Group Holds Anti-War Protest

Zakkery Bologna, Staff Writer

The Libertarian and People’s parties held a protest called “Rage Against the War Machine” at the Lincoln Memorial Feb. 19 opposing the U.S. sending aid to Ukraine.

Other focuses of the rally included freeing Julian Assange and global nuclear de-escalation. Organizations that participated included the Green Party, Veterans for Peace, the Party of Communists, the American Student Union and Code Pink.

The speakers also urged freeing of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, warned of potential nuclear escalation with Russia and expressed concern over escalation against China over Taiwan.

“The truth is we could disagree on everything else, but the one thing we agree on is that we want to live,” said former congresswoman from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard.

The rally hosted a variety of speakers, including former congressmembers Ron Paul, Cynthia McKinney and Denis Kucinich as well as 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, comedian and political commentator Jimmy Dore, cofounder of Pink Floyd Roger Waters, founder of Bring Our Troops Home Dan McKnight and many journalists.

Yuri Sirko of the Ukraine attended the rally because “No one is thinking about peace (and) I don’t want more of my people to die.”

Not everyone present was on board with the protest. “I think they (the protesters) are misguided,” said counter-protester and former foreign service officer and self-described “vague Democrat” Richard Hanrahan, 68. Hanrahan has lived in both Russia and Ukraine.

Following the conclusion of the speakers, the protestors made their way to the White House and delivered the demands of the protest.

The speakers said another action protesting the war would be held on April 11 but details are not yet available.