Protesters here hope their message reaches nation
0:26 AM 2/16/03
Marv Balousek Wisconsin State Journal

At least 1,000 protesters braved bitter temperatures and a stiff wind Saturday to express their opposition to the looming war against Iraq.

Besides the usual anti-war signs and those calling for impeachment of President Bush, one sign appeared to capture the protest's spirit more than the others: "I'd rather freeze than see Iraq get burned." Other signs read: "Shoot baskets, not Iraq" and "Invade Indiana, not Iraq."

The protest, organized by the Madison Area Peace Coalition, focused on the Badger basketball game against Indiana at the Kohl Center. Organizers said they hoped to send an anti-war message to national media covering the game. Protesters gathered at the Library Mall, then marched to the center where they packed nearby sidewalks, holding picket signs. Basketball fans had to come through the chanting crowd on their way to the game.

A basketball fan was cited for disorderly conduct after police said he knocked a woman down while pushing his way through a group of protesters. No other incidents related to the protest were reported.

Police estimated the crowd at 1,000, but Ben Manski of the peace coalition said about 2,000 people gathered on the Library Mall and nearly another 1,000 joined the protest after picketers left the mall.

"I thought it was a broad-based group of people," Manski said, adding that the crowd included veterans who oppose the war.

Russian immigrant Valentina Pogosyan of Madison and her daughter, Paulina, 14, were among those who gathered.

"It's a good thing to do," said Pogosyan, who has been in the United States for 13 years. She said many people back home in Russia believe Americans don't care about the war.

Paulina appeared more skeptical about whether the protest would influence Bush.

"I'm really not sure," she said. "Bush isn't going to listen to us."

Tom Boehm of Madison, a musician who also makes traditional bows and arrows, said he's been protesting since the 1960s.

"It's basically pretty familiar, but it's more diverse," he said of Saturday's rally.

Although Bush seems bent on war, Boehm said, he believes protesting serves a purpose.

"There's no question that it has an impact," he said. "When the cows come home, he's got the people to answer to."

Dane County Sup. Karen Cornwell of Madison said she came to the rally because "it's the only peaceful thing I can do" to oppose the war.

Cornwell said she believes Bush will have to pay attention to the war protests because "we're all citizens."