You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Feb. 3, 2003, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.
Protesters gathered yesterday amidst a chorus of sympathetic car horns to protest the pending war with Iraq.
Believing the motivation for war comes from a U.S. dependency on oil, participants lined the sidewalks of the Greenland Drive Shell station waving signs for the people driving by.
“This is part of an international day of protest,” said student event organizer Shannon Vick. “There are a lot of groups all across the country doing this today.”
About 15 people showed up the protest, including mothers with baby strollers adorned with signs of protest.
Most of the crowd consisted of MTSU students possessing deeply felt opinions on the possibility of war and the importance of protest.
“[Political protest] lets people know…that there are people out there who feel against the war, and that they feel that way strong enough to stand outside and outside and hold a sign like an idiot,” said student Anna Davis.
“The war is not all about liberating people, and I don’t think they want us over there,” Davis added. “We’re alone in the U.N. and in our ideas. We’re alone in going to war.”
Joining MTSU students in the protest were members of the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and Middle Tennessee Veterans for Peace, along with other community members.
“I was drafted at the age of 19, and it was the students who led the fight [against war] back then,” said Warren Duzak, a member of Veterans for Peace. “And that’s why I’m here today.”
Middle Tennessee Veterans for Peace is part of an international organization that has a membership of nearly 3,000 veterans who oppose war and want to eliminate it as an instrument of public policy.
The Nashville Peace and Justice holds weekly rallies within the Middle Tennessee area that often attract up to 700 people. They joined yesterday’s protest because of how important they think student involvement is.
“There is an awareness at MTSU. It’s just a matter of organizing it,” participant Susan McKay said.
“It’s the oil, stupid,” “Oil barons for Bush” and “U.S. oil addiction fuels war,” were among the signs that drew a mixed response from the passing motorists.
Many drivers honked in approval in response to a sign that read, “Honk for peace,” but the responses were not all positive. A teal Mustang stopped beside the protesters and proceeded to squeal his tires in protest. Another man leaned out of a truck and yelled out an expletive-laced reference to hippies.
“We had enough people to make a statement,” MTSU professor Michael Principe said. “And even people just honking their horns gets them involved.”
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