There has been much lamenting the death of the anti-war movement since the election of Barack Obama. Gone are the rallies calling for the abolition of war – for morality and justice owed to the victims of America’s lethal colonial endeavors. Liberals who rightfully screamed holy murder during the Bush administration are now content to remain silent while Obama orders deadly military attacks against Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya.
But when Obama signaled earlier this week that he would begin bombing the strife-ridden nation of Syria, it would appear he just went too far. From the looks of it in Portland, Oregon and abroad, the anti-war movement is back with a vengeance.
Last night, dozens of peace activists with the PDX Overhead Light Brigade (OLB/PDX) gathered atop the Burnside bridge, blue-glowing signs in hand, to deliver a message of opposition to Obama’s planned attack upon yet another country that poses no threat to the United States. From OLB/PDX’s event page: “Much like in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, the drumbeat of war is getting increasingly louder with claims of WMDs and chemical weapons.”
For several hours, activists displayed the message: NO WAR w/SYRIA as thousands of cars and trucks sped by below. A constant cacophony of approving honks from passing vehicles echoed up from the I-5 freeway.