The Daily Herald
December 09, 2002
As the black Volkswagen speeds past, the driver honks his horn and the passenger gives Jessica Taun a two-fingered peace sign.
Taun, 14, smiles and waves at the car. It's her first anti-war rally, and she can't believe how well it's going- I didn't know what to expect," the Wheaton teenager says. "We're really happy to be seeing the support. People want the same thing we do." Taun and her friend Whitney Slovik, also 14, joined roughly two dozen other protesters in Lombard Sunday for an anti-war rally. The group stood at the intersection of Butterfield Road and Highland Avenue for two hours, imploring motorists to "honk for peace."
The event, sponsored by the DuPage Peace Through Justice Coalition, drew an eclectic bunch of demonstrators. The group spanned ages, genders and political philosophies. High school students stood alongside retired businessmen. Lifelong pacifists held "No blood for oil" signs with staunch Republicans opposed to the military action in Iraq.
"It's not easy," Wheaton resident Sandy Bundy said of the coalition's diverse makeup.
"But if this group can get along and work together, world peace is possible."
The coalition has held dozens of rallies in recent months to voice opposition to President bush' threats to invade Iraq. Sunday's protest came a day after Saddam Hussein's government delivered a declaration detailing the country's arms program to United Nations inspectors.
The documents contended Iraq no longer has weapons of mass destruction, but the Bush administration says it has evidence to the contrary.
"We believe the United states is a role model for all other countries," Slovik said. "If we don't keep peace, then what are we leading the world into?"
The coalition contends it has collected more than 1,200 signatures opposing an attack on Iraq. The activists-who for years have struggled to find an audience in DuPage county for their anti-war views-are encouraged by the warm reception they're receiving now.
"There's anti-war feelings across the country," said Bundy, who dressed up like Mrs. Santa Claus for the event and held a sing proclaiming "Santa wants peace."
"We're sending a message to others that says, "You're not alone. We oppose the war, too.'"