Passing cars honked constantly at the intersection of Ridge and River Streets yesterday in response to protesters' signs decrying "Honk for Peace" during an anti-war demonstration in front of the Charlottesville federal building. The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice organized the event.
The demonstration began at 4:30 p.m. and lasted through rush hour in an attempt to gain the attention of evening commuters.
"We are catching the eyes and hopefully the attention of people driving home from work," Center member Helen Priest said. "The more visible we are, the more our message is heard."
John Devaney, a participant in yesterday's demonstration, said he also attended the anti-war rally in New York City last weekend. As a British citizen, he attends protests, despite his professed fear of being deported.
"The fear of getting deported is very strong," he said. "I can't say my hope is extremely high of changing the mind of the government, but I don't think we can just sit down and take this -?it is an antidote to the pro-war media coverage."
Gladius Swift, a Charlottesville resident and senior citizen, held a sign yesterday that said "Pre-emptive strike, not in our name." She was arrested after an anti-war protest last week.
"March 20, there was a group of 10 of us that were taken in handcuffs," she said.
In response to anti-war protests and gatherings over the past week, six police officers were stationed at the demonstration.
"We make sure the streets don't get blocked, and it doesn't get out of hand," Charlottesville Police Lt. Gary M. Pleasant said. "Sometimes police presence prevents things from even occurring."
Charlottesville High School junior Ginna Newsome said her parents support her participation in anti-war protests.
"I think peace is important, and even if the war has started we still need to stand up and say 'I don't agree with this war,'" she said.
Center member Michael Johnson shared his concern with fellow protesters at the demonstration.
"There's been a blank check written for war while currently over one in five children in the U.S. are living under the poverty line and over 41 million people don't have access to health insurance," he said.
Demonstrators at the event also held signs that said "Spare Iraqi Children" and "Iraq did not cause 9-11." Center member Colin Pape waved an American flag that displayed corporate logos instead of stars.
"We've lost control of our government to corporate control and lobbyists," Pape said.
The Center has held demonstrations every Thursday for the past year and a half to protest the Bush administration and its policies, Priest said.
"The active members of the CCPJ increased notably after Sept. 11," Priest said. "That is because we are a community that believes strongly that problems should be solved by discussion and negotiation, never by violence."
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