Students at a peace rally at Brown University in Providence, R.I., today.
(AP Photo)
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College students rally for nonviolent resolution
By Jay Lindsay, Associated Press, 09/20/01
CAMBRIDGE -- Students at college campuses around the country staged peace rallies Thursday, calling for nonviolent justice -- not revenge -- for those responsible for last week's terrorist attacks.
"Nerds Against War," read one of the student-made signs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "War Is Also Terrorism," proclaimed another sign made by Harvard University students.
Several hundred students, watched by a handful of campus police officers, gathered at Harvard Yard for the midday rally that coincided with others planned nationwide. From the library steps, organizers voiced their pleas for peace through a bullhorn.
"I am frustrated and I am afraid," said Alisa Khan, 17, of Herndon, Va., who described herself as a Muslim and an American.
"In denouncing the terrorist attacks, we as a nation must not forget that while we have been grievously wronged, it will do us no good to wrong others in return," she said.
Some of the students at MIT, while not justifying the actions of the terrorists who hijacked and crashed four passenger jets last week, said the United States was in part to blame for decades of misguided Mideast policies that have made people angry.
"As long as the United States is exploiting the rest of the world to create our own wealth, you won't ever have peace," said Brice Smith, 25, of Denver.
In Rhode Island, students at Brown University took an artistic approach -- using rap music, poetry and song and dance to speak out against violence and express anger over the way the media has covered the incident.
Other students spoke about their fear of a nuclear war, while some talked about the need to stop hate crimes against Americans who look like they may be from the Middle East.
Julia Grob, 18, of New York City, wrote a poem about her friend John with "stars in his eyes and the moon in his smile" who has been missing since the attacks on the World Trade Center.
"I want to run out into the streets and cry his name. Tell everyone to remember this man -- he is great, I scream -- or was, I correct, sucking in the breath that is sure to bring tears," she said.
At Boston College, about 150 students held a peaceful rally -- but all visitors and media were kept away because the campus was shut down to anyone but students, faculty and staff.
"We wanted the students to have an opportunity to host their rally free from any security concerns that the result from outsiders coming on campus," said spokesman Jack Dunn.
In Amherst, the directors of the community's five colleges issued a joint statement imploring the U.S. government to seek justice in a way "that honors humanity, including through the resources of the national and international legal systems." The statement was signed by the directors of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts.
Not everyone at the day's rallies favored a peaceful resolution.
Tom Lancaster, 24, of Somerville, e-mailed a few friends to form a quiet opposition when he learned about the peace demonstration at MIT. They stood on the fringe of the Green holding "Support America" signs and engaged in lively debate with some of the students wearing peace signs on their shirts. He thinks the United States has been patient enough.
"I think we've tried it their way," said Lancaster, a graduate student in chemical engineering.
Jamie Hall, 21, a Harvard senior, sat under a tree near the rally with a Bush-Cheney sign. He said force is needed to stop terrorists.
"I don't have any problem if it's necessary to kill them to stop them," said Hall, of Bardstown, Ky.
He said the peace advocates are a little too idealistic.
"I can't imagine convincing Muslim fundamentalists to hand over their people," he said.
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