By Students and campus organizations gathered in the Friendship Walk on Wednesday to protest against the war in Iraq.
Around noon, students began to assemble in front of a podium in the steps facing the University Bookstore to speak out and deliver messages regarding the war.
AnswerLA.org was the main sponsor of this and other protests taking place in various college campuses throughout Los Angeles County.
“We’re trying to energize students to come out and get involved,” AnswerLA.org youth and student organizer Marylou Cabral said. “The reason that students are apathetic [regarding the war] is due to the fact that we don’t have enough movements like this.”
Groups like the African Student Union, La Raza, Campus Progressives, the Muslim Student Association and the Youth and Student ANSWER sponsored the event.
Associated Students, Inc. President Mark Andrews was also present at the scene.
“It’s a good thing to have these events,” Andrews said. “No matter what point of view, is good to have a forum for them.”
After a short march, where participants carried anti-war signs and used horn speakers to invite onlookers to join their march, the group grew to about 100 participants.
Members from the newly formed Conservative Student Union made their presence by counter-protesting the event.
“There are so many theories regarding the war,” CSU president Jason Aula said. “My loyalty lies with the president.”
Members from the group carried signs with messages like “Hippies go home!” and the words U.S.A.
Aula said these participants were unpatriotic for not supporting the troops and holding these types of events.
The protest included speakers Ivan Goldman from the Military Families Speak Out organization and Iraq veteran Jason Lemieux.
Lemieux took the stage first and was welcomed with a round of applause and cheers.
“For every innocent family we killed, we created 100 enemies that will never surrender,” Lemieux said. “In order to end our cycle of violence, we must stop making the problem worst with an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Lemieux served three tours in Iraq and is part of the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization, whose main purpose is to call for an “immediate withdraw of all occupying forces in Iraq.”
Goldman, who’s son will be departing to Iraq on Friday, also talked about the importance of pulling out of Iraq.
“We don’t know what the real reason behind this war is,” Goldman said. “But if Iraq grew asparagus instead of oil, would we be there?”
The protests taking place throughout the week will culminate with a march on Oct. 27 in downtown Los Angeles.
