Students, faculty and protestors went for a walk yesterday, taking the College Avenue campus and downtown New Brunswick by storm in the process.
Hundreds assembled at the Vietnam War Memorial by Scott Hall yesterday to protest the War in Iraq on its fourth anniversary. The group marched up and down George Street, visiting a military recruiting station and even Route 18 on their self-proclaimed "march for peace."
The rally at the memorial came on the heels of a walkout that encouraged students to leave class promptly at 1:30 in the afternoon. A crowd of nearly 400 protestors congregated after the walkout, but not all of them came from classes that were in session.
Although one of the original stated goals of the walkout was to exit instructional periods in an organized fashion, there was at least one reported instance where members of Tent State University, a student political action group, entered a class that was in session and encouraged students to walk out.
"We went into different classrooms and made a respectful announcement that [the walkout] was happening now and got some people with us," said Sean Monahan, a graduate student and member of Tent State University.
Sandy Flitterman-Lewis, an associate professor in the English department who was in support of the war, even ended her class after 20 minutes so her students could participate in the event.
"I made sure what we discussed in class was relevant to participating in the rally," she said. "I even encouraged those who may not be in support of the walkout to join me outside for an informal discussion, but no one showed up."
The event drew a variety of students, from angry political activists to more unique protestors, such as one man who would only refer to himself as "The Spirit of Creative Energy." This antiwar specter marched while wearing a blue box on his head and carrying a blue paint roller.
Regardless of attire, the message of the protestors was clear.
"Hey Bush, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?" they chanted.
One student, Lev Zilbermints, came from as far as Rutgers-Newark to participate.
Zilbermints, a member of the group Citizens for Affordable Rutgers Education, said he skipped his class in Newark to come out and show his support for the antiwar movement.
"I figured that if the entire country could organize, so could I," he said. "I wanted to show opposition to the war."
Although the majority of those in attendance came out to protest the war, a small group arrived in an attempt to counter the protestors.
"I'm protesting the walkout," said Bethany Murphy, Livingston College junior. "I think it's disruptive and that it's a waste of time and money."
Murphy stood to the side of the crowd for the majority of the rally, holding a large sign that asked students to implement more active methods of protest, such as writing a congressman, in their effort to end the war.
"If they really cared about bringing the troops home they would have gone down to Washington for last weekend's protest or they would write or call their congressman," she said. "This is just yelling at the wind and skipping class."
Several members of the Rutgers College Republicans as well as members of The Centurion, a conservative magazine at the University, were also present at the rally. With shouts of "Iraq is Free!" and signs bearing the slogan "This Walkout Sponsored by Real Authentic Communists," the small group made sure its voice was heard.
"We're here because we feel that both sides need to be represented," said Rutgers College junior Kian Barry, editor in chief of The Centurion. Barry noted such protests might send the wrong message to troops serving overseas.
"Our troops need to know that America is not against them," he said.
Keynote speakers at the rally included war veterans, student activists and a mother whose son had been killed in Iraq. One such speaker was Chad Hetman, a veteran of the U.S. Army who enlisted in the infantry in 1994, and a former member of the ROTC at the University.
"I wanted to help students speak out [against the war]," Hetman said. "As a veteran, I wanted to show that veterans are working with students against crimes against humanity."
After the rally ended, the crowd marched down College Avenue and George Street, ultimately arriving at a military recruiting station, where they staged a second tier of the rally.
Students admonished recruiters for coming onto college campuses and trying to persuade students to enlist in the military.
"I don't know what they might accomplish," Hetman said in reference to the second protest, noting that the protestors know better than to be overtly hostile toward the military.
From the station, the crowd marched onto Route 18 itself, complete with a police entourage consisting of both the Rutgers University and New Brunswick police departments.
While the group elicited the support of many motorists, who smiled, waved and blared their horns, others did not find the students views easy to swallow.
"The Muslim mutts will cut your throats!" one motorist screamed at the protestors on George Street, as the march brought traffic to a dead stop.
The march culminated back where it began at the Vietnam War Memorial, where the group reconvened and discussed its plans for the future, including the Tent State campout in April and other upcoming antiwar rallies.
"It was so fucking awesome that everyone came out today," said one Tent State member to the crowd. "But this is only the beginning."
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