Phyllis
Lucero remembers participating in war protests denouncing Lyndon B. Johnson's
policies toward Vietnam. Nick Salter, 18, remembers Vietnam from his history
class at Cherry Creek High School.
Both the high school senior and the 65-year-old woman from Colorado Springs were among the 1,500 protesters who gathered at City Park on Saturday for a march to the State Capitol in opposition of military action against Iraq.
People banged on 5-gallon plastic buckets that were turned upside-down and used as drums, while others marched in silence while holding signs. Some wore oversized red hearts made to resemble angel's wings, while others carried hands as tall as people with paint made to look like blood.
One sign asked, "Have we become the evil we deplore?" Most signs read "No Iraq War."
About seven members of a group formed by Salter, called Students Taking Opposition Peacefully, or STOP, attended the rally. He said the protest was a matter of self preservation.
"It you fight an unjustified war, people aren't going to like you," he said. "Instead of fighting terrorism, this will do the opposite. I think it will cause an increase of anti-American sentiment and actually lead to more attacks.
"We're the people that are going to have to deal with these problems."
President Bush has said the United States would be justified in using military force against Iraq if it could be proved that Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
On Friday, a group of about 200 high school students walked out of class at another school and waved signs at motorist along a major street in Denver.
"These are the young, up and coming protesters," said organizer Mark Cohen, pointing to the hundreds of youth at the rally.
Another young group sporting leather jackets, nose rings, pink hair along with a strong sense of individuality gathered near Lucero and other holdover protesters from the 1960s. None from that group would speak to reporters.
"Is this military action for Democracy and freedom or is it for oil?" Lucero asked rhetorically, echoing hers and other signs held by protesters. "It's an issue of the countries that are the haves wanting to take advantage of the have-nots. It's been going on for years."
While members of different generations gathered to protest Bush's policies, others took the opportunity to champion their causes.
R. Addison, a 56-year-old self-described peace poet, drove from Salt Lake City to attend the rally. He said the United State's nuclear arsenal, which remains on a state of alert, makes America the aggressor.
Daniah Shaban of Denver, who is of Palestinian ancestry, said the conflict arises from Israel's treatment of those who were displaced by that country's creation.
"The Arab countries are trying to help them," she said.