Austin's Peace Rally

Saturday, February 15, 2003

Reported by

Paul Johnston


Thousands of Austinites gathered on the front steps of the state capitol building of Texas to express their desire for peace instead of war with Iraq. At mid rally, an estimate count of 5,000 people who attended the rally was announced. Later in the evening, one local television station gave a final estimate at 10,000 participants. Young, old, men, women and ethnic groups of various backgrounds all came together at the state capitol to express the view that war with Iraq is not the way to go to settle the world's concern over the way Saddam Hussein is leading his country.

The peace rally was very well organized and seemed to proceed in an orderly, peaceful manner. For this to have happened, much planning and coordination had to be done by rally organizers, city officials, the Austin Police Department, and the Texas State Troopers. The Troopers made arrangements for areas for rally participants and access for the tourist to approach and exit the capitol building while the rally was going on. When Troopers needed to make adjustments to where the rally supporters were standing, the crowd moved as they were requested. Respect between law enforcement and rally participants was mutual. Sometimes small children were separated from their parents. Parents would request the speaker to make an announcement for the child to come to the podium. In short order, the tearful child would be escorted by a State Trooper to the anxiously awaiting parent.


Peace speakers from various organizations, individuals with varying viewpoints and individuals from different backgrounds all gave peaceful points of view as to why the United States should not go to war with Iraq. Speakers' backgrounds ranged from peace activists, teachers, people who had family members in the military, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Announcements were made for future peace rallies and suggestions made as to how individuals could further the peace movement. One speaker made a point of asking the listener to support both peace and our military personnel. Between speeches, the crowd was treated to some quality musical entertainment.

At one point, the speaker asked the crowd to turn around and look down Congress Avenue and see all the people massed between the capitol front steps and down Congress Avenue. Once the speeches had been completed, the rally marched south down Congress Avenue to the Congress Avenue bridge over Town Lake. Various drums kept a lively beat while marchers danced in the middle of the bridge. A large cardboard missile was left on the bridge as the marchers proceeded back toward the Capitol area. One policeman asked for assistance to move the cardboard peace display and several marchers came over and moved the display off the bridge.


All in all, the Austin Peace Rally was an exercise in American democracy at its best. A point of view was peacefully expressed. Law enforcement provided the means by which the demonstration could safely take place. Human dignity and respect were the word of the day. This was Austin at its best and is why America is truly the land of the free!


Austin's Peace Rally Photographs


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