Boston Globe: Area marks anniversary with quiet protests, tearful tribute

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Sue Bridge (with sign) and others gathered on the Longfellow Bridge to protest the Iraq war yesterday and hold a candlelight vigil. (Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

Area marks anniversary with quiet protests, tearful tribute
By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff | March 20, 2007


In solemn, small observances, Boston-area residents marked the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq yesterday with what seemed to be battle fatigue.

~snip~

"I just wanted to show my respect for the families of all 3,200 soldiers who have sacrificed their lives," said Boston City Councilor Charles Yancey, who helped read the names and ages of the dead on a cold, gray afternoon on Beacon Hill.

"I think it's just important to get involved," said Ashley Thompson, 21, a junior at Emerson College, who listened quietly during the reading. "A lot of people say they're opposed to the war, but when push comes to shove, they don't get involved."

At dusk, more than 100 protesters braved snow and gusty winds to span the Longfellow Bridge between Boston and Cambridge for a candlelight and flashlight vigil.

Many held signs, including placards that read, "Bring Our Troops Home," "Kill one person and it's murder. Kill thousands, and it's foreign policy," and "War is terrorism with a bigger budget."

"This is our chance to say something about this foolish war. If I had a son, I wouldn't want my son to go," said Kris Field, 66, of the Back Bay.

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