College Republicans from Georgetown University and American University clashed with members of Georgetown Peace Action at a protest in front of the French embassy last Thursday.
The rally, planned by the College Republicans to protest France’s refusal to support war with Iraq, was interrupted by chants of “Listen to France, give peace a chance” and “Drop Bush not Bombs,” as about a dozen members of Georgetown Peace Action held a simultaneous counterprotest in support of France’s decision to oppose military action in Iraq.
The day’s events began when approximately 50 College Republicans gathered at around 4 p.m. in front of the French embassy. Students held signs, waved American flags and chanted slogans such as “Peace through strength,” and “Impeach Chirac.”
“We’re here as a reminder to the French to show them that we remember what we’ve done for them,” said Dave Benjamin (CAS’05), communications director for the Georgetown University College Republicans, referring to the United States’ involvement in World War II. “We desire that they join our fight and the United Nations’ fight to change Iraq.”
Laurie Mylroie, an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute at American University, spoke at the protest in support of the College Republicans.
“We’re here to let the French know what shmucks they are,” said Mylroie over a loudspeaker. Mylroie also accused Iraq of being involved in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attacks. “That’s one of the reasons why we are going to war with Saddam [Hussein] and why in a very short time, he’s going to be history,” she said.
Amil Totonchi (SFS ‘06), a founding member of Georgetown Peace Action, said he felt it was important for the group to express its support for France.
“We feel there are few dissenters against the war … and it’s really important to support [France] because it’s very difficult to come out against the United States,” Totonchi said.
Totonchi said that he helped form Georgetown Peace Action last October in order to have a group focused against war, but one that avoided the problem of mixing issues because of political or religious affiliations. That same month, Peace Action cosponsored a “die-in”protest of the potential war in Iraq in Red Square.
A protestor from the College Republicans attempted to have the counterprotesters arrested, citing their lack of a permit as a violation of D.C. law. However, according to Totonchi, the counterprotest was small enough that a permit was not necessary.
“The College Republicans felt that because they had a permit, they had a right to deny what we were doing,” said Totonchi.
Chuck Eldridge (CAS ‘03), Vice Chair of GUCR said that although he disagreed with the message of the counter protesters, he still supported their right to exercise their first amendment rights.
According to Peace Action members, many of the GUCR protesters were interested in engaging in dialogue. “They were very responisve to our attempts to talk to them,” Wilson said.
