PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

40 protest Iraq war in Morgantown, WV
by Gus Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005 at 1:30 AM

40 people at antiwar protest in Morgantown, WV

Morgantown, West Virginia -- About 40 people protested against the war in Iraq on Friday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 6 PM, in frigid weather. The protesters stood on the Monongalia County Courthouse Square and held signs while the busiest rush hour traffic of the week passed by. There were numerous honks in support. One woman said she counted 300 honks of support for the picket. There were a few hecklers. At one point, a pickup truck almost sideswiped those closest to the street. The driver then parked and glared at the protesters as he entered a nearby building.

Some protesters held signs with sayings like, "Oil" with red blood dripping from the word; or "Occupation Is Not Liberation;" or "It's A Planet, Not An Empire." People got activated through email communications. People came from peace, social justice, feminist, religious, and anarchist circles. It was an attempt to get an active antiwar presence back in public view after a lull during the last two years. (Except for a large protest against a visit by Bush II last July.)

The picket got a story and photo in the next day's local paper, The Dominion Post. The courthouse square has been a traditional place for dissenters to gather over the last three decades. People were encouraged by the obvious support of most passersby. The pickets are now going to be organized on a regular basis.