One man’s protest gains support daily

Jenny Marder

Every Sunday a group of protesters, with signs in hand, meet across

the street from Marina High School to oppose a war with Iraq,

undaunted by screamed obscenities and the occasional lewd gesture

from passing drivers.

For a couple hours each week, the group gathers at the corner of

Springdale Street and Edinger Avenue to show its resistance to the

possible war and displeasure with the Bush administration. The group

is eclectic -- a schoolteacher, a priest, a mother, as well as

students. The group’s number averages about a dozen and they come

from all over Orange County, including Huntington Beach, Long Beach,

Garden Grove, Westminster and Irvine.

But they meet with a common purpose.

Most of their signs are made of cardboard with slogans like “No

Good Evidence,” “Stop Bush” and “Support our Troops, Bring ‘em Home.”

One woman carries a cardboard box with “I Say No to War” written in

red lipstick.

As a white pickup truck drives through the intersection honking,

two hands emerge from the windows; one flashes a thumbs down, the

other the middle finger.

The protesters are not fazed, and they wave banners and peace

signs at the passing truck in reply. It’s nothing they haven’t seen

before.

“What strikes me as mind-blowing is people drive by and honk and

you think they’re saying ‘right on,’ but really they’re giving us the

finger,” said Greg Varela, a protester from Long Beach. “For every

one positive [response], there’s about five negatives.”

Nonetheless, Cecil Powers, organizer of the protest, said he has

had overwhelming support since he started the demonstration in

November.

Powers launched the demonstrations when he began to see “an

inevitable movement toward war,” which drove him to the point where

he had to do something, he said.

Powers chose this particular corner because nearby lots offer

accessible parking, large intersections grant visibility and because

it is far enough from nearby businesses that protesters won’t pose a

disturbance. Mostly though, he chose the intersection because it’s

within walking distance from his house. One side of his sign says “No

War in Iraq” in large black letters and the other reads “No Blood for

Oil.” There is also a small black peace sign on the front of his

homemade t-shirt.

For two months, he crossed the street every Sunday and stood at

the corner, alone, sign held high. As time passed, other protesters

began to join him.

“We are not out here to change minds,” Powers said. “We want to

motivate the people that agree with us. I think this is a nice outlet

for people who do show up where they can meet like-minded people to

discuss their views.”

Powers said he thinks people in Orange County are often

intimidated to speak out against the war.

“I was anticipating more of a negative response,” Powers said.

“Historically, when war starts, people tend to back the troops. But I

think coming out here is the best way to support the troops.”

He smiled as a passerby honked, cheered and flashed a peace sign.

Some Sundays, those opposed to the protest come out to challenge

the demonstrators. On March 2, for example, eight or nine supporters

of the war gathered across the street to counter the anti-war rally.

“They were yelling a lot of obscenities at us,” Powers said. “It

was really intense.”

Things were quieter at Sunday’s rally.

At about 1:30 p.m., two half-naked teenagers sauntered quickly and

silently past the protesters, crossed the street and walked away.

Painted across their bare backs were the words Pro-War and USA.

Across their chests were peace signs.

One protester, Irvine resident Mike Gates, said he worries that if

the U.S. and Great Britain forego an international coalition and

fight alone, it could lead to the destruction of the United Nations

and the loss of American legitimacy in the international sphere.

“My feeling is that war is justified if the international

community is behind it and the international community is not behind

it,” Gates said.

Deacon Charlie Lehman from Westminster joined the protest because

although he supports putting a stop to Al Qaeda, he predicts this war

will have the opposite effect.

“What kind of impression are we going to make if we give Baghdad

the Dresden treatment,” he said. His sign reads “No Good Evidence.”

If war is declared, Powers said he will leave work on that day to

protest at his corner.

He could not say how long he will continue to hold his small

protest, but predicts it will be well into the war, which he

considers is inevitable.

“Until I see some changes in the administration, such as

withdrawal ... I intend to be active, whether or not I remain at the

corner,” he said.

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at jenny.marder@latimes.com.