PCAT shows support for war opposite peace group

Rallying against the local antiwar protests that have occupied Palmer Square weekly for months, the Princeton Committee against Terrorism staged a counter demonstration Saturday.

PCAT said members protested to demonstrate what they claim is a strong presence of a pro-war mentality on campus. According to a PCAT press release, the Princeton Peace Network has "hijacked" the voice of the student body and created a "mistaken impression that they [antiwar groups] represent student sentiment."

PCAT protesters, consisting of about 20 undergraduate students, stood on one side of Palmer Square East in a face-off against the coalition of about 135 antiwar protestors camped on the opposite side.

Despite the physical divide, PCAT engaged in a heated vocal exchange with the peace organizations. In response to the antiwar coalition's shouts to "bring the troops home," PCAT answered with "after they win."

PCAT further accused the antiwar groups of failing to support the troops through their condemnation of the war. However, Executive Director of Coalition for Peace Action, the Rev. Robert Moore calls the argument unfounded.

"Through our protest we want to show that we are not anti-troops," Moore said. "The best way to support our troops is to bring them home."

Such back-and-forth interplay between the groups incited frequent personal debates as protesters singled out opponents and bystanders.

Some civilians found themselves impassioned by the protests and joined the rally. When one community member, demonstrating on PCAT's side, was asked whether he was a member of the organization, he replied, "No, what organization, I'm a United States citizen."

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Borough Police officers were on hand to maintain civil order by blocking off traffic into Palmer Square East and ensuring that the protesters stayed within the limits of their permit. In contrast to the fervor of the protest, some police officers appeared apathetic to the scene.

"I'm sick of this. It happens all the time," said an officer, who requested anonymity.

Even though PCAT had a comparatively lower turnout than did the antiwar contingent, the group remained optimistic.

"It's going pretty well — PPN may have more people at the rally but that's not necessarily reflective of the general student sentiment," said PCAT member Darren Geist '05.

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PCAT further explained that the number of members present at the protest was only a small fraction of the organization's actual size of 300 people. Former chairman of PCAT, Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky, blamed the size of the rally's turnout on the nature of the organization.

"Unlike the PPN, we are mainly comprised of undergraduates and we don't have the same type of infrastructure," Ramos-Mrosovsky said.

However, some students disagreed with PCAT's understanding of where the majority of students stand.

"Even though this is probably one of the few campuses in America where there would be a pro-war rally," Eric Mobrand GS said, "PCAT's stance still does not support a majority of the students."

Following the peace groups' plans to continue holding demonstrations each week, PCAT hopes to continue counter rallies as well.