War sparks protests, support

Deirdre Newman

The drumbeat for peace refused to be silenced Thursday after bombs

began dropping on Baghdad, reverberating through Costa Mesa with

renewed passion.

The peace movement started with a mellow flavor at Orange Coast

College in the morning with a walkout sponsored by the Peace

Coalition, made up of several groups at the school -- the Green Party

chapter; Peace Project; United Student Sociologists; the Psychology

Club; and the Muslim Student Assn.

At one point, students gathered on the grassy quad to hear

speakers numbered 150. Those for and against the war with Iraq

expressed their sentiments through soliloquies, rap and poetry.

The purpose of the walkout was to encourage those who are against

the war not to give up just because the military campaign is

underway, co-organizer Federico Moreno said.

“We have produced a successful protest movement,” Moreno said. “We

can’t think we failed because the war started. We have to turn it

into a vibrant antiwar movement.”

During his speech, Moreno railed against what he considers the

hypocrisy of the government for launching a costly war in the middle

of a recession.

“We’re spending billions of dollars on a war that will make the

rich richer and the rest of the world more dangerous,” Moreno said.

Tyler Hoff, who expressed support for peace, said it is important

to make a distinction between people and their opinions.

“I love George Bush, I love this man,” Hoffman said. “He has a

different perception. He’s not wrong. If you take different angles

and listen to your friends and family, it’s more than just what the

mainstream media is saying. Peace is possible.”

Khawer Khan, 22, president of the Muslim Students Assn., took a

more hard-line stance against the U.S. government and the war,

comparing the United States to a historic imperialist power.

“Welcome to Rome,” Khan said. “The Roman Empire started yesterday.

Imposing democracy sounds like an oxymoron to me.

“[Hussein] did gas the Kurds, but the same year, [Donald]

Rumsfield was there hugging Saddam and saying it was the Iranians

[who gassed them],” Khan said.

Zain Karamali used rap music to criticize American foreign policy.

“The government monopolizes the Middle East like beasts,” was part

of Karamali’s rap.

While the event was billed as an antiwar forum, the organizers

gave the microphone to anyone who wanted to speak.

Tony, who did not give his last name, paraphrased the Beatles

before launching into a defense of the war. Tony said that while he

supports peace, it will not bring about the fundamental change that

he believes is necessary in Iraq.

“I read the news today, oh boy. And America’s going to war with

Iraq,” Tony said. “Change is better for the people of Iraq, better

for the people of the Middle East and better for the U.S.”

Some students who attended the walkout said they thought certain

speakers did a good job articulating the need for peace.

“I think it’s great,” said Lauren Tellez, 18, who missed a math

class to attend. “I’m totally against the war. I respect everyone’s

opinion, but I don’t think the [war] is called for.”

Later in the afternoon, a handful of people began gathering on the

sidewalks outside South Coast Plaza for an antiwar demonstration

later in the evening sponsored by the No War on Iraq! Coalition.

Three people sat on the corner of Bristol Street and Anton

Boulevard holding signs supporting peace, while farther up Bristol, a

man stood with an American flag to support the troops.

Sydne Brunner of Huntington Beach, said she took the day off work

to make a stand for peace because “it shouldn’t be business as usual

when we’re in a sovereign country murdering people.”

Brunner, who wore a pin that said “Resist Bush’s War on the World,

Not in Our Name,” said the U.S. should take care of its own affairs

before butting into the affairs of others.

“The regime change should be here,” Brunner said. “When your own

house is not in order, don’t go messing up someone else’s house.”

Keeping a healthy distance out of respect was Dan Baldasare of

Santa Ana. Baldasare said he spontaneously bought a large American

flag after he saw the antiwar protesters and blew off watching

“General Hospital” to support American troops.

“I have a nephew that’s going to be going [to fight in the Middle

East],” Baldasare said. “I’m too old to go, so I can do something for

them.”

No organized rallies or protests have taken place at UC Irvine

this week, said Jim Cohen, media spokesman.

Naem Mohamed, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Assn. on

campus, said the philosophy of the worldwide Ahmadiyya organization

is to maintain loyalty to the president of whatever country they are

in.

“It all boils down to the meaning of Islam -- peace, obedience and

submission,” Mohamed said.

Emotions over the war did permeate a Costa Mesa eatery.

At Mimi’s Cafe Thursday afternoon, a manager took down a French

flag because some customers complained that it was making them

uncomfortable.

Jeannie Turner from Mimi’s corporate office did not return calls

for comment.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.