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Police break up peace rally
 Media Credit: Benjamin Wichterman Garner Moffat, member of the St. Cloud Area Green Party, organized the Promote Peace in Iraq rally Sat. Sept. 14 at Lake George. Officer Keen Raygor and Officer David Missell broke up the rally at about 5 pm.
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The St. Cloud Police Department dispersed about 50 people participating in a protest on Division Street Saturday evening.
The protest was part of a rally promoting peace in Iraq.
The protesters were lined up along Division street in front of Lake George. They carried signs that read, "No More Blood for Oil," and "No More Innocent Victims".
"I had talked to the police," said St. Cloud Green Party Chairperson Garner Moffat, who organized the rally. "They said it was okay as long as we didn't distribute literature, block traffic, or shout."
Moffat also gave the SCPD his name and cell phone number in case they needed to contact him.
"They (SCPD) said we were a distraction to drivers and an accident would occur," said Moffat.
The SCPD asked the protesters to disperse and threatened to arrest those who did not cooperate.
"I was really disappointed by the police", said Ayako Mochinzuki, 25, an SCSU graduate student of Social Responsibilities.
"I wanted to (protest), but knew I shouldn't," said Mochinzuki, a foreign exchange, who didn't want to risk arrest.
The protest was just one part of the rally. About 100 people attended, including groups from the Green Party, Pax Cristi, and the Alternatives to War Committe. The short-lived protest was followed by peace speakers.
"We are already committing genocide in Iraq," said SCSU Holocaust professor Francis-Clare Fischer. "American hands are dripping in the blood of Iraqis," she said.
Fisher compared the current situation to the Holocaust and Vietnam and encouraged everyone to protest, so the American government knows when citizens disagree.
"It's going to be harder (than Vietnam)," said Fischer. "The press and our government are not going to let that happen. We aren't going to be able to see the carnage like in Vietnam. We have less rights," she said.
Fischer's husband, Roger, who is currently endorsed by the Green Party to run for 16A State Representative, also spoke.
"The capitalization of the world is destroying democracy," said Roger.
He explained to onlookers his belief that terrorism is caused by poverty. The United States uses 50 percent of the world's resources and Japan uses 40 percent, leaving only 10 percent for the rest of the world. According to Fisher, the fight over resources like food, water and oil is causing terrorism.
"If we end poverty in the world, if we give everybody a fair shake on equal opportunities (there will be less terrorism)," said Roger. "We simply take from them (other countries) and bring it all here and then we end up destroying their environment."
"I think we need to cut $60 billion out of the military budget to use to end poverty. Starting with clean water in Iraq," said Mr. Fischer. "We could end poverty in five years."
Other speakers encouraged students and citizens from the community to continue to protest against a possible war in Iraq.
"If Ghandi can do it, we can do it," said Mrs. Fischer.
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