The falling rain didn’t dampen the spirits of a small group of individuals who gathered to protest U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Syracuse University on Monday.

The group, which included members of SU’s chapter of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, waved Iranian, Libyan and Palestinian flags and held up signs proclaiming ‘Hands Off Iran,’ ‘Hands Off Syria’ and ‘Money for Jobs and Schools, Not War.’

From time to time, the protesters chanted slogans such as ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ ‘Syria for Syrians, not for Wall Street dividends’ and ‘From Libya to Palestine, occupation is a crime.’

Clinton visited SU on Monday to participate in a discussion on foreign policy with James Steinberg, dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Clinton’s former deputy secretary of state. The event, titled ‘America and the World,’ took place in Hendricks Chapel at noon.

Derek Ford, a graduate student in the School of Education and a member of ANSWER, said the group of about 10 people protested Clinton’s visit because foreign wars continue to divert money away from needs at home, such as education.

‘Hillary Clinton is essentially a war hawk and a war criminal,’ Ford said. ‘As students, we suffer the brunt of that because there’s no money for education, student loans are skyrocketing and there’s no jobs.’

Ford said he believes that if former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld or President George Bush were speaking, more people would be protesting.

‘Because Hillary Clinton is a Democrat, it’s OK that she goes to war and destroys entire countries,’ he said.

Risa C’DeBaca, a senior women’s and gender studies major and a member of ANSWER, said she thinks it’s important for people to remember not all Democrats are progressive. Like Republicans, they care about U.S. capitalist interests, which translate to a lot of spending on war, she said.

‘We just think that it’s ridiculous for people to be celebrating her coming here when she’s been killing millions in the Middle East and other places,’ she said.

Michael Kowalchuk, a junior architecture major, was holding an Iranian flag during the protest. He said Iran, Syria and Libya have all been targeted by U.S. imperialism during the past year.

‘Regardless of each country’s political organization, we stand by them,’ he said. ‘We support their right to self-determination and we’re against any sanctions or any invasions.’

After standing in front of Hendricks for about 15 minutes, a woman told the group it had to move to the grassy area on the side of the chapel. The woman left after Ford asked to see the paperwork stating this.

A few minutes later, Department of Public Safety Capt. John Sardino asked the group to move over to the grass. Ford refused, and after a few minutes of negotiations, the two agreed the group could stay as long as it didn’t block the sidewalk.

Sardino said he wanted to make sure the protesters were still visible but needed to keep the area safe for everyone. He did this by keeping the sidewalks clear.

‘They’re all blocking the sidewalks,’ Ford said, pointing to the long line of people waiting to see Clinton. ‘This is our campus. We shouldn’t have to move. Hillary doesn’t go here.’

The group moved to stand in a line along the sidewalk. Members continued to chant and hold up their signs, occasionally engaging in debates with passers-by.

Despite the small number of protesters and the weather, Ford said he considered the demonstration a success.

‘Everywhere Hillary Clinton goes, the weather is like this so that it will keep people from protesting,’ he said, gesturing toward the sky. ‘But we injected the thoughts of working people and oppressed countries into the discussion.’

jliannet@syr.edu 

Published on April 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Jessica: jliannet@syr.edu | @JessicaIannetta