Spring Break
Wheaton students attend Peace Rally in Boston
Jonathan Wolinsky '10
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News
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Spearheaded by Lily Hoffman '11, Wheaton's participation was among multiple other area colleges. Hoffman stated that she hoped "Wheaton students [would] have a positive experience… and bring this motivation back to campus for future rallies."
United for Peace and Justice is a coalition of more than 1,300 local and national organizations dedicated to protesting the Presidential administration's current policy in Iraq and according to their website, "our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building."
This rally included a spectrum of people protesting against potential US actions in Iran, as well as the on-going issue of Palestine and Israel.
"A big aspect of having peace comes with education. It's ignorant for someone to say peace rallies are futile." Hoffman went on to say that at worst, rallies would educate the masses of what is going on in the world and that it is hardly a negative scenario.
Cara Liasson '11, who attended the rally, is currently taking the FYS The Vietnam Experience, and saw parallels between what she's learning in class and what she sees happening in Iraq and here at home.
Liasson felt it was "really important to raise awareness about these issues," especially in relation to the way we treat our returning soldiers.
Among the students who went was Nicole Schmitz '11, who has lived in Singapore for the past ten years. Schmitz pointed out "where I grew up, you weren't allowed to voice your opinion at all. Why wouldn't I go? It's a chance to say your piece."
Solomon Odame, the freshman class president marched "not only because it was the right thing to do, but to remind young adults not to be afraid to express [their] voice especially when [it] concerns peace.
One criticism both Hoffman and Schmitz offered was the lack of media coverage.
In Hoffman's words, "it was definitely not the media coverage it should be getting." This was slightly mitigated by the fact that there were concurrent rallies in ten other cities with another 90,000 people marching.
In the end Hoffman and other students who attended felt the purpose was partially served in that more people marching would have made the voice of protest louder but that in terms of Wheaton students going, "the purpose was definitely served."
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