By Ranny Ma

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Sunday, March 11, 2007, The OG, features & in depth

DESPITE THE BITTER cold, about 70 people stood at One Main in downtown Champaign, a block away from Boardman's Art Theatre, holding signs and waving to cars.

It was Saturday, Jan. 27, and the group was there to voice its concerns about the war in Iraq and the planned “surge” in U.S. troops. Among the participants were about a dozen high school students, including Uni juniors Shara Esbenshade, Eunice How, and Erin Hayes. In fact, Esbenshade was one of the co-organizers of the event.

“I think it was a great way for students to let our community know our thoughts about the war,” How said.

The local protest, which was sponsored by AWARE, the Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort, coincided with the national March on Washington against the Iraq war. The organization that led the Washington march is called United for Peace and Justice.

But almost a month and a half later, not only is the surge continuing, the number of troops committed to the effort has actually increased by 4,700 soldiers — more than 20 percent beyond the original 21,500.

Juniors Erin Hayes, left, and Eunice How take part in the

Jan. 27 protest in downtown Champaign. (Gargoyle photo

by Jason He) (click to enlarge)

So what value do student activists see in events such as the Jan. 27 demonstrations?

“Protesting publicly expresses that we do not agree with our government's actions — shows that this administration does not stand for us — and that message is important to get out to our fellow Americans and the world,” Esbenshade said.

AWARE hosts monthly protests on the first Saturday of every month from 2 to 4 p.m. at One Main. Esbenshade believes that the power of local protests reaches beyond just Champaign-Urbana.

But How thinks the effectiveness of a protest depends on many factors, including the time, the place, and the number of people participating.

“The national march in D.C. against the war actually had a chance in informing the government, while here in Champaign, I think there is a slim chance our senators and representatives are going to take notice and act on it,” she said.

Junior Carl Zielinski, who has written critically on what he sees as the ineffectiveness of protests, goes a step farther.

“Isn't it just so much easier to assemble and preach about how much we're doing than to actually accomplish anything?” said Zielinski. “Because that's what most of these anti-war protests seem to really be about.”

Esbenshade, a seasoned protester, believes that it takes years of effort before any results show. She started protesting with AWARE the day the Iraq war started in March 2003 and has kept at it ever since. Through that time she has seen changes in the community.

“When we started protesting nearly four years ago, most people gave us the finger or yelled,” she said. “Now, most people honk and give us the thumbs-up.”

At the Jan. 27 protest, local media outlets such as WCIA 3 News, WICD NewsChannel 15, NewsChannel at 9 on Fox Illinois, The News-Gazette, and The Daily Illini were there to cover the action.

But even though local protests have gotten more and more attention, only three Uni students showed up that Saturday afternoon.

“Apathy,” said How. “Some people unfortunately don't care. Since it is happening over there, why does it affect us? I was kind of surprised at the low turnout, because I thought Uni would be one of the schools with more opinionated students.”

Esbenshade, on the other hand, was surprised and encouraged that “even two people from Uni besides myself showed up!”

“The truth is,” Esbenshade continued, “today's youth is intimidated. Young people are intimidated and discouraged from political action by the rhetoric of the Bush administration — ‘dissent is unpatriotic' — and by police continually acting against civic actions, even when those actions are completely legal.”

Despite all these problems, protests historically have drawn attention to problems that need to be addressed. However, only time will tell the amount of difference they make.

“I am disappointed that the government has not been responding to protests,” Esbenshade said, “but I am not going to stop, because I understand that it takes long-term commitment.”

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