Peaceful protest denounces war

Protesters

hold signs at

busy intersection

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The anti-war movement hit the middle of town Wednesday morning as three New Ulm women braved the cold weather and held signs at the intersection of Center Street and Broadway between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The signs read:"Honk for peace," "Peace on earth," and "Say no to war with Iraq, call your congress people."

Rural New Ulm resident Lilly Duran, who teaches at RiverBend Area Learning Center, said many motorists showed support for the women by honking their horns and giving them the thumbs-up sign.

"Lots of eyes followed us as people drove by," Duran said.

The protest was part of the United for Peace and Justice (UPJ) national peaceful protest campaign against a U.S. war on Iraq.

Duran is attempting to organize a local coalition for peace that will host a rally starting at noon on Saturday, Feb. 15, in German Park. Larger anti-war rallies will be held the same day in New York City, San Francisco, Tokyo, London and many other cities.

"I thought if protests were happening in other cities, why not New Ulm?" Duran said. "I'm against spending our country's resources on a war that will make many people suffer. We need to send a strong message now before the war starts."

Peaceful protests are nothing new for Duran. A San Francisco native, she did her undergraduate studies at the University of California at San Luis Obispo (SLO). She participated in a 45-day vigil for Native American rights in front of the courthouse in SLO.

While living in Maryland, near Washington, D.C., where she attended graduate school, she fasted for 15 days on water and orange juice in front of the White House. The protest objected to the Gulf War and sanctions on Iraq that in her opinion denied people food and medical supplies.

In search of a better life for her family, she moved to New Ulm two years ago.

"Minnesota has an excellent public school system. Much better than in Maryland. I'd never send my kids to public schools there," Duran said.

She appreciates other aspects of rural Minnesota.

"I can afford to buy a house here. It was my dream to buy my own farm site and raise organic crops and chickens," Duran said.

She invited anybody wishing to participate in future protests to contact her.