The threat of a war with Iraq brought out nearly 200 protesters from both Tulane and Loyola for an antiwar rally Tuesday afternoon ending in Tulane’s Pocket Park.
Forty people marched from Loyola’s Palm Court to Tulane chanting protests. Karen O’Keefe, a third year law student at Loyola, expressed concern for the civilians of Iraq when she spoke of the “thousands of casualties … many of them children.”
O’Keefe said she was also fearful of residual terrorist attacks that a war would likely spark, such as attacks on the people of Israel.
Citing the lack of international support, O’Keefe said she considered the United States’ decision to launch a war in Iraq a “blatantly illegal attack.”
However, some students feel that the protest was not needed.
“I heard the protestors and I want to know how many of them were driving fuel efficient cars,” Richard Jackson, international business and marketing junior said. “The war is not just about oil. It is about the fact that [Saddam] has been lying to the UN for years.”
The rally featured speakers such as Bob Smith, a 20-year U.S. Army combat veteran. Smith served three tours in Vietnam as well as five months in the Persian Gulf War.
Smith told a story of children he remembered from Vietnam, and the atrocities they suffered. There was a 12-year-old girl named Lan who lost her leg to American mortar rounds.
“Prosthesis were not then available, so she just got around on a crutch.”
He also told of a 3-year-old boy in blue pajamas that the soldiers nick-named Charlie Brown.
One day under heavy enemy fire Charlie Brown was killed on a helicopter-landing pad, Smith said
Smith said he remembers the child’s blue pajamas soaked with blood.
“How many more Charlie Browns have to die?” Smith asked the crowd. “How many more children will have just one leg?”
Also in the audience was Lauren White, A ’02. White happened to be on campus Tuesday when she learned of the protest march.
White credited her Middle-Eastern studies classes at Loyola for her increased knowledge and opinions of the Iraqi region.
Fearful of what the war will bring to civilians and children, White is also against any aggression.
“This is a very bad move,” she said.
