Star Article on the Indy Protest 3/20/05

http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/230793-2996-009.html

Local protest blasts Iraq war
More than 200 at Monument Circle demonstrate for peace 2 years after invasion.

By Cathy Kightlinger
cathy.kightlinger@indystar.com
March 21, 2005


Iraq native Kadhim Shaaban stood stoically Sunday in Monument Circle, holding tight to a flag bearing rainbow stripes and the word "Peace."

With that, he made clear his position on the war in Iraq.

Shaaban, 70, said he has been against the war since it started. An American citizen, he came to the United States 40 years ago as a graduate student. "What we have going on in Iraq is a war that has no end," said the Bloomington resident.

Shaaban was one of more than 200 protesters who gathered in 40-degree temperatures Sunday. The event was held to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.

...

No one was arrested at the Indianapolis rally, and there were no apparent signs of counterprotests. Police watched from squad cars parked nearby.

The protest capped the Midwest Peace Summit, held Friday through Sunday at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. It included free workshops, panel discussions and lectures and was hosted by Students for Peace in Iraq, an organization with support from IUPUI faculty and other individuals across the state.

Cate Woods-Russo, an Indianapolis activist who helped organize the rally, said she was pleased with Sunday's turnout. "It's a very cold day," she said. "We're happy. We didn't expect 10,000 people."

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more ...

funny how the star didn't mention or cover at all the woman who spoke who's son is in Iraq. Seemed to focus mostly on the students who demostrated as either war dead or tortured prisoners. A good statement by the students, but one that I'm sure the Star reporter knew would cause more anger among the right than a woman who's son is serving our country. By covering them in the spotlight rather than someone who's directly affected by this war, it makes it easier for the conservatives reading this article to dismiss the protest.

Love that liberal media. :\

failed to mention several of the speakers. When Bobby Kennedy came to Indianapolis to announce the death of Martin Luther King Jr. he was asked what would be the worst part of being thrown in jail in Indy...his answer was that he would hate to have to wake up in the morning and read the Indianapolis Star, or something to that effect.

He was my hero throughout college - though he hadn't been "with us" for many years at that time. My favorite quote of his "Some people see things as they are and ask "why"...I see things as they could be and ask "why not?" " ... or something to that effect.

It was Bobby.

i need to dig up a source/citation for that to pass around to some friends.

The worst part of living in Indianapolis is that our news is wholly covered by the Indianapolis Star. I wouldn't let my cat shit on that paper. Please excuse the language (one of those days).

sounded interesting