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Protesters keep up the fight against war

By Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar / Sheboygan Press

Josh Harvey, one of the founding members of the Sheboygan Veterans for Peace, has been protesting the war in Iraq since it began.

"Killing for peace is just not the way," said Harvey, 38, of Sheboygan. "There's no way that the American flag can settle the conflict. We've made so many mistakes. We're enraging people."

Harvey was one of seven anti-war protesters standing at the edge of Fountain Park on the corner of North Ninth Street and Erie Avenue late Friday afternoon. Waving signs such as "Justice Not Torture" and "Bush and Cheney Are Getting Away With Murder," the protesters were greeted by many drivers honking their horns in approval.

"Before the war, there were millions of people on the streets saying that there's no reason to invade. The government is not listening to the people," said 72-year-old Genevieve Beenen of Sheboygan. "I'll be here every Friday until impeachment (of President Bush) happens."

In 2003, anti-war protests were ubiquitous, and pro-war activists protested against the protesters. Since then, activity has dwindled, picking up speed only recently with the anti-war protesters on Friday afternoons.

"I'm infuriated that my country has invaded a country that has done nothing to us," said Mary Diamond, 44, of Sheboygan, of the Veterans for Peace. "It's the first pre-emptive strike in the history of our foreign policy. I am flabbergasted that the United States has stopped using diplomacy to solve world issues."

The pro-testers stressed the importance of staying informed about politics and voting during elections.

"Part of the problem is that people don't get informed and don't get out and vote," said Beenen. "Get out on the street and insist that we take back our constitution!"

Earlier this week, a new war plan from Washington by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker anticipates keeping a large-scale U.S. military presence fighting in Iraq until at least 2009.

"After 9/11, I was hoping that we would show a little humility," said 83-year-old Janet Ross of Sheboygan. "We have to face the reality that people are frustrated. We want to see something change."

While some protesters like Ross and Harvey have been voicing their opinions loudly since the war began, others have only recently come out to protest.

"I saw Sicko (a Michael Moore movie on the health-care industry) on Friday last week, and it got me thinking about how poorly our government is handling pretty much everything. I thought I need to do something and this is a start," said Hella Willis, 33, of Sheboygan.

Martha Wortsche, 75, of Sheboygan, said she is in her fifth year of protesting the war.

"War is never the answer," she said.