Anti-war protesters march in West Palm Beach to mark third anniversary of Iraq invasion
Marchers cite costs in lives, money in West Palm Beach demonstration
By Stephen Deere
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 19, 2006
WEST PALM BEACH -- It began unimpressively, with sheriff's deputies telling about a dozen anti-war protesters to keep off the courthouse lawn because they didn't have a permit.
But soon more people appeared carrying water bottles, wearing straw hats and sandals, holding up signs with clever caricatures of the president and calling for the withdraw of troops from Iraq.
By the time the marchers had made their way from the Palm Beach County Courthouse through CityPlace and to the grassy median along Okeechobee Boulevard, more than 75 people had joined them.
The event was part of a national effort over the weekend to protest the Iraq war on its third anniversary. Cities across the country saw similar demonstrations.
The majority who showed up were women, and many were older women, part of a South County chapter of the national group called Raging Grannies.
"Woman have children," said Mary Jane Mullins, 75, of Deerfield Beach. "They have more invested."
But there were men, too.
Men like Tom Conboy, 36, of West Palm Beach.
"I guess the question is why are we there?" he said.
In the absence of weapons of mass destruction, the best he can surmise is that the Iraq war is being fought for the benefit of the U.S. military-industrial complex, including companies such as Halliburton.
"No one has given me a legitimate reason, yet," he said. "Until they give me a legitimate reason that's all I can see."
Demonstrators' motivations varied. Some lamented the 2,312 U.S. troops who've lost their lives during the past three years, according to the latest Pentagon numbers.
Others were concerned about costs. So far, the U.S. has spent $400 billion on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the 21/2-hour event alone, the country spent another $15 million on the war.
"I know that being here today won't stop the war tomorrow," said Vicki Ryder, 63, of West Palm Beach. "But I have grandchildren and I'd like to think they have a future that doesn't include going to war and being killed."
They said they weren't so much trying to change the minds of those who disagree with them, but the apathy of those who shared their views.
According to the latest CNN/USA Today poll, 57 percent of Americans think the war in Iraq was a mistake.
Ryder thought it was important that the march went through CityPlace -- West Palm Beach's popular shopping destination. It would remind people enjoying the comforts of consumerism about suffering they can easily ignore, she said.
"Our people are dying in New Orleans, too," she said, adding that the money used to fund the war should be put toward domestic troubles.
Shoppers and diners gazed at the demonstrators with looks of minor annoyance -- or ignored them completely.
Occasionally, drivers on Rosemary Avenue honked their horns to show support.
Ryder chanted:
"Support the troops. Bring them home."
It was a statement most troops would agree with, said Rich Hersh of Boca Raton. He pointed to a February Zogby poll that showed 72 percent of troops believe the United States should leave Iraq.
He wore a pin on his aqua baseball cap that asked: "Is it Vietnam, yet?"
Hersh is a member of the Truth Project Inc., a group formed in 2004 to oppose military recruitment in high schools. The group, based in Lake Worth, made headlines after it was revealed to have been spied on under a secret pentagon program.
"They gratuitously break the law," Hersh said of the Bush administration.
A speech from Iraqi Dr. Entisar Mohammad Ariabi of Baghdad punctuated the rally. Ariabi has been touring Florida and Alabama since early March. The national group called CODEPINK paid for her trip, she said.
"I came to America because I know in my heart that the American people love peace," she said, speaking through an interpreter. "Do you know what's happening in my country today? It's the killing, it's the destruction, it's the mass arrest of innocent people."
Today, Iraq is worse off than it was under Saddam Hussein, Ariabi said.
She heard plenty of excuses for why the United States invaded. A supposed link between Hussein and al-Qaida. Weapons of mass destruction.
"And now the third excuse: There is going to be a civil war," she said. "And [Bush] is doing so, just to give another excuse so he can stay in my country."
"Please talk to your president, speak out, tell him to end this illegal occupation."
But soon more people appeared carrying water bottles, wearing straw hats and sandals, holding up signs with clever caricatures of the president and calling for the withdraw of troops from Iraq.
By the time the marchers had made their way from the Palm Beach County Courthouse through CityPlace and to the grassy median along Okeechobee Boulevard, more than 75 people had joined them.
The event was part of a national effort over the weekend to protest the Iraq war on its third anniversary. Cities across the country saw similar demonstrations.
The majority who showed up were women, and many were older women, part of a South County chapter of the national group called Raging Grannies.
"Woman have children," said Mary Jane Mullins, 75, of Deerfield Beach. "They have more invested."
But there were men, too.
Men like Tom Conboy, 36, of West Palm Beach.
"I guess the question is why are we there?" he said.
In the absence of weapons of mass destruction, the best he can surmise is that the Iraq war is being fought for the benefit of the U.S. military-industrial complex, including companies such as Halliburton.
"No one has given me a legitimate reason, yet," he said. "Until they give me a legitimate reason that's all I can see."
Demonstrators' motivations varied. Some lamented the 2,312 U.S. troops who've lost their lives during the past three years, according to the latest Pentagon numbers.
Others were concerned about costs. So far, the U.S. has spent $400 billion on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the 21/2-hour event alone, the country spent another $15 million on the war.
"I know that being here today won't stop the war tomorrow," said Vicki Ryder, 63, of West Palm Beach. "But I have grandchildren and I'd like to think they have a future that doesn't include going to war and being killed."
They said they weren't so much trying to change the minds of those who disagree with them, but the apathy of those who shared their views.
According to the latest CNN/USA Today poll, 57 percent of Americans think the war in Iraq was a mistake.
Ryder thought it was important that the march went through CityPlace -- West Palm Beach's popular shopping destination. It would remind people enjoying the comforts of consumerism about suffering they can easily ignore, she said.
"Our people are dying in New Orleans, too," she said, adding that the money used to fund the war should be put toward domestic troubles.
Shoppers and diners gazed at the demonstrators with looks of minor annoyance -- or ignored them completely.
Occasionally, drivers on Rosemary Avenue honked their horns to show support.
Ryder chanted:
"Support the troops. Bring them home."
It was a statement most troops would agree with, said Rich Hersh of Boca Raton. He pointed to a February Zogby poll that showed 72 percent of troops believe the United States should leave Iraq.
He wore a pin on his aqua baseball cap that asked: "Is it Vietnam, yet?"
Hersh is a member of the Truth Project Inc., a group formed in 2004 to oppose military recruitment in high schools. The group, based in Lake Worth, made headlines after it was revealed to have been spied on under a secret pentagon program.
"They gratuitously break the law," Hersh said of the Bush administration.
A speech from Iraqi Dr. Entisar Mohammad Ariabi of Baghdad punctuated the rally. Ariabi has been touring Florida and Alabama since early March. The national group called CODEPINK paid for her trip, she said.
"I came to America because I know in my heart that the American people love peace," she said, speaking through an interpreter. "Do you know what's happening in my country today? It's the killing, it's the destruction, it's the mass arrest of innocent people."
Today, Iraq is worse off than it was under Saddam Hussein, Ariabi said.
She heard plenty of excuses for why the United States invaded. A supposed link between Hussein and al-Qaida. Weapons of mass destruction.
"And now the third excuse: There is going to be a civil war," she said. "And [Bush] is doing so, just to give another excuse so he can stay in my country."
"Please talk to your president, speak out, tell him to end this illegal occupation."
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