Marching for peace

City College students were out in force as drum beats and saxophone jazz echoed through a crowd of over 2,000 anti-war protesters on Saturday.

The march for peace started at 12:15 p.m. at Vera Cruz Park on Cota Street and then veered right to take over State Street. Signs of all shapes and sizes bounced along in waves and covered four blocks with messages against U.S. military action overseas.

Sunday marked the four-year anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq.

Genevieve Swords, president of the International Studies Association at City College said she hoped the people at the march would "make history by standing up" and said City College students need to show less apathy towards the war in Iraq.

Large numbers of students were marching with protesters of all ages, from babies perched on parents' shoulders to old age pensioners being pushed along in wheelchairs.

Chants of "What do we want? U.S. out!" rang out in English and Spanish, causing weekend shoppers and employees from State Street shops to stop and take notice.

City College student Maya Shoemaker said, "I hope this march will help bring U.S. troops home from Iraq" and felt the protests would have a positive effect on the community.

Another City College student, Michelle Fitzsimmons, felt spreading the message of peace was especially important at present because of the recent violence in Santa Barbara.

Around 200 cyclists from UCSB joined the march. "I've never seen this in Santa Barbara before," said UCSB student Tanya Paperny, who took part in the bike ride. "It's great to see everyone coming together."

Protester Dr. Mathew Margulies said, "I hope the march sends a message to the Bush administration."

Over 30 police officers stood by as the peaceful march entered the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden. Protesters listened to speakers criticized the United States' occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and possible invasion of Iran.

"We should all be dedicated to stopping the nightmare of an illegal war," said Richard Falk, professor at Princeton University and visiting scholar at UCSB.

Before Saturday's protest, a peace rally was held on March 14 outside Luria Library.

City College student and Student Labor Action Project co-chair, Shawn Tallant, introduced speakers from the community and promoted Saturday's march for peace.

On a stage draped with banners reading, "Student Power," Erika Illanes from the Iraq Veterans Against War, said President Bush is escalating the war in Iraq and cutting funds for war veterans, to pay for the military action. She highlighted that the war is costing the United States $12 million every hour.

Eric Borlaug, president of the Associated Student Senate, noted the Iraq war has cost $745 billion and said five cents of every dollar spent in the United States is going directly to the military.

Tallant said the rallies and protests over the past week will help "plant grass roots" of awareness into City College students over the cost of war.