Activists rally in Monroe Park to march for peace

Sunday’s mild weather and clear skies helped lure protesters to a political rally in Monroe Park in opposition to the American occupation of Iraq and the United States’ support of Israel. The rally also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 speech in Washington, D.C.

“We have a rally like this because you always have to stand up when it comes to justice,” said Muna Hijazi, a recent VCU graduate.

Sponsored by a coalition of groups, including Food Not Bombs and the Richmond Independent Media Center, the rally centered around seven speakers and ended in a march down Main Street to Harrison Street, then to Franklin Street before returning to Monroe Park.

Even though they did not expect any trouble from the crowd, police were on hand. Officer Chuck Howell said he expected around 200 protesters, adding that Sunday’s gathering was “not as big as the last one.”

Stephanie Depaolis, a freshman at VCU, said part of the reason why she attended was to “get people to understand that democracy starts with the little people.” She also wanted to raise awareness about America’s occupation of Iraq.

“I think we should focus on our own country’s suffering,” she said.

Standing in the bed of a pickup truck that served as the stage for the afternoon, the rally’s first speaker, Ali Abed, addressed the crowd.

“You are the consciousness of this country,” he said.

Abed, who returned from the West Bank last week, urged the crowd to remember what is happening in the world.

Protesters carried numerous signs and banners, including what Mills E. Godwin High School junior Meghan Resler called “free birds,” wooden and cloth birds inscribed with the word “freedom.” Protesters also chanted slogans such as “Bush no more in 2004,” and wore T-shirts stating “Free Palestine.” Small children playing in the late-afternoon shade wore buttons with proclamations such as “No War on Iraq.”

In addition to speeches condemning American involvement in Iraq and American support of Israel, speakers brought up concerns about poverty in Richmond and America, racism both at home and abroad and crime in Richmond and other U.S. cities.

Jen Lawhorne, who works with Food Not Bombs, summed up the message at the end of the rally.

“It feels like things are getting shaky,” she said.

News Co-Editor Tanja Zlatkovic contributed to this article.

Click here for a slideshow of more protest photos.