|
End the Iraq Occupation at Rice University
by R4Peace
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Rice for Peace & Justice hosted an End the Iraq Occupation event on Friday, November 16th encouraging students to take an active stand against the war.
speakers.jpg, image/jpeg, 845x634
Rice for Peace & Justice and Amnesty International hosted an End the Iraq Occupation event on Friday, November 16th encouraging students to take an active stand against the war. About 80 students and Rice staff crowded the Farnsworth Pavilion to enjoy vegetarian food and listen to music and speakers during the lunch event.
The event started with music by the Free Radicals Protest Samba School and delicious vegetarian food courtesy of the Hare Krishna Temple. A powerpoint presentation in the background gave some of the most shocking figures from the Iraq war, such as the rise of insurgents and casualties.
Rice Arab History professor Dr. Ussama Makdisi spoke first. After giving a brief history of colonialism and occupation in Iraq, Dr. Makdisi provided a short analysis of the war and ended his comments by asking everyone to think about what will happen after US withdrawal, and what the US's responsibility is to the Iraqi people.
Mikal Hutto from Military Families Speak Out! read a powerful letter from her son, an active duty soldier in Iraq, describing the violence and death and feelings of hopelessness and frustration he experiences in Iraq. She ended by urging students to act and get involved in the anti-war movement.
A member of Iraq Veterans Against the War spoke next to share her experience in the Army and advised everyone to not join the army.
A representative from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's office was also present. He spoke about his own political activism in college against apartheid and South Africa and shared his excitement to see so many students present at the event.
Attendees throughout the event had the opportunity to send messages to their representatives to voice their opposition against the war and pick up more information about how to get involved.
The next day Rice students joined about a hundred Houston activists at the End the Iraq War march down Montrose calling for an end to the occupation.
emailing representatives
by R4Peace
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
emailing.jpg, image/jpeg, 845x634
hare krishna food
by R4Peace
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
harekrishna.jpg, image/jpeg, 845x634
free radicals protest samba school
by R4Peace
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
nickcooperettes.jpg, image/jpeg, 845x634
banner for the event
by R4Peace
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
fondrenbanner.jpg, image/jpeg, 634x845
LATEST COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Listed below are the 10 latest comments of 1 posted about this article.
These comments are anonymously submitted by the website visitors.
|
|
|
