NEW YORK — Anti-war activists, determined to continue the momentum from last month's massive global rallies, were preparing for another day of marches and demonstrations expected to draw students around the city and country.
A national student strike was scheduled for Wednesday, and organizers said students at high school and college campuses around the United States were prepared to either walk out of class or not attend at all as a sign of their stance against military action in Iraq.
"The purpose is really to show that students and youth are for books, not bombs. It's really that simple," said Lenore Palladino, a graduate student at the New School University in Manhattan. "The priorities of the administration are not our priorities."
The strike effort was being coordinated by the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition. Spokeswoman Sarah Ahmed said students at campuses around the country were planning teach-ins, rallies and demonstrations.
The strike effort was being accompanied by a "National Moratorium to Stop the War on Iraq" where all people, not just students, were being asked to disrupt their normal days and show support for peace by calling in sick or closing their businesses. That effort was being led by a coalition of anti-war groups.
It's not the only effort being planned this month. On Tuesday, the United for Peace and Justice group filed a permit with the New York Police Department seeking permission for a march down Fifth Avenue on March 22. The group tried to have a march last month, but was denied and only given permission for a rally, which drew a massive crowd.
"People are very serious about doing everything we can to stop this war before it starts," Leslie Cagan, co-chairwoman of the group, said of the various peace anti-war activities. "I'm very moved by the level of commitment by so many different types of people."
In New York City on Wednesday, rallies were being planned in Union Square at noon and at Hunter College at 2:30 p.m. A march past the offices of both New York senators was planned for the evening.
Karim Lopez, an organizer with Uptown for Peace and Justice, said a lot of interest had been coming from high school students. It was unclear how many high schoolers would skip school for the rallies, but the organization had provided a letter for students to give to parents and administrators explaining the event.
"We're not against school; we're actually trying to defend our schools. Schools are under attack by the military budget right now," he said, referring to cuts in education funding and rises in tuition.
There was no immediate comment from the city Department of Education on students possibly skipping school.
On Feb. 15, millions of people in the United States and around the globe came out to rallies and protests against military action in Iraq. President Bush has said neither the size of the protests nor the anti-war message of the demonstrators would sway him.
But while Cagan admitted she wasn't sure the protests were having a direct effect on Bush, she thought they were having an impact on Congress and world governments.
"I think it does have legs. I think it will be around for some time," she said of the anti-war movement.
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