War Protest in Poe Park By O'RYA HYDE-KELLER
Protesters gathered around the park's gazebo for an afternoon of speeches, poetry and music. They carried signs that read, "Money for jobs and education, not war," "We're all in this together," and "Imagine." The protest, sponsored by Bronx Action for Justice and Peace, brought together a diverse crowd of activists, students, politicians, poets and musicians. Participants believe the costs of war will prove particularly detrimental to the Bronx, taking money away from badly needed social services. "When it's an AIDS baby, there's no money," said Brian Hynes, a member of Bronx Action. "When it's a war, suddenly the coffers open up."
"The peace movement around the country is developing momentum, and we're part of that movement," said Frank Farkas, a member of Bronx Action and an organizer of Sunday's event. Speakers at the protest included state Assemblyman and Bronx County Democratic Chair Jose Rivera and Elizabeth Shanklin, the Green Party candidate for Congress in the 17th District. Both are outraged at the Bush administration's unilateral push for force against Iraq, saying that it neglects the desires and needs of United States citizens. Shanklin, who opposes the USA Patriot Act, which gives the government greater power to detain suspected terrorists without a trial, urged all citizens to head to the libraries. "We should all go to the library and everybody should take out books the CIA doesn't like," she said. "They should check out Karl Marx and Michael Moore's 'Stupid White Men.'" In addition to speaking out against military action in Iraq, protesters and speakers came to Poe Park to oppose Navy bombing tests on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. Rivera said he will soon travel to Vieques to protest the bombing even though it means facing the possibility of six months in jail. (He served over a month in a Brooklyn jail last year for trespassing on the island with other politicians.) "Six months is nothing compared to the suffering of the people in Vieques or the suffering of the children in Iraq," he said. Other speakers ranged from Pedro Pacheco, a young poet who rapped about the plight of urban youth to Sam Delgado of the Young Communist League, who urged protesters to spread the message of peace to their communities. Though the turnout was relatively small, participants seemed happy about the diverse and enthusiastic showing. Veteran protesters reminisced about the beginnings of the anti-Vietnam war movement, reminding younger activists that even then it took many years to gather momentum and popular support. Riverdale residents Rachel Goldberg and Adrian Gomez brought their 20-month-old daughter, Llanina, to the protest. Though both said they would oppose a war in Iraq even if they didn't have a child, they said Llanina strengthened their resolve. "It makes me think about what kind of world we're providing her and what legacy we're leaving," Goldberg said. Ed. note: Norwood News editor Jordan Moss is a member of Bronx Action for Justice and Peace, the group that organized the Poe Park rally.
News | Opinion | Schools
| Features | Ongoing Story | Home |
More than 100 people
gathered in Poe Park in North Fordham last Sunday to protest the
resolution recently passed by Congress authorizing the Bush administration
to use force against Iraq.
This was the first protest sponsored by the group that formed in the
wake of September 11 to promote non-violent responses to the tragic attack
on the World Trade Center. Over the last year, the group has organized a
community forum on the war in Afghanistan, a three-part film series and
monthly pot luck dinners.