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CLEAR Temp: 37 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, April 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 2, 2003 Neti Rest, left, joined about a dozen others who wailed in front of a military recruiting office in east Medford Tuesday afternoon, protesting the war in Iraq. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Wailers draw howls of protest Demonstrators mourn victims of war, but show of grief upsets onlookers By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune About 10 demonstrators wailed for Iraqi war victims mid-day Tuesday, drawing howls of disapproval from people and intervention from the police at the Medford Shopping Center. In shrill cries that could be heard a block or two away, several Medford and Ashland residents, many dressed in traditional Muslim garb cradling dolls smeared with red paint, staged a protest at 1 p.m. in front of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine recruitment office. "(It’s) wailing for the lives that have been lost for no good reason," said Dot Fisher-Smith, 74, of Ashland. "They’re hoping to bring attention to the tremendous grief and suffering that those around the world are experiencing," said Jason Clark of Ashland, spokesman for the group. As they huddled before wailing, a Safeway employee on a cigarette break who declined to give her name, yelled "Go President Bush." The crying and mourning began, and at first nearby employees and shoppers watched quietly. Staff Sgt. Christian Rosario at the Marine recruitment office said he wasn’t upset about the protest. "It’s their given right," he said, as the wailing women held up graphic war photos to the recruitment office window, while their cries grew louder. "It’s kind of distracting," he said, adding, "This is not going to stop anything." He said that recruitment numbers in Southern Oregon have increased in recent months. "There’s a lot of patriotic kids," he said. He wouldn’t comment on the war in Iraq. "We’re just servants for the government," he said. Caroline Luce, who works at the laundry and dry cleaner business next to the recruiting offices, said she thought the wailing people "were sick." "What do they want, more buildings destroyed?" she said. "We’re there to save their people. Their leader was there testing chemical warfare on their people." A civilian leaving one of the recruiting offices yelled at the protesters. "There’s people shedding blood so you can sit out here and do this," he said. "You guys don’t even deserve to live." Two police officers stepped in when angry yelling from both sides escalated, and soon after, the wailers stopped. Following the demonstration, Fisher-Smith said she was rethinking the protest, because she didn’t want to do anything that polarized the issue. "I don’t know whether I can do this again," she said. "I want to do things that reconcile. "It’s very hard to know what to do." Medford police officer Brett Johnson said he stepped in because he thought the arguing was about to turn physical. "It was just looking like it was starting," he said. Kayla Starr, one of the wailers, said the group may not be doing another protest like this one. "We don’t want to add more fuel to the fire," she said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S