10 Years After: How NELA Protested the Iraq War

Tuesday, March 19 marked the ten year anniversary of the U.S. military's invasion of Iraq. The campaign came after months of protests held around the world, including some in Northeast Los Angeles.

Jeff Chapman, Director of the Audubon Center at Debs Park, was one Northeast Los Angeles resident who not only participated in protests against the war, but documented the anti-war effort as well.

Originally posted on LA Indymedia on March 5, 2003, Chapman's photographs depict a protest held at the corner of Eagle Rock Boulevard and Avenue 40.

From Chapman's Post on LA Indymedia:

Neighbors for Peace and Justice – North East Los Angeles have been gathering since early November to protest war. Their numbers have grown slowly over that time, and last Saturday nearly 80 people attended the weekly demo. Horns can be honking continuously, as protesters wave signs imploring drivers to “HONK FOR PEACE”.

People from the communities of Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Montecito Heights, Lincoln Park, Garvanza, Hermon, Mt. Washington, Glassell Park and elsewhere gather together to voice opposition to the impending war and what it stands for. As diverse as our communities are, they people demonstrating have many reasons for being there, but all seek a non-violent resolution to the events happening around the world. The group also gathers in solidarity with the millions world wide who are rising up to stop this war.

The United States would launch the Iraq War two weeks after the NELA peace vigil. In total, it would lead 110,600 violent deaths between 2003 and 2009, according to the Associated Press. 

Chapman said what he most remembered about the the ramp-up to the war was the sense of community felt among anti-war activists.

"What I remember--a lot of fellowship," Chapman said. "A lot of people were getting together to talk about these issues."