Young activists help stage war protest

March 17, 2007

By Gordon Dritschilo Herald Staff

After four years, anti-war protestors are looking to see what they can do differently.

As peace activists gather in Rutland Sunday afternoon to mark the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, one new approach members of Central Vermont Peace and Justice say they are trying is increasing youth involvement.

"I think the biggest strategy right now on my part is to show that young people care," said Dianna Bessette, a youth organizer for the group. "There's a general notion that young people are apathetic. … There are a lot of youth in Rutland County who want to get involved."

Bessette said she runs one of two chapters of a new organization called the Student Peace Alliance of Rutland County. She said her group, SPARC East, is composed largely of high school students while the other, SPARC West, is made up mostly of students from Castleton State College and Green Mountain College.

"In Rutland, my group, there's about 15 of us," she said. "There's a steering committee of about five or six of us that does the planning."

SPARC has been involved in efforts at area schools to counter military recruiting campaigns, Bessette said, and its members are responsible for organizing this protest, giving the event the theme of "What are you doing to stop the war?" She said the event is designed to emphasize education.

"I have a 15-year-old girl from Proctor who said at our second meeting we need to try something different, get noticed more," she said.

The day begins with a protest at 2 p.m. in Main Street Park. At 3 p.m., Bessette said, the assembled group will march down West Street to the Unitarian Universalist Church, where it will have tables set up with anti-war literature and information on other causes, such as sustainability and shutting down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

From 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the church will host a rally with speakers, music and a bake sale.

"It'll be a mingling, learning time," Bessette said.

The day's activities conclude with a "peace concert" featuring local youth bands from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Although the Iraq war is entering its fifth year, Bessette said activists feel like they are making progress.

"The nonbinding resolutions have frustrated some of us, but it does say something," she said. "There's hope. The number of people against the war is growing."
 

Contact Gordon Dritschilo at gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com.