Protesters Take Anti-War Message To Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Protesters gathered downtown Royal Oak to speak their minds on the war in Afghanistan and the nation's lack of jobs.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil reported that dozens of people gathered in front of Royal Oak City Hall for the anti-war rally organized by Rev. Rich Peacock of the Waterford Central United Methodist Church.
He said it's time for what he calls "economic justice."
- (WWJ Photo/Sandra McNeil)
"People are fed up with the economics of a war economy," said Peacock. "How can we spend billions of dollars on war, when we could use just $2 billion to solve Michigan's problems in the state government?"
"How can we spend billions of dollars on war, when just one day of the expenses in Afghanistan would wipe out the deficit of the city of Detroit?" he asked.
Peacock said Thursday's protest was help to commemorate the war's 10th anniversary, but admitted many people were gathered as a result of the momentum of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement spreading from New York.
- (WWJ Photo/Sandra McNeil)
Peacock, who has been an activist for decades, said this protest drew about twice the number of people he was expecting.
"We never know when a Rosa Parks moment will happen, but Wall Street, Royal Oak ... there could be Rosa Parks moments happening. This could be a change on the wind," he said.
Some who joined the event in Royal Oak from the "Occupy Detroit" movement. They are planning a rally at the Michigan Central Depot later on this month. At their first organizing meeting on Monday, they expect to see about 100 people.
