Newton antiwar protesters denounce Obama's Afghan strategy
Susan Mirsky of Newton and Dorothy Blitzer of Dedham stood on the corners of Centre and Beacon Streets to protest the escalation of troops sent to Afghanistan.
Photo: Caitlin Castello
As an unseasonably warm December wind gusted through Newton Centre, 25 peace activists stood on the corner of Centre and Beacon Streets tonight holding signs protesting President Obama’s recent announcement of troop escalation in Afghanistan.
The Newton Dialogues on Peace and War, a peace activist group, stand at this corner every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m., but this vigil was specifically aimed at the Afghanistan War, said member Jane Brown, 65, of Newtonville.
“This troop escalation is dangerous. It is going to cost us money and blood and it’s terrible for the people in Afghanistan,” said Brown. “They need assistance, but it doesn’t have to be military assistance.”
Peace groups from the Boston area are keeping vigil, as they have since the US invasion in 2001. The Newton organization has a regular group of 15 people who protest every week. For the last month, their vigils have been focused on wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Marvin Miller, 83 of Newton Highlands, has been protesting since July 2002. He stands at the corner despite any foul weather.
“It’s important to oppose the war anyway you can,” he said.
In an address Tuesday night to the US Military Academy at West Point, N.Y, Obama said he would deploy 30,000 new US troops to Afghanistan while outlining a plan to withdraw US forces from the region in July 2011.
“When I started coming here it was to prevent a war,” said Miller’s daughter, Susan Miller. “Back then I never thought I’d be doing it for so long.”
The Newton group is disappointed with Obama, whom many members had supported, said Brown.
“The escalation is totally against anything we stand for. It’s not going to bring peace to the region,” said Linda Stern, 68, of Oak Hill Park. “I think he was forced into it by the military, by some sectors of the population. People are tired of protesting, but how can you not protest about all the wrongs you see in the world?”
Aside from their disappointment in the president and the news of the escalation, protesters cited domestic issues that require attention.
“The needs of people here in this country are so great. It’s even more of a catastrophe Obama has chosen to send all of that money for war, rather a peaceful purpose,” said Susan Mirsky, 65 of Newton Highlands.
Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com.
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