Protests on 5th Anniversary of Iraq War

[unapatriciated]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Octogenarian Jim Barron has hearing aids and a pacemaker. The prostate cancer survivor received a cortisone shot this month to ease the pain from an old shoulder injury.

"It got to the point where I couldn't lift a glass of water," Barron said.

Despite his aches, Barron planned to risk arrest Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 U.S. troops. He's part of a nationwide peace movement using the anniversary to protest with nonviolent civil disobedience.
"I'm tired of being a futile old man not able to have any participation in this decision," Barron said. "I'm 80 years old. I'm still alive. I want people to say, `If he's not afraid to do it, what am I doing being so silent?'"

Barron, who ran a kitchen remodeling business with his wife before he retired in 1995, said he helped organize efforts to integrate restaurants in Richmond, Va., during the 1960s. He saw police drag college students from lunch counters, and said authorities stood and watched as the students were attacked on sidewalks.

But the attacks only encouraged more protesters to engage in civil disobedience, he said.

"I saw the effectiveness of civil disobedience," Barron said. "Those kids paid a helluva penalty, but they got the good people of Richmond awakened. This chemistry needs to happen again."

Planning to join Barron on Wednesday were his minister, the Rev. Kathleen McTigue, and others from his Unitarian church in New Haven. McTigue said she was surprised when Barron told her he wanted to join the action, but he assured her he was up it.

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/national/2008/03/19/Iraq.War.Protests/


How many on DU will be joining a peace march today? Here is a link to find one near you.

http://events.unitedforpeace.org/5yearstoomany