O'ahu peace marchers draw backing, anger
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
With numbers varying from 500 to more than 1,000, O'ahu peace marchers chanted slogans and encouraged motorists to honk their support yesterday as they trekked from Ala Moana Park through Waikiki.
Tiara Enocencio-Zimmerman, a student at the University of Hawai'i, said she is organizing groups of veterans and others for "Support the Troops" rallies on March 29. For more information, e-mail her at tiaraant@hawaii.edu or call 277-6724. Carolyn Hadfield, one of the peace movement organizers, said the next peace event will be announced on the 534-CALL information line.
Many drivers did, and some added a wave, a shaka or a peace sign. A few made other hand gestures.
Support, peace rallies planned
Joel Engum of Seattle made a thumbs-down sign as he made eye contact with a marcher carrying a "Veterans for Peace" sign, and vainly tried to restrain his wife, Kathy, from running up to the marchers and telling each in turn that she found their behavior shameful.
"People should be supporting our troops," he said. "I don't see why we allow this kind of thing, but I guess we have to."
Other visitors and Waikiki shop owners shared Engum's views. A bicyclist said she thought the Iraqi people needed U.S. help.
On Kalakaua Avenue, a dozen customers and staffers stepped out of the Eggs 'n' Things restaurant applauding, hooting and whistling encouragement to the marchers.
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The marchers were a varied group, with the youngest appearing to be about 5 and the elders well into their years.
"No justice, no peace," they chanted. "U.S. out of the Middle East."
As they left the park, the group began to attract counter protesters.
Chris Roth, a house painter from Waikiki, carried a sign that read: "Saddam loves you all," on the side he held toward the peace marchers, and "America: Love it or Leave it," on the other.
"There aren't enough people out here supporting our troops," he said.
Later, Roth was joined by April Vea, a nurse draped in an American flag, and Brendan Brennan, a Castle High School teacher who carried a sign that read: "Spring Break: Baghdad."
Brennan said he was concerned that some of the peace marchers were socialists or communists who might have ties to Iraq.
The marchers gave different reasons for coming out yesterday.
Some talked about frightening war agendas, including plans to attack Iran, which they attributed to members of President Bush's Cabinet.
Michael Golojuch and Robin Nussbaum marched under a gay pride flag, and talked about soldiers who were asked to die for a country that would not let them admit their sexual orientation and social programs that would be cut to pay for the war.
Oletha Leo pushed a baby carriage and said she was afraid for the children in Iraq. She said she also thought about her uncle, an American Indian from Southern California and a Vietnam Veteran, who did not adjust well when he returned home, and who sometimes cried about the people he had killed.
"He said they looked like they could have been members of his family," she said.
Kimo Jadinocek, a retired airline pilot from Lanikai, said he thought the troops should be back in the United States.
He said he flew missions for the Navy over Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. "I killed hundreds of people with the touch of a button," he said. "It was so easy. I think we should make it more difficult. We should have to cut out the hearts of anyone we wanted to kill. Then, maybe, people would think twice about it."
