Protestors Stage March For Peace To MIT

As the clock struck midnight last night signalling the probable imminency of war, about 130 demonstrators gathered outside the Harvard Cooperative Society for an impromptu candlelight vigil that turned into a peace march to MIT.

Blocking traffic and heckling passers-by, protestors marched down Mass. Ave, with a police escort, carrying signs and candles and singing "Give Peace a Chance" and "Down by the Riverside."

Most onlookers honked or waved in sympathy with the group's efforts, but on one occasion police had to push protestors from a car they had surrounded and were not allowing to pass. Later, police prevented protestors from affixing an anti-war banner to the back of a bus.

The group, consisting mainly of college students, stopped briefly at the U.S. Armed Forces Recruitment Center at 955 Mass. Ave, before continuing on to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Center established last week in MIT's student center.

At the Peace Center, the group joined up with MIT students and neighbors staging a sleep-in for peace. Those present chanted, sang and traded bits of news until 1:30 a.m., when they disbanded, pledging to continue their efforts the following day.

No arrests were made, but some protestors spray painted the doors and windows of the Mass. Ave. recruitment center with graffitti staung "closed forever" and "go A.W.O.L."

"I'm here because I never once in my life thought about politics or cared about it," said Cambridge resident Stacy Holden, a student with the Harvard extension program. "It makes me very angry and resentful that I have to now."

Activist M. Scott Murphy '92 said he had plans for a 24-hour peace center in the Harvard Science Center modeled after the MIT vigil, pending approval from the administration. He described the anti-war effort at Harvard as much less organized than its counterparts at nearby universities.

"Most people don't have a vested interest in this," said A. James Kent '93, adding that he was risking his academic standing to demonstrate for peace. "The people at Harvard don't really [care]." Kent said that the U.S. should not have sent troops to the Persian Gulf in the first place, and that war was unnecessary and "ridiculous."

"Supposedly we're trying to build a new world order. That's completely stupid," Kent said. "I don't know what we're trying to do."

Oliver P. Strauch '93 said that he thought the crisis would spark increased student interest and involvement in anti-war efforts. "I disagree with the situation and I'm sick of sitting around and disagreeing over coffee," Strauch said. He added that he hoped students would "try to understand their relationship with issues and do whatever they think they should do."