More than 200 people gathered Wednesday on Library Mall expressing opposition to a possible war with Iraq.
The rally featured speakers from the various sponsoring organizations, including Stop the War!, the student/youth caucus of the Madison Area Peace Coalition, the International Socialist Organization, the UW InfoShop, MAPC and the Student Labor Action Coalition.
Members of Stop the War!, the group that organized the event, viewed it as a way to initially introduce students to the antiwar movement in Madison.
\We're trying to make a splash on campus,"" Laura Nelson, a UW-Madison freshman and member of Stop the War!, said. ""A lot of people are against this war but feel like they're alone. There is a group on campus, Stop the War! We're an outlet for them so they can speak their voice.""
Speakers said Bush has not given the American people reason to support war.
Melea Carvlin, a UW-Madison senior and Stop the War! member, said Bush is trying to sell the American people on an unjust war that would violate international law.
""Iraq is not an aggressor now-George Bush is,"" she said.
Students present shared similar sentiments.
""The president thinks because his supposed war on terror failed, he can attack anyone in the name of terror even if they're not a threat of any kind,"" said Brianne Stuard, a UW-Madison junior.
Fellow junior Louis Mercer said he agrees.
""Ever since Sept. 11, it seems the U.S. has been taking the wrong direction,"" he said. ""I think war seems to be the first agenda for the U.S. and it shouldn't be.""
Shahin Khalili, a UW-Madison senior and member of the Muslim Students Association, said she is concerned by probable negative effects of war on Iraqi civilians.
""Nothing has been done to hurt Saddam Hussein personally,"" she said. ""He doesn't care about his own people. It would be a shame to put them through the misery [of Desert Storm] again.""
However, some students expressed concern with remarks made by speakers at the rally.
Sara Maier, a UW-Madison sophomore, said she disagreed with comments by MAPC member Rae Vogeler, who related a possible war with Iraq to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While Maier said she is against a war with Iraq, she emphasized the current rash of anti-Semitism on college campuses nationwide and expressed concern that people would confuse anti-Israel rhetoric at the rally with anti-Semitism.
Maier asked event organizers for an opportunity to speak in response to Vogeler's comments, but was denied.
""There's no representation of American Jews or any Jews whatsoever,"" she said. ""It's so ironic that they won't let someone who wants to say something different speak.\
