Army Sgt. Jeremy Gaul knows the price of war firsthand. His friend, Army Sgt. Troy Jenkins, died in 2003 while on patrol in Iraq, about a month after Gaul started his own service there.
Gaul, dressed in a camoflauge shirt, was among about 50 protestors who gathered outside Athens Courthouse last night to protest President George Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq.
I support our troops. They have my 100-percent backing
Gaul said. The end result is what I disagree with.
Protesters lit candles beneath pictures representing the 130 Ohio soldiers who have died in Iraq.
Elahu Gosney, an OU graduate student who helped organize the protest, said he thinks protesting is one of several ways Americans should exercise their freedom of speech. We're here to say 'No!' to the operation in Iraq he said. He also encouraged people to send letters to Ohio's government representatives to let the world know how they feel about the war.
Gaul, an Ohio University senior, said it's unbelievable that some people in Athens and the U.S. go about their daily business without being concerned about the soldiers dying in Iraq. I don't want to live in a world where that's socially acceptable he said.
We spend billions of dollars on war when we have children in Athens County without shoes
he added.
Athens county resident Joe Radwany said he brought his children to the protest because he wants them to learn that freedom is a responsibility.
Iraq War = 500 billion U.S. tax dollars and counting
claimed a sign held by his son, 6-year-old Basil Radwany.
Basil's sister, 5-year-old Clara Faith Radwany, urged passing drivers to Honk for Peace.
At least 15 cars followed the poster's instruction, but most pedestrians responded to the protest by walking quickly and detouring into the street.
Last night originally was intended to be a protest of Guantanamo Bay, but President Bush's announcement to send more troops into Iraq became the night's priority, said OU freshman Chelsea Toy, a member of the CodePink grassroots coalition of women who promote peace.
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Clara Faith Radwany stands by the road outside the Athens City Court House during a protest of the Iraq war last night.
