Over 50 people demonstrated against the war in Iraq in Riverside, even as the city council refused to consider discussion on a resolution regarding the war.

“1,2,3,4 we don’t want your racist war, 5, 6, 7, 8 stop the violence, stop the hate,” activists chanted as they passed out fliers to motorists, played drums and sang songs at Iowa and University avenue.




They also issed support to the men and women overseas, who are being killed or captured even while the ink has yet to dry on contracts with U.S. corporations hired to “rebuild” Iraq.




“Support our troops. Bring them home”




Across the street stood a half-dozen counter-demonstrators waving flags and trying to drown out the anti-war demonstrators with their own chants. Still, the violence that occurred at last week’s demonstration which resulted in the stabbing of an anti-war demonstrator by a counter demonstrator was not repeated.




After being criticized for standing and doing nothing while a small group of counter-demonstrators had attacked anti-war demonstrators a week earlier, police officers from the Riverside Police Department and University of California police department maintained a greater presense, with UCR police chief Hank Rosenfield and RPD area commander, Lt. Alex Tortes standing nearby.

A Highland man had been arrested in the March 21 altercation which resulted when two counter-demonstrator attacked an anti-war activist of Middle-Eastern descent in front of his wife and child. They pushed him into a busy street from behind, punching him. When he punched back to defend himself, police moved in and grabbed him to detain him, allowing one assailant to escape and another one to nearly flee until he was stopped by activists. Later, the activist discovered wounds from a knife on his hand.

After an hour and intense protests by activist, the assailant was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge after police said, they found a knife and removed from the scene. The other assailant fled with a man in a white SUV, with firefighter stickers on the rear window. The license plate number has been given to the police department.

Special Investigations and narcotics detective Ron Kipp and another officer showed up in casual dress to videotape anti-war demonstrators to add more footage to their archives they created of activists during the Tyisha Miller shooting protests of 1999-2000.




Tortes, the department's only American Indian, said afterwards that he was happy with how the demonstration went, adding that there were no arrests, citations or physical altercations. Several activists introduced themselves to him at the rally's end, impressed with his behavior, proving once again that former Police Chief Jerry Carroll promoted the right man in 1999, amidst a howl of protests, law suits by the department's predominantly white, male police union and Carroll's ultimate ouster.




“Everyone got to express their views which is what this country is all about,” Tortes said, “There is enough fighting going on right now.”




Activists congregated around Starbucks, discussing future protests and a planned boycott against Riverside’s daily newspaper, the Press Enterprise because of its pro-war coverage. One activist said in a phone conversation with the editor reaffirmed that assessment when the editor admitted support for the war in Iraq. A demonstration might be planned in the future at the newspaper's office on 14th street and Orange Grove.

Keep going and demonstrating, you guys are great!

I'm proud of you guys. You are true patriots.