South, Southwest demonstrate for peace

In Phoenix, 2,000 marched on Republican Sen. Jon Kyl’s office. Kyl, a big war supporter, faces the voters in 2006. Over 600 turned out in Tucson, where Ruben Reyes spoke on behalf of Rep. Raul Grijalva. Another 150 rallied in Flagstaff, Ariz.

In Denver, 1,000 demonstrated, including Bob Shepard, whose son is serving his second tour in Iraq. Wearing a yellow duck beak on his chin, Shepard said his son is “a sitting duck as far as I’m concerned. I’m concerned we shouldn’t listen to a lame duck.”

In Birmingham, Ala., among the 300 mostly first-time marchers was Miriam Davis-Harper, 25, from New Orleans. Because of the war, said Davis-Harper, “we lost resources to protect our levees.”

Iraq veteran Brenda Little recounted her comrade’s death in Baghdad. “What is the noble cause that he gave his life for?” she asked.

Chris Lugo of the Nashville Peace and Justice Coalition said a new peace group from Clarksville, home of Fort Campbell 45 miles away, joined over 200 Nashville residents who marched Sept. 24.

In Columbia, Mo., 100-plus marchers snaked through downtown streets, a sight not seen since the 1970s.

Gulf veteran Jerry Swearingen refused to serve a third tour in Iraq. He told the rally many soldiers have lost faith in their mission, but are silenced by fear. “If you protest or refuse to fight, you can be charged with treason, which is punishable by death or life imprisonment,” he said. “Soldiers are afraid of their own government.”

Compiled by Denise Winebrenner Edwards. Joe Bernick contributed to this article.