Groups commemorate Obama speech

An event marked the fifth anniversary of a Barack Obama anti-war speech.

By Linda Waterborg, Associate Editor
Oct. 5, 2007

An outdoor rally for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., went on Tuesday despite stormy weather. Two grassroots organizations, Mid Mo 4 Obama and Mizzou for Obama, organized the rally.

Mid Mo 4 Obama volunteer Peg Miller said Obama's strong online campaign contributed to the organization of small grassroots organizations such as Mid Mo 4 Obama and the success of their small events.

"Other politicians would like to have Obama's grassroots support, but they don't," she said.

According to Mizzou for Obama Director Glenn Rehn, about 50 people attended the rain-soaked rally celebrating the five-year anniversary of a speech made by Obama in 2002 at an anti-war rally in Chicago.

The celebration was originally located at Courthouse Square, but it moved to Boone Tavern's patio due to weather. The organizers said they thought the weather played a factor in attendance.

"Considering the rain, we did the best we could," Rehn said. "In better weather, we could've had a better turn out. I'm pleased considering the weather."

The rally was one of several similar events taking place at various places around the country to honor Obama's early opposition to the war in Iraq.

"When school started, we were waiting for something to organize an event around, and then the national campaign contacted us about this," Rehn said. "It's a great reason for a rally. It's the reason a lot of people support Obama."

One of the unifying elements of the many rallies was a letter written by Obama especially for the occasion. The letter, which was interrupted by applause, was read at the start of the rally by Mizzou for Obama member Farouk Aregbe.

Four other speakers followed Aregbe at the rally.

Second to take to the podium was Susan Montee, Missouri State Auditor and chairwoman of Women for Obama.

Montee was followed by Legion of Black Collegians Vice President Porscha Kirkwood and MU senior Melissa Bauer who spoke about their personal experiences with the military and the war in Iraq. Both talked about their brothers' tours of duty in Iraq and elsewhere and the difficulties they brought. After their individual speeches, Kirkwood and Bauer took turns reading Obama's 2002 speech.

"An invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world," Obama said in the speech, which was unpopular at the time.

Obama also predicted that an invasion would lead to a civil war in Iraq.

Pamphlets with the speech printed on them were provided by Obama for America and passed out by the organizers. They state, "Obama was the only candidate in his race for the U.S. Senate, and one of the few in the entire country, to oppose the war before it started, back when most voters and politicians supported the war."

Grant Kitch, a Columbia resident who attended the rally, said there are more reasons for voters to support Obama.

"Most politicians are all, 'Look at me, look at me,'" he said. "They only care about appearances. Obama wants to turn the election into a chance to empower people."

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Groups commemorate Obama speech

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