By Emily Cummins
Progressive Students Union, in collaboration with the national groups Activist Response Team and Eyes Wide Open, performed a March of the Dead, representing the civilian lives lost during the Iraq War.
Twenty-three volunteers, most being University students, walked from inside the Student Center entrance on North Campus to the front of CV Starr on South Campus, as embodiments of individuals and families who were victims of what they refer to as an illegal war. The men, women and children represented were killed in either Iraq, Afghanistan or the United States.
A steady beat boomed throughout the school as they walked single file; each wore all black, a white mask depicting a stoic face and a sign indicating the name, age and occupation of the person they symbolized. While they marched, students and teachers stopped to watch and take photographs, all wondering the purpose of this demonstration.
Although many dismissed the group as simple protestors, some were captivated by their somber and powerful message. Almost at a loss for words, student Cristal Levine stated, “This demonstration is just…powerful.”
Marching at a deliberately unhurried speed, some of the performers, looking like spectres, held their arms at mid-waist in an ethereal manner while others chose to have their arms folded behind their backs, holding their sign, or at their sides. Despite passerby shouting and the commotion surrounding them, the demonstrators were absolutely silent and almost lifeless.
After stopping traffic on California Avenue, they reached their destination, the Eyes Wide Open exhibit of boots representing the men and women of New York State who were killed in the Iraq War. There was a total of 183 boots, each attached with a name tag. Some also had flowers, photographs, newspaper clippings and dog tags.
The March of the Dead proceeded to go around the labyrinth circling around the boots. A speaker then read the names of the soldiers followed by the names of the civilians. Once the speaker finished, Matthis Chirous, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, spoke to the crowd.
“Each one of those boots is someone I served with…it is a blessing and a curse that I am here to speak about it today.” Chirous declared to those who stood by watching and listening. He closed with sharing his conviction that it is not patriotic to forget.
“It was a harrowing display,” stated student Diandra Meloni. “It was almost scary to see how many lives have been lost and what this war has cost.”
Once the demonstration was over, the volunteers removed their masks and then hugged one another. Some were even crying.
“At first I thought that this would be powerful, and I would certainly do it. Once I was out there though, amongst the boots, I thought of all my cousins and brothers and family who have been affected. I couldn’t hold back the tears,” said volunteer Zoraya Hooks.
Overall the march was declared a success by the ART’s organizer Sarah Morselli. They had previously been to Columbia University where they were almost arrested and on Wall Street where they proudly wore “Arrest Bush” T-shirts.
“There are actual human beings responsible, and they need to be held accountable,” Morselli asserted. At the University, however, they refrained from involving politics out of respect for the other groups involved.
Student volunteers dressed in all black and wore name tags of fallen soldiers as they walked during the March of the Dead on across campus, from the student center to the CV Starr building, Tuesday. (Erin Furman)