400 Join Rally For Peace

The largest peace rally in Davis since before the Iraq war began three years ago packed a sun-drenched E Street Plaza on Sunday.

A crowd estimated at more than 400 people wielded homemade signs, listened to speakers and music, and hooted at jokes.

But their purpose was a serious one memorializing the thousands of lives lost in the war, both military personnel and civilians, and to call for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Davis resident Fadhil Al-Kazily spoke of the continuing saga of violence in his homeland, which recently took the life of his 81-year-old uncle. Saadi Al-Tahi was shot and killed by a U.S. soldier earlier this month as he drove through an intersection in Mosul, Al-Kazily said.

With a son serving in Mosul, Laurie and Russell Loving, founders of the Sacramento area chapter of Military Families Speak Out, have also suffered sleepless nights, fearing the telephones ring. Their 21-year-old son, a corporal serving in the U.S. Army, is stationed in Mosul.

Horrified at the initial thought that their son may have caused their friend this loss, they vowed, They (the U.S. government) will not make us enemies.

Pat Sheehan of Vacaville wore his sons nearly new fatigue jacket. Casey Sheehan had been stationed in Iraq for just two weeks when he was killed on April 4, 2004. Pat Sheehan read a poem by his daughter, UC Davis student Carly, about their loss.

A healing ceremony to remember those on all sides of the conflict who have died or been injured and to bring an end to this war as soon as possible, in the best possible way was led by Trudi Richards from the Community of Well-Being.

Davis High School students Rhiannon Guevin and Laurel Sallack, who welcomed the crowd with How Can I Keep From Singing?, closed the afternoon by leading the crowd in John Lennons Imagine.

Finally, participants, many who had fasted for the day, broke bread together, a symbol of friendship and solidarity.

Davis gathering on the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq echoed demonstrations around the world. But while attendance at many such gatherings on the East Coast in New York and Washington, D.C., were well below what organizers had hoped, many California communities met and exceeded organizers expectations.

Attendance estimates for Sundays Davis gathering, sponsored by more than a dozen local groups, varied widely, with some as high as 600. Laurie Loving said it was the largest she could remember since coming to Davis 23 years ago; others agreed it was surely the largest show of opposition to the war during the past three years.

A March 17, 2003, rally and march in Davis  two days before the war began  drew about 550 people. An August 2005 candlelight vigil held to support Casey Sheehans mother, Cindy, during her protest at President Bushs Texas ranch, attracted about 300.

On Sunday, master of ceremonies Will Lotter looked out over the crowd and said he knew optimism is alive and well in Davis.

I hope this will motivate people to contact their congressmen to say, Enough is enough!  he said. Lets put this money spent on death and destruction toward our many domestic needs.

By Kitty Liebhardt Special to The Davis Enterprise, March 20, 2006