Posted on March 27, 2008
Bearing signs that read, “1,033,000 violent Iraqi deaths,” “2,004 US soldiers under age 24 dead” and “4,500,000 Iraqi children orphaned,” Students for a Democratic Society reminded students on March 20 of the implications of the fifth year anniversary of the war in Iraq.
SDS is a protest-oriented group involved in national demonstrations to convey radical politics. Members are disoriented with electoral politics and seek progress through noisier arenas.
The society was previously known as JMU Progressives, but changed this semester to SDS to become affiliated with a national organization.
Although involved in a myriad of activities, the group focused this week on protesting the fifth year anniversary of United States’ occupation in Iraq. The activities of the week included Pancakes for Peace on Monday, Make ___, not War on Tuesday and attending a protest in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The series of events culminated in a Die-In Thursday.
“Pancakes for Peace and Make ___, not War was fun because it gets tiresome being anti. But the Die-In is a serious day to commemorate everyone who has died so far,” junior member Barbie Spitz said.
The members donned black garb, white masks and signs with statistics regarding fatalities and money spent on the Iraq war. The intention was to solemnly recognize those who have lost their lives in the war while also creating an eerie image of bodies strewn across the steps of D-Hall to shake passing students.
Spitz felt the week was a success because students stopped to ask about the goals of the program.
“It re-energizes students to have the power to stop the war,” Spitz said.
The group, which meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Taylor Hall, not only has a commitment to anti-war campaigns, but environmental sustainability, immigrant rights and gender equality. For much of last week, however, the focus had been on making a statement about the war in Iraq.
“Hopefully people will think more about it and realize we have been there for five years,” Spitz said. “We are in Iraq and people are still dying every day.”
While their message is anti-war, SDS felt the need to show appreciation for those fighting in Iraq. They created a red and blue sign that read, “Support the troops, bring them home.”
