Columbia Peace Coalition protests U.S. involvement in war

Speakers said the wars were not serving the purpose of protection.

By Rachel Allred

Published Oct. 13, 2009

On the Boone County Courthouse square in downtown Columbia on Sunday, the Columbia Peace Coalition held a rally in observance of the eighth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.

The rally, which was coordinated by the several organizations comprising the coalition, was based on the theme "Eight is (more than) enough: End the wars!"

Attendees called for a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and demonstrated their opposition to U.S. military presence in foreign countries.

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks Director Mark Haim said the wars are not benefiting America and need to end as quickly as possible.

"They aren't serving our national security, they are harming us," Haim said. "I'm not saying that everyone has to be gone tomorrow, but we should move forward."

As part of the event, Bill Ramsey, St. Louis Instead of War Coalition coordinator, addressed the crowd. In his speech, Ramsey said America has seen one war after another. He also said the United States needs to step down from the pedestal on which it has placed itself.

"We are citizens in a country that has convinced itself it is the exception to the rule and that it has special responsibilities around the world," Ramsey said. "We need to shed the sense of exceptionalism and learn to live alongside the rest world instead of on top of it."

Ramsey said the war is not fulfilling its promise to protect American citizens.

"The presence we have around the world is our greatest enemy," he said. "The people who are sworn in to defend us are in fact endangering us."

When the U.S. military invades other countries, Haim said it creates more enemies of America.

Another speaker at the event was Veterans for Peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson. McPhearson, who fought in the Gulf War, said the war is wrong but he respects fallen soldiers.

"I don't ever say a soldier died for nothing," McPhearson said. "Even though they die in a war that is unjust, they joined for good reasons."

During the rally, attendees signed a petition challenging President Barack Obama to move up his 2011 troop withdrawal deadline and several other goals. Haim said the coalition began seeking signatures a week ago and they have almost 400 signatures so far. The petition will be sent to six government leaders, including Obama and both of Missouri's U.S. senators.

MU senior Naomi Lahiri helped publicize the rally and was one of the citizens in attendance. She said it is important for people to not become complacent because a new president has been elected.

"One of the main things is to make sure people are still aware of what's going on, even though we've elected a Democratic president," Lahiri said. "A lot of us are really happy about that, but he still needs our voices to be heard."

The demonstration ended with a march downtown, in which protestors chanted anti-war slogans and waved banners supporting peace.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dennis Schellinberger was downtown at the time of the demonstration and said though nobody likes the war, soldiers are protecting liberties, including the right to protest.

"We want peace, but we can't sit by and be attacked," Schellinberger said. "You can oppose the war, but understand why we are doing it. We have to be on the offense or we will be attacked again."