Students March for Peace

WCPN 90.3 FM - Cleveland NPR News

by Mike West

CLEVELAND 2003-03-12 Hundreds of Catholic high school students rallied for peace in Cleveland this afternoon. The march stared with a prayer service held by Bishop Anthony Pilla at St. John Cathedral. Pilla told the students they have a responsibility to be peacemakers. The students then marched on city hall. The war protesters were welcomed by city council members who made speeches and cheered them on. High schooler Meredith Garofalo says her classmates are frightened by the possibility of going into battle. "My cousin is 18 and he's afraid of being drafted for war and I have a lot of friends who are afraid of being drafted for war. I know they're scared but I know that they have faith that the Lord is going to get us through this." About 400 students from 15 catholic high schools participate in the march which ended at Public Square. They say it is their duty as Christians to demand world peace. Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, police say more than 350 people gathered at Fountain Square for a 45-minute lunchtime rally in support of military troops. People waved flags, sang patriotic songs and held up signs against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. A few participants said they have children in the military.