Students for a Democratic Society protest Iraq war
Protest marked fifth anniversary of war
Martha Gravlee
Senior Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News
On Tuesday afternoon, the University's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society staged a protest against the continuing war in Iraq.
March 20 will be the fifth anniversary of the American presence in Iraq. "Throughout the country, different SDS chapters are having similar events," said Tom Keenan, an SDS member.
"It's the fifth year we've done it," Keenan said. "It's kind of sad, but we have to do it."
The demonstration began at noon, when SDS members and other students gathered in the Ferguson Center plaza. The students then marched to Denny Chimes, shouting, "Exxon, BP, Shell, take your war and go to hell," and several of the protestors spoke.
"We did a lot of chants about the war, and spoke about the problems caused by the war," Keenan, a senior majoring in anthropology, said.
"It was big for Alabama's campus," Keenan said. "I could definitely say that because people saw it. It shows solidarity against the war."
Scott Morris, a senior in New College, said he is not a member of SDS, but he watched and participated in the protest, "Because the war in Iraq is a fraud. We are killing a perfectly sovereign people and our soldiers are dying for other people's profits."
"[The war] is also more than conducive to the American financial system," he said. "We can't support it. We're broke. We're in debt to ourselves; we're in debt to China."
"For a while, we just stood and yelled at the President's Mansion," he said.
Morris said the protest received a lot of attention.
"Some people stopped by and listened to what we were saying, and we had lots of honks from cars," he said. "People were walking by and they would hear what we were saying."
"Nobody wants to hear about unrest and protest these issues," he said. "America's too busy being asleep."
The University's SDS chapter recently gained national attention for a dramatic anti-war demonstration in the Ferguson Center, after which, two UA students and two non-students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
There will be a rally for the dropping of all charges today at noon at Denny Chimes.
Morris said he plans on participating in that event as well.
"I feel that this is all an issue of the University flexing its authoritarian muscle," he said.
SDS members are not involved in planning the "Drop All Charges" demonstration, and it is not related to today's protest.
"SDS is not endorsing it," Keenan said. "It's put on by someone else."
March 20 will be the fifth anniversary of the American presence in Iraq. "Throughout the country, different SDS chapters are having similar events," said Tom Keenan, an SDS member.
"It's the fifth year we've done it," Keenan said. "It's kind of sad, but we have to do it."
The demonstration began at noon, when SDS members and other students gathered in the Ferguson Center plaza. The students then marched to Denny Chimes, shouting, "Exxon, BP, Shell, take your war and go to hell," and several of the protestors spoke.
"We did a lot of chants about the war, and spoke about the problems caused by the war," Keenan, a senior majoring in anthropology, said.
"It was big for Alabama's campus," Keenan said. "I could definitely say that because people saw it. It shows solidarity against the war."
Scott Morris, a senior in New College, said he is not a member of SDS, but he watched and participated in the protest, "Because the war in Iraq is a fraud. We are killing a perfectly sovereign people and our soldiers are dying for other people's profits."
"[The war] is also more than conducive to the American financial system," he said. "We can't support it. We're broke. We're in debt to ourselves; we're in debt to China."
"For a while, we just stood and yelled at the President's Mansion," he said.
Morris said the protest received a lot of attention.
"Some people stopped by and listened to what we were saying, and we had lots of honks from cars," he said. "People were walking by and they would hear what we were saying."
"Nobody wants to hear about unrest and protest these issues," he said. "America's too busy being asleep."
The University's SDS chapter recently gained national attention for a dramatic anti-war demonstration in the Ferguson Center, after which, two UA students and two non-students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
There will be a rally for the dropping of all charges today at noon at Denny Chimes.
Morris said he plans on participating in that event as well.
"I feel that this is all an issue of the University flexing its authoritarian muscle," he said.
SDS members are not involved in planning the "Drop All Charges" demonstration, and it is not related to today's protest.
"SDS is not endorsing it," Keenan said. "It's put on by someone else."
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