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Anti-War Groups Plan Vigil For Peace

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By MARK HOLAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 2, 2008

TAMPA - Members of Veterans for Peace and other anti-war groups will hold a Vigil for Peace from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Gandy Boulevard and Dale Mabry Highway.

Army veteran Jay Alexander of St. Petersburg said the demonstration isn't intended to discourage people from attending AirFest this weekend at MacDill Air Force Base.

"We are just there to remind people coming out of AirFest there are people against the war," he said. "The real air show is 6,000 miles to the east of us, and it's not a show."

The U.S. military death toll in Iraq is 4,065, and tens of thousands of soldiers have been injured.

Monthly anti-war demonstrations in Tampa began about three years ago as a counterpoint to the Bayshore Patriots, who wave flags along Bayshore Boulevard in support of the troops.

Thursday was the fifth anniversary of President George W. Bush's speech declaring "major combat operations" had ended in Iraq as a "Mission Accomplished" banner fluttered in the background.

"Mission accomplished five years on is in reality quagmire accomplished," Alexander said.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2101 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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