By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

War protesters block Fifth Street at the Westin Hotel walkway during a march Thursday back from the Federal Building to Fountain Square. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

Cincinnatians joined hundreds of thousands of anti-war protesters around the world Thursday to show their opposition to the U.S.-led campaign to remove Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

More than 500 people converged on the Queen City's downtown federal building with signs, bullhorns and shouts to declare: Not in our name.

More than 100 young people, many from Tristate colleges, met at Fountain Square before they marched en masse to 550 Main St.

Moms and dads, senior citizens, clergy and others encircled the building for about an hour before heading back to the square, where some lined the pedestrian bridge and urged drivers to honk.

By 6:30 p.m., about a half dozen people had been arrested, mostly for blocking traffic in front of the U.S. Bank building.

"I'm incredibly sad about this war," said Beverly Palmer, a Hyde Park native who initiated a neighborhood event called Holding Hands for Peace. "I pray for the children of Iraq. This war violates our constitution. It violates international law and it violates the highest moral law of God. The pope has called this war murder and I agree."

Cincinnati Police arrest a man among the crowd blocking traffic on Fifth Street during the protest. | ZOOM |

Throughout the day, Cincinnatians gathered for organized rallies and vigils, both to oppose the war and support American troops.

At University of Cincinnati, about 40 people held a "die in." Participants dressed in black and draped swaths of red cloth across their bodies as they lay on the concrete outside Langsam Library. One sign read: "How many Iraqis died last night?"

"It's a somber event to reflect on the realities of war," said Patrick Dyer, a third-year graduate student from Clifton. "This is not a video game. There are thousands of people who are going to be massacred."

Tara Mohammad, a 21-year-old junior from Clifton, pretended to be dead. A green poster lay across her body. It read: "Bush Bullies the World."

"It's just really hard to see people moving around, going to the mall, thinking about tests," she said. "This is history in the making. Nothing will be the same after this."

Across the Tristate, a multitude of messages sprang forth from the pulpit. Pastors, bishops, rabbis and other clergy opened their houses of worship for those who wanted to pray or find comfort.

Ernestine Gerhard sat in a Christ Church Cathedral pew at noon.

"When evil is evil, you have to combat it," she said. "You can't just sit still and do nothing. (But) we really shouldn't be doing this to each other. I'm a little anxious, even though Cincinnati is the last place they'll probably hit."

Rev. Louisa Baer at Blue Ash Presbyterian Church urged her congregation of more than 250 members to practice "3-2-1 peace." That means drumming up three things to pray for, two things to learn and one thing to do.

She began practicing 3-2-1 peace as a Northern Kentucky University chaplain during the Gulf War.

While some protested military action, others chose to focus on supporting armed service members. Clermont County officials promoted a support the troops rally to be held at 7:30 Tuesday. People are encouraged to show up in red, white and blue for patriotic speeches and songs.

"The rally is designed to show support for our service personnel and to recognize the sacrifice they are making to ensure our freedom," said event organizer Bob Proud, president of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners.

Majid Qureshi, who is part of the management team at the Islamic Association of Cincinnati's mosque on Clifton Avenue, is worried about the weeks to come.

"Saddam is a very bad guy," said Qureshi, a Pakistani Muslim living in Symmes Township. "He is a cruel man. ... The unfortunate thing is that in any calamity, it's the poor man that suffers. I hope that the war is a very short one." The solution?

"Pray," he said.

Enquirer reporter Susan Vela contributed to this report.