War protesters in front of Old Main carried signs with slogans such as “No war in Iraq!”, “Drop food, Not Bombs!” and chanted “No attack in Iraq!” while marching down Seventh Street Saturday afternoon.

The group of almost 100 people ended its march by gathering on the Coles County Courthouse steps and voicing their opinions.

Event co-organizer Robert Barford said people involved with the protest were against U.S. military intervention and President George W. Bush’s pro-war stance on Iraq and compared the potential war with Iraq with the Vietnam War.

Barford said he did not believe Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

“He doesn’t have the material,” he said. “We have to target those who might have the material.

“The United States is trying to dominate the world — there’s no doubt about that,” Barford said. “As long as the Republicans are in power, they’ll try to dominate the world,” he said.

He also told the crowd about an article that described Secretary of State Colin Powell’s statement to the House of Representatives and Armed Services Committee.

“Colin Powell said ‘I want to be the bully on the block’ in … that there is no future in trying to challenge the armed forces of the United States,” Barford said. “What the hell is that about?”

Many students were opposed to the possibility of war in Iraq.

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Holly Henschen, a sophomore political science major, said she was opposed to war because, “war is wrong and killing is wrong.”

“The Bush administration is willing to go to war since some Cabinet members have already fought in Iraq,” she said. “If the United States decides to go to war, the government will take away money and many students won’t be able to attend college.”

Kelly Bryan, a freshman undecided major, had strong views about the possibility of war with Iraq.

“I think going to war is the stupidest thing to do right now,” she said. “Bush is doing it to get revenge for his daddy and isn’t interested in preserving peace, but it’s for the oil.”

Ben Marcy, a freshman undecided major, said that the United States doesn’t have any clear evidence to bomb Iraq.

“I want proof that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction,” he said. “The simple answer seems that we want to bomb the hell out of Iraq.”

Chris Lempa, a senior history major, said the United States has to lead by example and disarm its weapons of mass destruction before forcing any country to disarm.

“Why do we need to deal with Saddam Hussein?” he said. “You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can’t bomb it into peace.”

Four keynote speakers and and fellow war protesters shared their views. The crowd often shouted after it heard favorable comments.

Sean Barth, one of the keynote speakers urged the importance of not going to war and strongly criticized the government’s actions in Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991.

“If we don’t stop war now, war will go on for the rest of our lives,” Barth said. “What about our accountability? (The Gulf War) was a slaughter and a war against humanity,” He also spoke about how U.S. sanctions in Iraq have killed 1.5 million people.

“More than 85 people have been killed in Iraq since Oct. 1 and we claim Iraq is evil?” he said. “You don’t hear about this on the news, do you? No!”

He also said the United States needs a regime change rather than one in Iraq. After Barth said, “let’s liberate the USA,” the crowd cheered loudly.

Campus minister Roy Lanham also spoke on the court steps, noting many people may be naive against the protest, but feeling that everyone made a contribution by being there.

“We can make a difference and we are making a difference today,” he said. “We have to pray for peace and act for peace.

“I know people in this community think I’m naive and that we’re naive, but if this is being naive against war and dropping bombs, then let us be naive,” Lanham said. “I won’t live in fear because I know we’re right by standing up.”

Members of the Charleston community also had an opportunity to speak.

Charleston resident Michael Strange criticized the government’s stance against war.

“Down with imperalist war!” Strange said.

He also said that no one wasted a minute today by showing up and saying what they had to say.

“The government has threatened war only because they want to get free oil to bring it to Wall Street for oil companies to use and make revenue,” he said.

He also lashed out against three top White House officials — Powell, Bush, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz — and said they should be stopped.

Anne Gudreau spoke about innocent young Iraqi and Afghani children being murdered by U.S. military aircraft dropping bombs.

Helen Willcock said she decided to be at the protest because she felt her fellow members were making a statement.

She said she would rather see actual reports and evidence Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

“We also need to get rid of the sanctions and stop being bullies,” she said.

“This is what we need to do,” she said as she pointed to a sign that said “Drop Food, Not Bombs.”

After participants spoke, the crowd marched back in front of Old Main and were thanked by protest organizers who emphasized the need to get the word out by writing letters, e-mails and by making phone calls.

More protests are planned in the future and the weekly peace vigils will continue in front of the Library Quad every Monday at 5 p.m.