The Wake

Several University of Minnesota students marched with tens of thousands of activists in Washington Saturday against the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq.

“Students realize that the war is destructive to them in every way possible,” said Caneisha Mills, a Howard University student who helped organize the event.

Mills said that money spent on Iraq should instead go to keep rising college tuition rates down, fund health care, create jobs and promote child care.

Police estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 students, veterans, youth and seniors attended the event, organized by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism and United for Peace and Justice, anti-war coalitions. Organizers said as many as 100,000 showed up.

Josh Beck-Esmay, a University junior, rode a bus chartered by the Anti-War Committee to the protest. He said he feels that American foreign policy aims to control resources in poor countries.

Greg Pumphrey, a George Mason University student, said he came to remind people of Sept. 11, 2001.

“Peace has to be earned,” Pumphrey said. “How many times do we have to be bombed before we say we’re not going to take it anymore?”

Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General, said at the protest that President Bush should be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

“George W. Bush will start another war if he thinks it’ll help him in the next election,” Clark said.

Nick Jacobson-Larson, a University freshman, also rode the Anti-War Committee bus to the demonstration. He said Iraq should be freer to choose its political destiny with the United Nations’ financial and practical aid.

He added that the United States should be financially responsible to rebuild Iraq.

Said Jacobson-Larson, “Liberation is not the same thing as occupation.”