Huntington Beach Silent March

In protest against the war in Iraq, around 300 Huntington Beach locals, CSULB students and faculty, and other Orange and Los Angeles county residents, silently marched along Main Street of Huntington Beach on Saturday, according to the Daily49er.

"This year's march is very unique," said Thu-Trang Tran, a UC San Diego alumni and the protest coordinator for Orage County Peace Coalition. "Peace for our troops is a silent one," Tran said. "We had a solemn march and we emphasize community, but there has to be peace in the individual in order to have peace in the world."

Photo from Daily49er.com

Several guest speakers appeared after the march when all the protestors gathered near the beach. Sean McAllister, an Iraq War veteran, and Agustin Aguayo, also an Iraq War veteran, both spoke of how the Iraqi civilian lives are in danger because of U.S. occupation and because of internal conflict.

"It's about helping the Iraqis. Their lives are so torn up right now ... so please pay attention, wake your friends up ... let the troops know you support them," McAllister said.

While walking, some silent protestors were discriminated against and called terrorists. Some CSULB students were issued remarks by an off-duty LAPD sergeant calling them part of black-bloc, according to the Daily49er.

"They just don't understand the concept that we're all one," said Nicoal Sheen, a sophomore political science major who was wearing all black and a black bandana like those associated with black-bloc. "It's for protection and brings solidarity."

3,987 U.S. soldiers have thus died for the war in Iraq, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.

5th Anniversary of Iraq War

The 5th year of U.S. occupation will come to an end this weekend. CSULB Campus Progressives organized a speak out today against the Iraq War, however guest speaker Agustin Aguayo cancelled due to family issues. The cancellation left many students standing around, "I'm really disappointed ... Aguayo is someone who peacefully refuses to be part of a war and nonsensical killing," Jen French said, a sophomore creative writing major and member of the Campus Progressives.

CSULB Campus Progressives then directed and encouraged students immediately after to attend a film Arlington West documented by Peter Dudar and Sally Marr. "The film, Arlington West, allows all to witness the poignant conversations, dramatic revelations, silences, personal experience, and share the tears with those who are paying the highest prices for war. A full array of opinions and sentiments are presented: active duty soldiers and Marines, Military Families, Veterans, and Children," according to the Arlington West website.

The Campus Progressives also encouraged people to attend either their own local rally this Saturday on March 15th or to at least attend the one in Los Angeles at Hollywood and Vine. Attendance last year in L.A. was around 50,000 people, according to answerla.org the main organizer for the annual protest. (Below is an photograph of the 2007 protest in L.A.)

Photo from AnswerLA.org