Ripon College Days

In the heart of the nation's capital, marches, protests and demonstrations are frequent, but it's not every day a contingency of Ripon students will be part of the action.

Between Sept. 24 and 26, a massive anti-war demonstration is being organized by United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of more than 1,300 groups throughout the nation that have joined together to oppose what they view as the government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building. For weeks, signs posted by senior Lindsey Pietrzak have advertised the event, and a number of Ripon College students are planning to attend.

"The march on Washington is about peace and getting everybody out of Iraq," says Pietrzak.

Currently at least eight people have confirmed they will attend the rally in Washington, with others also expressing interest.

Senior A.J. Morgan is one of these Ripon students who plan to attend. "It's a voice, a mass alternative way of being heard," he says.

The event officially begins Saturday with a march on Washington, the Peace and Justice Festival and the Operation Ceasefire Concert, which will feature Cindy Sheehan, the woman whose anti-war demonstration in Texas fueled nation-wide debate.

The march is supposed to be "one of the biggest turnouts in history," says Pietrzak.

With such a large turnout, "it's inevitable we will be heard," says Morgan.

Sunday includes interfaith service events and grassroots training. The grassroots training will teach protesters how to lobby properly and how to take part in nonviolent direct action protests planned for the following day.

Monday is a lobby day, a time to offer solutions and propositions to Congress, and there will also be nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience events. The goal for lobby day is to have 600 people meet with 100 congressional representatives.

In order to fund the costs associated with transporting students to Washington, President of the Ripon Greens senior Rob Waddelow says he will apply for a one fund through Student Senate.

"A rough [monetary] estimate, depending on how many vehicles we take, is about $200 per vehicle," says Waddelow.

The group does expect there to be some debate on campus over their desire to attend the protest. There has already been some backlash around campus, says Pietrzak.

"Many of the flyers have been ripped down," she says. However, she expected some "nasty emails" but has yet to receive any.

For more information, contact Pietrzak at PietrzakL@ripon.edu. To learn more about the events or of United Peace and Justice, visit the group's website at www.unitedforpeace.org.

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