March 16: Thousands Protest the War, Hold Vigils Across Chicago
Peace Chicago and OPCTJ
March 17, 2003 - Chicago, IL - Over 10,000 Chicagoans packed Daley Plaza on March 16th in Chicago's largest anti-war demonstration against war on Iraq. Top labor, faith, and community leaders joined politicians and students in addressing the diverse crowd.
The colorful crowd spent three hours listening to speeches by Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL), author Studs Terkel and Timothy Leahy, secretary-treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, among many others.
After the rally, thousands marched down Dearborn and Michigan Avenues chanting "Peace, now!" and "Now war on Iraq, bring our soldiers back."
Meanwhile, over two dozen candlelight vigils for peace were held across Chicago and the surrounding communities on March 16th. The vigils were held as part of a Global Vigil for Peace called by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and organized by
MoveOn.org. Worldwide over 6,000 vigils were held in over 100 countries.
In Chicago, over 300 people gathered for a vigil in a park across from Symphony Center led by folk singer Joan Baez. Hundreds of people also turned out for vigils at Wells Park, the Chicago Water Tower, and other sites.
In Oak Park, the peace vigil, held in Scoville Park at 7 PM, was attended by more than 500 people, making this one of the city's largest anti-war protests in recent history.
Around the world and locally, the wave of light was accompanied by a sense of peace, hope, and commitment. Despite the gathering of darkness and the possible impending war, the over 6000 vigils worldwide showed that people everywhere are resolved to wage peace and not war.
