SUSIE LEMONT/ Arizona Daily Wildcat An anit-war protestor dressed as President George W. Bush expresses his sentiment at a peace rally held at Old Main Saturday. The event was the largest protest in Tucson history, drawing 2,000 people.

Police estimate 2,000 anit-war protestors turned out Saturday

Gripping a microphone firmly in her hand, Shelia Bapat stood atop the steps of the fountain at Old Main Saturday morning, challenging people to peacefully protest the impending war with Iraq.

Bapat, a political science senior and former Wildcat columnist, joined thousands of others throughout the world who gathered Saturday as part of an international peace rally and demonstration directed toward the U.S. government.

"Hopefully in demonstrating, we will bring to light some of the critics' goals," Bapat said.

The local demonstration, sponsored by over 40 peace organizations, began at 9:30 a.m. when protesters gathered near the fountain on the UA Mall.

Protestors then proceeded to march along Speedway Boulevard to DeAnza Park, located at East Speedway Boulevard and North Stone Avenue, holding banners and "No War" signs with the hopes of raising awareness and encouraging those who had not yet joined the effort to do so.

The turnout for the protest was estimated by organizers to be 5,000 people, although the Tucson Police Department estimated only 2,000, which still exceeded the previous record for attendance of a protest in Tucson.

President of the Alliance for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (APJME) Carrie Brown said she hoped the event would send a message to the Bush Administration that many Americans are against a war with Iraq and worry that the president is not rationally examining the reasons for preemptively striking the country.

"I don't think that Bush is looking at the bigger picture here," said Stephanie Felix, a communications freshman.

However, members of the College Republicans are ready to support the president and his efforts to protect the U.S. from Iraq.

"The U.S.'s job is to protect themselves. We see Saddam Hussein as a threat and we need to protect out country," said Scott Weller, president of the College Republicans.

More than 120,000 U.S. troops have already been deployed to the Persian Gulf, according to the Washington Post.

"I think in certain circumstances war is a necessary evil," Weller said. "I am very grateful for our strong military · we will continue to support our military and our commander in chief."

Other students hoped, however, that the rallies and protest will, as one sign read, "send the troops home."

Paul Rudnick, a plant sciences freshman and member of the UA Young Socialists, said he is against a war because he doesn't want his friends to fight.

"I don't want to see all my friends here sent off and killed," Rudnick said.

Noah Haiduc-Dale, a near-eastern studies graduate student, said the calls of the protestors can't be ignored.

"There are enough people out here to make it clear that we want a different path than war. When a group speaks as one, its voice is much more powerful," he said.

Haiduc-Dale is a member of APJME as well as Jugglers for Justice, one of the groups that entertained the protesters during the rally.

The local event was organized by the Tucson Peace Coalition.

Another rally is being planned for Feb. 15. Organizers hope the next march will also be coordinated with other protests all around the world.

The College Republicans can be contacted at uacr.org or president@uacr.org. Meeting times are to be announced.