Anti-Iraq War protests in Washington, D.C., 2003, by Rachel Good
From MemoryArchive
WHO: Rachel Good WHAT: Anti-Iraq War Protest WHEN: January 18, 2003 WHERE: Washington, DC
In January 2003, I took part in one of the largest anti-war protests preceded the March 2003 invasion of Iraq by US and coalition forces.
I decided to participate in the protests for numerous reasons. First, I was not convinced by Colin Powell or other Bush administration officials that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Second, I believed that invading Iraq was not the best way to handle Saddam Hussein. I was also reluctant for the US to enter into Iraq when it was already committed to Afghanistan. Additionally, I felt that President Bush was leading the nation into Iraq to settle a family score and gain access to valuable oil reserves. Finally, I was frustrated with the administration’s efforts to connect Iraq to 9/11 when there was no link.
The protest on January 18th, like so many protests before, began on the National Mall with a rally. I remember that there were a lot of ‘characters’ at the event. There were comedy groups singing parodies about the Bush administration which were very entertaining. A lot of people dressed their dogs in clothes and covered them in anti-war buttons and signs. But, what stuck in my mind is the parents who brought their small children to the protest. These children were carrying signs and wearing buttons. I remember a discussion I had with a friend on whether or not parents should bring their children to such event. Were the parents indoctrinating their children, do children really have an opinion on such matters, and were the parents using their children as tools in the anti-war movement?
After the rally, getting the crowd to actually start marching was very difficult and slow. There were literally tens of thousands of people on the Mall. As slow as it was to get going, once people started they moved briskly, motivated by the anti-war chats being shouted. “No blood for oil!” “Drop Bush not bombs!” “Hell no, we won’t go! We won’t fight for Texaco!”
Throughout the march there was an element of tension in the air. People were concerned that anarchists might try to cause problems with the police. Luckily, there were no confrontations with the police or anarchists.
I also remember feeling a sense of defeat. Protesting was something I felt I had to do, but I also felt like it wouldn’t change anything. In my opinion, the Bush administration had already decided to go to war and there was nothing anyone could do. I doubt whether protesters of the past felt defeat before they were even done marching.
A few days after I marched in Washington my parents called me from Pittsburgh, PA—my hometown. They were calling from the middle of what was the largest protest in the history of the city of Pittsburgh—larger than anything that occurred during the Vietnam War era. My 56 year old parents were out marching against an invasion of Iraq during one of the coldest days on the winter. I felt immensely proud. I only wished wish that I was there to protest next to them. Suddenly, I was jealous of the little children at the Washington, DC protest who were able to join their parents for an important moment in American history.
