Students are taking to the streets of New York this Saturday to protest the building tensions between the United States and Iraq. The organization, United for Peace and Justice, organized the Anti-War protest in New York City, which will be held outside the United Nations building.

Once in New York City the students will attend the rally at noon on Saturday and that evening attend a student rally at Columbia University. They will then stay at Columbia with students from the Columbia University Anti-War Coalition.

Peter Quaranto, freshman, organized the group of approximately 35 Notre Dame students who will take part in the rally.

"I heard about this rally, and said that if there is going to be a group of people protesting injustice and killing, Notre Dame should be represented there," Quaranto said about his reason for organizing the group.

Many different organizations from all over the United States will be present at the rally, some include the Campus Anti-War Network, Voices in the Wilderness, NAACP, Catholic Worker, and the September 11 Victim's Families for a Better Tomorrow.

There are a variety of reasons people are heading to the rally to protest but Quaranto believes the main reason for students is the desire to act on their beliefs.

"I think the one thing that unites us is that we have decided that we need to do more than just sit back and preach about our beliefs; we have to act on our beliefs," said Quaranto.

Quaranto worked with the Center for Social Concerns to organize and fund the trip. The students had to pay a $30 fee for participation with the money going toward van rentals, gas and tolls.

Rachel Tomas Morgan, helped Quaranto plan the trip and said of his idea and other groups, "The Center is happy to help support any student or student group wishing to exercise their faith in service and action for justice that resound with our Catholic social tradition."

"Ultimately, we feel that we are old enough to have a voice in the way our country and world works," said Quaranto. "This weekend, we are going to exercise that voice."

More information about the Anti-War protest can be found at www.unitedforpeace.org.

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