By Robert Anglen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A small war protest generated a lot of noise from motorists Friday afternoon near the University of Cincinnati.

The crowd of protesters - starting with four sign-wavers at the corner of Clifton and Calhoun streets - drew about 70 people, who chanted anti-Bush slogans and denounced the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Cars stopped for red lights added to the din as drivers lay on horns, the beeps echoing through the small business district.

"Honk for peace!" The crowd shouted, then cheered. "Look, the UPS driver is against the war. The UPS is against Bush's war!"

The peaceful crowd, driven by a single bullhorn and a couple of bongo players, stayed out of the streets and clustered on the corner of the University of Cincinnati law school as police officers watched from a few blocks away.

"There are many, many reasons to be against the war," said 29-year-old Gabriele Abowd of Clifton. "It is illegal what Bush is doing. Preemptive war is not acceptable in the international community."

Abowd said the protest might not change the overwhelming support Americans have shown for the invasion, but she says it doesn't matter.

"I am doing what I have to do as a human being," she said. "It makes a difference to me."

Other protesters agreed, saying that in the past day or so, Iraqi cities have been showered with "half a billion dollars' worth" of American missiles.

"Talk about terrorism," Abowd said.

The protesters joined in another round of chants aimed at the president. "George Bush you can't hide. We charge you with genocide."

But for every protester, there were at least two people who crossed the street to avoid the rally and ignore the shouts.

Kendell Davis, 15, of Walnut Hills walked with a group of friends who chuckled at the chants. He said the war is being fought for a good reason and that America can't afford to ignore the threat posed by Iraq.

"There's no sense in (protesting)," he said. "It's a waste of time."

Many of the protesters acknowledged they have been involved in several anti-war rallies in the last two weeks, including Thursday's march on the federal building and Fountain Square.

The protesters said they will hold another Fountain Square rally tonight at 7 p.m.The candlelight vigil will use glow sticks for the Solidarity and Sorrow Vigil for human rights in Iraq.

Organizers are using the Internet to get the word out.

Al Simmons, 25, of Clifton said the protests likely won't change anything, but insists people have to try.

"George Bush doesn't listen to American voices," he said, adding that Bush has violated God's law. "He should be following the law of the Ten Commandments and the law of Jesus."

Holding up a printed sign that declared, "War is not the answer," 12-year-old Hector Garcia said he was attending his second protest.

"We need to stop the war and get our troops out of there," he said.

Hector, who attends Delhi Middle School, said many people support the war because they don't understand it.

"I think they should find out more about it," he said.

"They do it cause their parents tell them to."

Standing behind Hector, his mother beamed proudly and patted his shoulder.