Small turnout, big message

Ben Godar

Despite a low turnout for a rally this week, students at Burbank High

School are planning to voice their anti-war message again Wednesday.

After school Wednesday, a group of 15 students carrying signs with

anti-war messages walked down Third Street from Burbank High School

to City Hall. Several police officers on motorcycles sat along the

students’ route, but no disturbances were reported.

A similar protest March 5 drew between 40 and 50 people, but

student organizers said it was more difficult to publicize

Wednesday’s rally because school officials would not allow them to

distribute fliers.

As to whether Burbank High School students tend to be for or

against war in Iraq, Burbank senior Ignacio Pagliaro said most just

don’t seem to care.

“Some are informed, but most aren’t really informed,” he said. “I

heard more people talking about NCAA basketball.”

While relatively few students attended Wednesday’s protest, Gale

Robinson, 78, came out to voice his support. A World War II veteran

who served in seven major sea battles, Robinson came to share his

experience with the students.

“A lot of my friends died, and I’ve been more or less anti-war

ever since then,” the Burbank resident said.

Students at the rally also said the war in Iraq does not warrant

risking American lives, and some said President George W. Bush and

other leaders are far removed from those who will be doing the

fighting. Some young men at the school are afraid of being drafted to

fight, they said

“The people that are going out there are still practically kids,”

senior Gaby Garcia said.

Senior Damary Machuca also questioned the cost of a war.

“This is our money for education,” she said. “We have less money

for financial aid.”

Organizer Al Kostalas, a senior, said Wednesday’s rally will

follow the same format, but might be in the evening to draw a bigger

crowd. She said many students who are against the war feel helpless.

“A lot of people who would have come have been depressed by seeing

the war finally starting,” she said. “We’re going to try to change

that.”