| 3/20/2006 8:48:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | ‘Give Peace A Chance’
by Denise Ronald
Mail Staff Writer
About 70 people gathered at Riverside Park in Salida Sunday, joining a nationwide protest against the Iraq war.
Many in the group, mostly senior citizens, carried homemade signs asking for impeachment of President Bush, declaring war as murder and asking for an end to a senseless war.
Spokesman Laura Knelange thanked protesters for attending and said there is hope for peace.
The group marched around the park a couple of times singing, “Give Peace a Chance” and chanting “Out of Iraq now” and “We want peace, we want truth.”
Gathering at the Salida Rotary Club Amphitheater, protesters shared stories, fears and hopes as they were videotaped by photojournalist Charles Newcomb and audio taped by KHEN disc jockey Patrick Lee.
“We are joining people all over the world today who are protesting the war. This is not about us against them, it’s about us against us. Remember, we are here for peace and unity,” Knelange said.
Paul Byars urged those attending to argue against the war with those who support it.
He said, “We knew what Bush was about before we elected him to office. The Republicans and Christians who support him are blind.
“Bush has shown no fiscal responsibility and the traditional values of true Republicans. He also lacks traditional Christian values.
“You tell me what this war – three years later – still has to do with 9/11? We do not want our children to kill other people based on lies. We want, we need the truth.”
Others questioned government handling of veterans, involvement in oil prices and inability to take care of domestic issues.
Asked what could be done to make a difference, organizers said people need to vote and to write letters and make calls to their government representatives.
Protester Betty Plotz said she attended the event because war is not the answer to our differences with other cultures.
“By protesting, we are bringing awareness to the issues and building solidarity among people who believe in peace,” Plotz said.
After another walk around the park, the group disbanded about an hour after the protest began.
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