KINGSTON PEACE RALLY HITS U.S. KILLINGS IN IRAQ

Over 150 antiwar protestors took part in a picket line, rally and march in Kingston, N.Y., April 10 as part of a nationwide protest against the large number of civilian deaths caused by brutal U.S. counterinsurgency operations in several Iraqi cities last week.

The attacks added over 400 new civilian deaths to the approximately 10,000 Iraqi civilians killed by the U.S. in the last year.

The demonstration, called on three day's notice by the Mid-Hudson National People's Campaign, was endorsed by 17 local peace and justice groups. According to the ANSWER peace coalition, which initiated the actions, protests were held in about 60 U.S. cities.

The Kingston protest began at Academy Green Park with a picket line facing heavy traffic on Albany Ave. The rally was addressed by Jack A. Smith, editor of the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter, Fred Nagel of the Dutchess Greens, Donna Goodman of Mid-Hudson NPC, New Paltz Deputy Mayor Rebecca
Rotzler, and Steve Greenfield of the New Paltz Greens.

The march, led by the colorful Rosendale puppets, passed through the Uptown business district before returning to the park.

In his talk, Smith emphasized the need for the U.S. peace movement to continue a high level of protest activities throughout the election year,
arguing: "The Bush regime may well be the most reactionary in modern history and deserves to be ousted, but the fact is that both the Republican
and Democratic parties support this unjust, illegal war. As such, the election cannot stop the Iraq war. What will stop it is the resistance of the Iraqi people combined with the actions of the U.S. and worldwide antiwar movement, and the continuing reluctance of the UN and Washington's key allies to associate themselves with the Bush administration's preemptive aggression in the Middle East."

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Ulster crowd rallies against war in Iraq
140 in Kingston hold protest
By Bond Brungard
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

KINGSTON -- Clyde Margelli was a soldier stationed in Laos in the 1960s as the United States was stepping up its military operations during the beginning of the Vietnam War.
With the United States in another military conflict decades later, Margelli said history is repeating itself in Iraq.

''There was a lot of futility in the Army,'' Margelli said of his time in the service. ''This is only the beginning of the struggle.''

Demonstration at park

Margelli, of Highland Mills, Orange County, attended a demonstration Saturday at Kingston's Academy Green Park, protesting the current military action in Iraq. The former soldier said he doesn't believe we should be there.

''It's the idea of going into a culture, thousands of years old, and putting our values on it,'' he said. ''We tried it in Vietnam, we tried it in Laos, we tried it in Cambodia. It can't be done.''

About 140 people attended the demonstration, with many holding signs along Albany Avenue. Signs read, ''Bring them Home,'' and ''Support Our Troops, Vote Bush Out.'' Passing motorists honked, acknowledging the protest.

Many protesters were eager to express their distress over the situation in Iraq, especially in light of the recent attacks throughout the country that have reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi civilians and more than 30 U.S. soldiers.

''It's much too excessive,'' Jack Smith, a demonstration organizer. ''This is unforgivable.''

Smith said he doesn't believe the U.S. government will completely give up power when the Iraqis are supposed to be given control after June 30.

''The United States will control it through a puppet government in Iraq,'' he said.