Sacramento State students protested to end the war in Afghanistan near the Library Quad Thursday morning passing out fliers, giving speeches and chanting.

While the protest didn’t draw in a large number of students, there was always a group of about 20 students stopping to hear what was being said during the busy lunch time hour.

Part of the protest had two students, one who had a Palestinian flag at his feet, lying in front of two gravestones on the ground as though they had been shot in order to represent lives lost on both sides.

Several students walking by were visibly taken back by the scene.

The protest was put together by students who are part of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) and had not only Sac State students participating, but also had an alumnus, a Sacramento City College student, and a representative from the Veterans for Peace Organization.

Alumnus Estevan Hernandez was the most vocal during the protest and was the one starting the chants and introducing the speakers.

“Eleven years of war is 11 years too long,” said Hernandez before introducing the speakers.

Sac City student Autumn Thomas-Morales was the first to speak.

When asked why she was doing it she said these were “baby steps,” and the goal was “getting info out and putting pressure on politicians.”

John Reiger, President of Veterans for Peace, gave a visual demonstration that showed the amount of funding the Department of Defense receives in relation to the entire federal budget.

Reiger explained part of his motivation earlier when he said how war affects some of the young soldiers.

“You give a kid a gun and teach him how to kill then expect them to turn the switch off, it doesn’t work like that,” said Reiger.

More information on Veterans for Peace can be found at www.veteransforpeace.org.

ANSWER has several more events happening this month-more information can be found at www.answercoalition.org.

William Miles can be reached at [email protected]