatz," UB's six-member, anti-war cheerleading squad.
The Radicatz chanted "stompin' our feet for revolution in the street," and complimented their chants with synchronized kicks.
UB alumnus and Radicatz Spokesperson Andrea Barkley discussed what she would do if she were a U.S. soldier in Iraq.
"I would go AWOL," Barkley said, "I would try and rally our troops to come home."
Unlike the "Books Not Bombs" protest held earlier this month at UB, there were no organized war supporters in attendance.
Some people along the parade route, however, did voice their opposition to the anti-war protestors.
Two Merlin's restaurant patrons took offense to a 12-foot replica of a bloody Uncle Sam being carried by protestors.
"My buddy's over there risking his life," one man said, to the protestors. "You're lucky you can hide here with your picket signs."
Many members of the crowd carried homemade signs stating, "War Kills Children," "Impeach Bush: Stop The War" or "Bills fans against the war."
There were also homemade child-sized coffins labeled, "R.I.P. Justice." One man stood with a large bell, which he struck every 57 seconds - the rate at which American bombs are falling on Baghdad.
Vince Mistretta, professor of media studies, picketed at the rally and said he had faith in the effectiveness of protests.
"If people keep coming together like this, we're bound to make the government see tragedy in military action," Mistretta said. "The Vietnam Protests started small, as well."
Wong told the crowd to protest peacefully.
"The story should be the violence that's happening in Iraq, not violence that is happening here," he said.
Although three protesters were arrested March 15 for obstructing traffic on Elmwood Avenue during a similar rally, yesterday's rally remained peaceful.
"The student support from every local college showed up," said Damian Weber, a part-time UB student. "It couldn't have been more lively if we were all stoned."
A group of fire fighters in a passing engine turned on their loudspeaker and said, "U.S.A.! God bless America!" In response, the crowd chanted, "Peace! Peace! Peace!"
The poetry and extemporaneous speeches continued at the church until 7 p.m., when the crowd was treated to a Unitarian service led by Rev. Joel Miller.
Outside on the sidewalk, a small group of Williamsville South high school students beat rhythms on buckets. Other protestors lit candles with their children and watched the police lights flash from the barricade on West Ferry.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
