Columbia College Students Stage Sit-In To Protest War In Iraq
Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO, Ill. (WBBM) -- Students from Columbia College staged a day-long sit-in and strike Thursday on the ground floor of the school's classroom building at 623 S. Wabash Av.
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports some sat cross-legged in front of an elevator in the entryway of the building, holding signs that read, "Planet of the Nuclear Dead;" "Impeach Bush;" "Terrorism: Brought to You by the U.S. Army;" "All They Ask of You is Silence," and "An Eye for an Eye Leaves the World Blind."
Others took turns speaking at an open microphone for part of the day. Also scheduled was a musical performance by a group of Columbia students and several hours of "teach-ins."
Some classes continued, and students going to and from class wound their way through the protesters.
Typical of the protesters was Sy Bar-Sheshet, a Columbia junior majoring in music composition. He handed out flyers, spoke at the open mic and performed with the band.
Bar-Sheshet said one of his teacher cancelled class and a second was prepared to do so if students attended the sit-in instead. He drew comparisons between the Iraq conflict and Vietnam, although he said there are important differences.
"In the 60s it was different," he said. "People burned their draft cards and it was a real, very tangible thing, like, 'I might have to go and do this (fight the war).' For us it's different, and I feel there's a bit of a disconnect, but morally we're in the same place."
The protest at Columbia was one of a number scheduled on college campuses nationwide Thursday. Bar-Sheshet said additional protests are scheduled to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion in mid-March.
WBBM-AM 780 has been the consistent all news radio voice in Chicagoland for over 35 years and is now streaming online for free. Listen online to Chicago news as it happens around the clock, along with Chicago traffic, Chicago weather, Chicago sports and Chicago business. Subscribe to WBBM's free podcasts for additional Chicago business and Chicago community reports and listen to Chicago news on demand. WBBM news radio is also the home for Chicago Bears, Chicago Auto Show and Chicago Air & Water Show. www.wbbm780.com
E-Mail Story
Print Story
