Originally published Feb. 15, 1991
A St. Valentine's Day antiwar "kiss-in" was held at the Capitol rotunda and the Library Mall by Women Against Intervention in the Gulf on Thursday afternoon.
Attendance at the first "kiss-in" was low-six people attended-but WAIG members thought that this was because the demonstration was scheduled for 12 p.m. Members said they hoped for a larger turnout at the second part of the demonstration, which was scheduled for 5 p.m. on the Library Mall.
Amy Brooks, a member of WAIG, said that she wished the turnout had been better, as did demonstrator Karen Milstein.
"There's not too much to say," Milstein said. "This war sucks!"
The "kiss-in" itself lasted around five minutes while organizers continued to urge participation.
"Everyone's here to use their lips!" said on kiss-in participant. "We need all the lips we can get!"
Margaret Hitchcock, also a member of WAIG and organizer of the "kiss-in," said that the purpose of the demonstration was to illustrate the displaced priorities of the United States government concerning obscenity and the U.S. involvement in the war.
"Make out! Not war!" she said.
The second "kiss-in" had a larger turnout despite the poor weather conditions.
Approximately 10 to 15 demonstrators met at Library Mall and then moved in front of Memorial Library to avoid wind chill. They then moved to the foyer of Memorial Union and finally to the Rathskellar. The actual second "kiss-in" was around 15 minutes long.
Kate Hall, who participated in the second "kiss-in," expressed the sentiments of WAIG, as well as her own on the purpose of the demonstration.
"You can kiss a million times a day, but you can only get killed once. Life is about love and not about hate, and this war is all about hate."
