News

Where Are All The War Protestors?

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Several Iraq war protests are taking place in the Bay Area this weekend and while the tide of public opinion about the war has shifted, the number of demonstrators protesting doesn't seem to reflect that change.

From Palo Alto to Walnut Creek, protestors took to the stage and streets to denounce the war.

On this fourth anniversary of the war's beginning pollsters report the majority of Americans now believe the invasion was a mistake, but the numbers turning out to protest don't reflect the turned tide of public opinion.

At a rally in Palo Alto there was about 200 people, where, at the beginning of the war there were 5,000.

Paul George, Peninsula Peace and Justice Center Director: "I think people, not mistakenly, feel like they're not being heard in Washington, that they've been out marching before this war started, all during the war, they voted in November very clearly and still the message doesn't seem to be getting through to Washington. It's a shame."

Today's protestors are older, grayer. Some call themselves raging grannies. There are Vietnam-era families reminding their fellow protestors that the scars of war run generations deep.

David Ledesma's brother Jospeh was killed in Vietnam.

David Ledesma, Brother Killed in Vietnam: "Forty years ago my brother was killed in Vietnam when he was 20-years-old and just this past January he would have been 60, so it's important to tell our stories."

There was a tiny handful of young people at the rallies. They have no explanation as to where the other youth are.

Sara Calderon, College Student: "I don't know, apathy for one and I don't know why people just don't get out there and have their voice heard."

With or without their youthful counterparts today's protestors vow to carry on, hoping that it doesn't take a draft to activate the younger generation.

(Copyright ©2009 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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