Peace rally was successful because it remained peaceful

Unless you fell asleep on Friday afternoon and didn’t wake up until Monday morning, you are… Unless you fell asleep on Friday afternoon and didn’t wake up until Monday morning, you are aware that Pittsburgh hosted a peace rally that many have called the largest in about 30 years. Dubbed the “Convergence” by its organizers, the weekend-long rally featured a parade through the South Side on Saturday and a similar march through Oakland Sunday afternoon. Responses to the gathering have been mixed, generally divided along lines of support or opposition to possible war with Iraq.

But for right or wrong, the protesters can be commended for keeping their peace rally peaceful.

In the past, rallies have drawn a dangerous mix of passionate dissidents and riot police. Protests that took on the World Trade Organization in Seattle resulted in multiple arrests framed against a backdrop of tear gas-filled skies. On a college level, we are reminded of the infamous shootings at Kent State. But at Pitt this weekend, thousands of protesters marched among a large concentration of police without major incident.

Though at some point, somebody smashed a window at an Oakland military recruiting office and a few people were hospitalized with minor injuries, police were pleased with the results overall.

Credit for the peaceful weekend goes to protesters and police officers alike. While the marchers managed to resist the mob mentality that often arises in dissenting environments, the police did a very effective job of managing the group and maintaining order. According to Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Cmdr. William Valenta, about 70 officers attended the march in the South Side on Saturday and close to 100 were on duty in Oakland on Sunday.

Also, many students opened their homes to visiting protesters who needed a place to stay, and no incidents were reported.

The success of this weekend’s protest has set a positive precedent for future social action in the area. The event’s organizers did a thorough job that will be cited in the future when similar events are proposed. As long as the same care is taken in the future – by protesters and police – Oakland will continue to be known as a hospitable host for political and social activism.