On May 17, 1970, several thousand protesters, including hundreds of GIs, gathered in Fayetteville's Rowan Park to protest the Vietnam War. That rally was part of a large and vigorous GI antiwar movement, which we have documented in a special exhibit.
On march 20, 2004, the largest peace rally since 1970 gathered in Fayetteville, to protest the Iraq war and occupation. Quaker House was one of the sponsoring groups for this march.
There was a lot of talk about the plans for our march and rally. The Fayetteville Observer editorialized on March 18 that
" . . . it is possible to oppose a war without thinking ill of those sent to fight it.. . . At the same time, drawing protesters to this region, the staging area from which so much military policy is carried out, invites a reasonable suspicion that the anti-war protest might more appropriately have been transported to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. or to the lawn of the Capitol, where those policies are crafted."
In one sense, the Observer's query is understandable: certainly policymakers need to hear antiwar protests as well.
But Washington was not our intended audience on March 20. Fayetteville was chosen because we wanted to send a message to servicemembers and their families, and Ft. Bragg is one of the largest and most important military posts in the country. And our message was, as one of our signs put it: Yes to the Troops, No to the War."
More and more GIs and family members are becoming keenly aware of the toll the war/occupation is taking on them, as well as Iraqis. And slowly but surely, more and more of them are finding the courage to speak their doubts and opposition.
Our march and rally was meant to speak for these servicemembers and families, and to give them a platform to speak to each other. And we believe it succeeded. These next few pages give you a sampling of what was said, how it looked, and the reporting on the event, which spanned the globe.
Our downtown peace vigil
shows the way. These vigils are small in numbers, but in the past year they
have been featured in TV news coverage in Australia, London and Paris, as
well as local media.
"If ever there were a few idiots that needed to be shouted down -- especially those from that communist International bookstore in Chapel Hill... "
"A neo-nazi group is planning on
marching [in Raleigh NC]."
Maybe someone should let those idiots know about
the anti-war rally. I bet they would love to get their hands on some
commies."
"They don't care what stage the
war is in; They just want to humiliate the families of our troops and our
Commander in Chief.
It really is low of
them to pick on the families when their spouses and parents are not here to
protect them. They love scaring kids, too."
"***Warning! The "anti-war protestors" are encouraging public nudity, and lewdness from their "participants". (Bring your blinders and visors!)***"