2,000 Too Many.... How Many More?

More than 2,000 U.S. troops have now been killed in this Iraq war. About 30,000 Iraqi civilian killings have been reported by the media, and a population study last year in the British medical journal Lancet estimated that 100,000 Iraqis have been killed, including unreported deaths.

On Wednesday evening, October 26, over 200 people, carrying tombstones and lights, gathered at Grand and Lindell for several hours to express our sorrow and outrage at this illegal, immoral, reckless war. We heard words of encouragement from Michael McPhearson, National Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, whose son is currently serving in the Iraq war, and from State Assemblyman John Bowman. We lined the sidewalks on all four corners of the intersection; passing cars and pedestrians were very supportive. The event was organized nationally by Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, American Friends Service Committee, MoveOn.org, and hundreds of other groups United for Peace and Justice, saying "NOT ONE MORE DEATH! NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR!"



On Thursday, the new Wash U Peace and Justice committee, with help from IOW, organized a daylong memorial display on center campus. Hundreds of passers-by contemplated the tombstones commemorating 2,000 US dead and many more Iraqi dead; many asked questions and many expressed support and bewilderment at why the war continues in the face of common sense and growing public opposition.

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