By Jillian Orlando

Boston Common was a buzz last Saturday as protestors against a possible war with Iraq were carrying signs, passing out papers and peace symbols brazen across any visible surface.

A rally organized by “United for Justice with Peace” was taking place in order to distribute information about the possible attack against Iraq and speak on their displeasure with President George W. Bush’s view on the situation.

“I’m totally against this whole stupidity of the war. I think it’s totally ludicrous,” said Valerie Moga, one of the protesters who is a middler political science major at Northeastern.

The common was filled with an estimated 15,000 people of all ages, races, religions and social classes. Grandparents, college students and members of the working class all congregated to speak out against the war.

“Part of being an American is free speech,” said Moga, “I like being part of a larger group that is going to get heard.”

There were veterans from past protests who made their voices heard in the 60s, as well as many younger activists from local colleges including Northeastern, Boston University and Boston College who wanted to show their opposition to a war with Iraq. Unlike the protests of previous wars, the goal this time is to stop the war before it happens.

The rally began at 1 p.m., Sunday with a series of speakers, followed by a march around Boston to spread information against the possible Iraq war throughout the community.

The day began with a prayer of peace for all faiths led by the Reverend M. Thomas Shaw. A packed line-up of speakers expressed various hazards if the U.S. went to war with Iraq and courses of action to prevent the altercation.

With the impending election, gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein and senate write-in hopeful, Randall Forsberg spoke about casting vote against an American war in the Middle East. The focus was that citizens preserve democracy by making their voices heard and voting new voices into office.

Actor Tim Robbins, known in part for his role in the “Shawshank Redemption” among other films, voiced his opposition to the war and noted the timing of the current wave of protests.

“The fact that you’re doing it before the war is essential,” he said, encouraging the current goals to prevent war before it happens.

Robbins, as well as many of the other speakers, also voiced opinions shunning a war for oil, unnecessary destruction of life and fear of American imperialism that could result. The crowd agreed.

“The citizens of Iraq have gone through enough pain with the sanctions over the past decade,” Suffolk University political science major Matt Cole said. “We must find all means necessary to remove Saddam without using military force, for we will not only be destroying the current regime, but the people who inhabit the land.”

The Boston-area speakers were led by Dr. Howard Zin. Zin was formally introduced to the crowd to the delight of Boston’s faithful. Zin appeared in Washington last weekend and is well-known for his aid in the movement to prevent a war with Iraq. He focused on the belief that sending aid around the world will promote peace, and that bombings and war will only encourage more violence. He also noted the dangers of going to war during the current time of an economic downslope asking, “Isn’t it a crime against the people of the United States to take the money that is needed for healthcare and housing and use it for war?”

After about two hours of speeches, the crowd of 15,000 began their march through Boston. The line of protestors filled the streets, which had been blocked off for the march. The huge crowd extended 1