Bloomingdale Press
March 22, 2007

Iraq War protesters visit Roskam

By Laura Knapp 

Protesters marked the fourth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of
Iraq by voicing their opposition to the war at a rally and march
Saturday that started in Bloomingdale’s Old Town Park and ended 
outside
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam’s office, 150 S. Bloomingdale Road.

Participants, representing various organizations and from towns all 
over
DuPage County, gathered on a sunny but chilly St. Patrick’s Day
afternoon to listen to speakers and donate clothing and money to
homeless veterans. A protest march followed the hourlong event.

Siobhan Kolar, a member of Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice,
one of the organizations that co-sponsored the event, said the purpose
for holding the rally was to give people in DuPage County a chance to
express their antiwar sentiment.

"This war is bankrupting DuPage and Illinois," said Kolar. "And it’s 
not
working.."

Dave Martin, of the West Suburban Faith-Based Peace Coalition, also an
event co-sponsor, thought antiwar sentiment has been growing.

"It’s not one thing that brings change," he said. "It’s office 
visits,
letters to papers, marching in the streets –-each part contributes to 
a
gradual shift."

Martin said when the invasion first occurred, between 10 and 15 percent
of Americans opposed the war.

"At this point, about 60 to 70 percent are opposed. That’s an
increase of 15 percent each year" he said.

When asked what message she hoped to deliver to Roskam, Kathy Slovick 
of
DuPage Against War Now, also a co-sponsor, said, "All politics is 
local.
Washington doesn’t always listen, but we hope to continue a dialogue 
to
get local politicians to listen. This is step one."

Roskam, a Republican representing Illinois’ 6th District, supports 
the
recent increase of troops sent to Iraq.

"There are encouraging reports coming out of Iraq that Baghdad is
becoming more secure," said Roskam, "and the insurgency is being
mitigated. This is a pivotal time. Iraqis need to seize this 
opportunity
to provide security for themselves so we can begin to reduce our troop
numbers on the ground."

Some of the speakers at the rally shared with the crowd their personal
experiences with the Iraq war.

Terry Gannon of Elmhurst lost his grandson, Christopher Alcozer, in the
war. Gannon told the protesters about Alcozer’s experience with the 
U.S.
Army in Iraq. He was killed during a raid in Mosul in November 2005’

Alcozer received a Bronze Medal and Purple Heart as a result of his
actions during that raid. Gannon said he participated in the rally "to
tell people to support bringing them (the troops) home, and to share
grief."

Other speakers called for action from leaders in Washington, D.C., to
stop the war. DAWN member Amy Tauchman called on Congress to stop
funding the war and to withdraw troops from Iraq.

After the speakers, who stood before a "Peace In Iraq Now" banner, had
finished, protesters wound their way from the park to Bloomingdale 
Road,
chanting anti-war slogans and holding signs expressing their foreign
policy views. As they walked, cars occasionally honked in agreement 
with
the group.

Then the protesters stopped at the corner of Bloomingdale and Schick
roads, near Roskam’s office, and continued to shout slogans. Roskam 
and
members of groups that oppose the war in Iraq have met to discuss their
views.

Other organizations that co-sponsored the protest in Bloomingdale
included the Chicago Chapter of Fellowship of Reconciliation, DuPage
Peace Through Justice Coalition, Pax Christi DuPage, Pax Christi
Illinois and St. Isidore Peace and Social Justice Ministry. 

From
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