HUNDREDS HIT THE STREETS IN EUREKA

By BRIAN COVERT
INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST

Eureka, Humboldt County, CA -- Hundreds of people from all over the county marched in the streets here Saturday to protest the US government's threatened invasion of Iraq, and to speak out for justice and peace.

The march started in the otherwise quiet suburban neighborhoods of the county seat of Eureka, and ended several hours later at a jam-packed rally at the city's Old Town waterfront district.

Paul Cienfuegos, an Arcata activist and one of the organizers of the event, estimated early on that the number of people who gathered that afternoon may have reached in the thousands, possibly as high as 5,000.

The protesters, representing all segments of society, chanted, sang, shouted and hoisted signs and flags as they marched more than a dozen blocks to the rally. They left no doubt as to their feelings on the Bush government's threatened attack on Iraq.

Peter LaVallee, mayor of Eureka, told the crowd at the rally that people must use their voices to speak out louder than ever. The newly elected LaVallee had recently come under fire for relocating an American flag from the city mayor's office to another part of the building.

Messages of support from State Senator Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) and Congressman Mike Thompson were read to the crowd. Both politicians blasted the Bush government's drive to war.

Shamara Wyllie, a student of Eureka High School and founder of the school's African-American Club, told those assembled that her inspiration to speak out and get involved is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rabbi Naomi Steinberg gave a prayer in Hebrew, and equated the defense of human rights with protection of the forests, which are currently being ravaged in Humboldt County by logging companies.

Vietnam veteran and activist Brian Willson, relating his firsthand experiences with the horrors of war, called for a transformation of social and spiritual values in these times of crisis.