Faiths Unite to Protest War

March 1, 2003

Source: Islamic Horizons

On March 1, 2003 Islamic Horizons reported that "Busloads of Muslim Americans from across the U.S. joined tens of thousands of fellow citizens of many faiths in Washington on Jan. 18-- in 20 degree temperatures-- to demand peace. The rally, preceding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, was part of the ongoing preemptive antiwar movement. The most popular chant was 'No War For Oil,' and the crowd carried placards saying: 'Regime Change Starts at Home' and 'Would Jesus Bomb Them?' Organizers said that it was the largest showing of antiwar sentiment since President Bush started making his case for attacking Baghdad last year. The rally-- estimated by some at 500,000 strong-- was coordinated by International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), which led similar events in March and April of last year. Numerous smaller groups from campuses, religious organizations, and communities participated under the ANSWER umbrella. Included in the sea of signs was a banner of the Muslim Students Association of the U.S. and Canada, and such organizations as Grandmothers Against War. Washington metropolitan police chief Charles Ramsey said that the majority of protesters wanted a peaceful protest."