War protestors vow to fight on War protestors vow to fight on (April 16, 2003)

Despite overwhelming support for Iraq war, peace advocates say movement is growing

by Don Kazak

Undeterred by the government's disregard for the peace protests, anti-war activists say they plan to continue expressing themselves even though the war appears nearly over.

Palo Alto hosted two large peace rallies before the war in Iraq started, as well as a muted, somber protest the day after the war began. Although the conflict is simmering down, peace efforts will continue -- especially since U.S. troops will indefinitely occupy Iraq, said Paul George, director of the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center.

"This is not just about how long the violence lasts. This is a burgeoning movement," said Larissa Keet, a former Palo Alto teacher who lives in Los Altos Hills.

Despite the fact that some three quarters of Americans, according to polls, now support the war in Iraq, George said the peace movement has successfully recruited people opposing the conflict and has established a national and global network.

"I don't think the peace movement, and its participants, should take this as a defeat," George said. "What we did was also unprecedented" in terms of the number of people involved. "I think the peace movement will come out of this stronger."

Don Kazak can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com