Article in the February 12, 2003 Petaluma Argus-Courier

1,200 march across city for peace

By LOIS PEARLMAN, ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

With signs and banners, bubbles and Beatles music, an estimated 1,200 war protesters marched through Petaluma Saturday afternoon.

The crowd, described by march organizer Steve Dyer as "the biggest march in Petaluma's history," twined its way from Walnut Park on the west side to Lucchesi Park on the east side, a distance of about two miles.

Organized by several local peace groups -- Petalumans Against the War, the Sonoma County Peace and Justice Center, Casa Grande Students Against War, Petaluma Progressives and Petaluma Civil Rights Group -- the purpose of the event was to protest a U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Keeping to the sidewalk as directed by organizers, the marchers stretched out for several blocks as they passed through the downtown area and along East Washington Street.

The group was multi-generational with teenagers from local high schools, long-time protesters in their middle years and seniors on foot or riding scooters.

A group of students from Petaluma High wore flower garlands on their heads and carried a CD player that played "All You Need is Love." Geneva Rosett-Hafter danced to the music as Kayt Ahnberg blew soap bubbles.

Eva Hallanan, 9, and her friend Reid Whaley, 8, wore Riverside Equestrian Center jackets and said they had just started a peace club at the stables.

"We're the only ones so far. We started it today," Eva said.

Louise Aldrich and Helen Callbeck, both senior citizens, rode the entire distance in their electric scooters. San Rafael residents, they have been participating in peace marches all over the Bay Area.

"We go to all the peace things," said Aldrich. "We've been to two in San Rafael and two in San Francisco and we'll probably be there in San Francisco next Sunday."

Some marchers came from as far away as Oakland and Berkeley. Beth Wagner from the Oakland group, Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace, said she learned about the march from the Internet and Berkeley radio station KPFA.

"Since it's a grassroots group like ours, we figured we'd support them," Wagner said. "We thought they'd need it. We only expected a few hundred people. I'm very impressed."

Waiting at Walnut Park for the march to begin, Cotati resident David Berry said he also came to support the Petaluma groups. His protest sign read, "Impeach the Global Village Idiot."

"I think we need to get all the bodies out here we can. There is no longer time to sit at home and watch it on TV. We need to show there's a groundswell against this war," he said.

The marchers drew vigorous honking from passing motorists, including freeway drivers who spotted them crossing the freeway overpass.

"It's good for the people driving by to see there is a big movement against the war," said a Palestinian-American man who asked that his name not be used. He was walking with his aunt, who was born near Ramallah in Palestine.

Waiting with a friend for his car to be repaired at Big O Tires, Sukhdev Singh, from Sinz, India, smiled with approval at the marchers.

"I think this is a good idea," he said. "There is no need of fighting."

At Lucchesi Park, microphones were set up inside and outside for everyone to express their opinions. Casa Grande student Tai Shan sang an original song protesting young men being shipped off to war.

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, drew a standing ovation when she called for nuclear disarmament.

'The clock is ticking. We need to begin to eliminate all nuclear weapons from this planet. But countries won't disarm through threat and intimidation. That will have the opposite effect. People will disarm when America disarms first."

(Contact Lois Pearlman at lpearlman@arguscourier.com.)