2008 Woodie Awards
Protests and counter-protests on Red Square
Max Rosenthal
Issue date: 4/2/03 Section: News
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by Max Rosenthal
Red Square was unusually peaceful as two opposing groups came out to support their positions on a heated issue. Rather than shouting slogans and holding rallies, the College Republicans and GU Peace Action took a lower-key approach the night of Monday, March 24, filling the square with flyers and a silent candlelight vigil.
The Peace Action vigil, which drew slightly over 50 students, was the larger of the two events. During the demonstration, war opponents spent several hours in Red Square in a silent protest. Sitting in a wide circle amid anti-war chalkings, participants took the opportunity to light candles and reflect on recent events.
“How often do you take time out of your day to just sit there and do nothing but think?,” asked Sasha Kinney, an arts and sciences freshman. Like many others at the vigil, Kinney was already a Peace Camp participant and felt that the Bush administration had rushed into an unnecessary war.
“I don’t think that this is a just war,” said Patricia Stumpf, a senior and Peace Action member. With a brother in the military, Stumpf stressed her support for American troops. Yet, she was adamant about her view that other options had been ignored. “I feel that that there were ideas presented by European countries, such as increasing the number of inspectors, that we should have paid attention to.”
For the College Republicans, Monday’s gathering was an opportunity to voice a less often-heard opinion.
“We’re out here to show what the silent majority of Georgetown students and the majority of Americans feel,” said Dave Benjamin, an arts and sciences sophomore and chairman of the College Republicans. The war supporters maintained that most Hoyas see the war as justified, while peace protesters represent only a small but vocal minority.
“There is no place in this world for a tyrant like Saddam Hussein,” said arts and sciences freshman Murphy Gallahger. Like most other war supporters, Gallagher expressed support for the war as a chance to liberate Iraq from a “brutal dictator.” He also said that the College Republicans’ demonstration wanted to voice strong backing for American troops and their mission. “We’re here to support our troops. Those are our friends, our neighbors, perfect strangers, all of whom are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us in Iraq.”
Red Square was unusually peaceful as two opposing groups came out to support their positions on a heated issue. Rather than shouting slogans and holding rallies, the College Republicans and GU Peace Action took a lower-key approach the night of Monday, March 24, filling the square with flyers and a silent candlelight vigil.
The Peace Action vigil, which drew slightly over 50 students, was the larger of the two events. During the demonstration, war opponents spent several hours in Red Square in a silent protest. Sitting in a wide circle amid anti-war chalkings, participants took the opportunity to light candles and reflect on recent events.
“How often do you take time out of your day to just sit there and do nothing but think?,” asked Sasha Kinney, an arts and sciences freshman. Like many others at the vigil, Kinney was already a Peace Camp participant and felt that the Bush administration had rushed into an unnecessary war.
“I don’t think that this is a just war,” said Patricia Stumpf, a senior and Peace Action member. With a brother in the military, Stumpf stressed her support for American troops. Yet, she was adamant about her view that other options had been ignored. “I feel that that there were ideas presented by European countries, such as increasing the number of inspectors, that we should have paid attention to.”
For the College Republicans, Monday’s gathering was an opportunity to voice a less often-heard opinion.
“We’re out here to show what the silent majority of Georgetown students and the majority of Americans feel,” said Dave Benjamin, an arts and sciences sophomore and chairman of the College Republicans. The war supporters maintained that most Hoyas see the war as justified, while peace protesters represent only a small but vocal minority.
“There is no place in this world for a tyrant like Saddam Hussein,” said arts and sciences freshman Murphy Gallahger. Like most other war supporters, Gallagher expressed support for the war as a chance to liberate Iraq from a “brutal dictator.” He also said that the College Republicans’ demonstration wanted to voice strong backing for American troops and their mission. “We’re here to support our troops. Those are our friends, our neighbors, perfect strangers, all of whom are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us in Iraq.”