HIGHLAND FALLS – Some 200 people gathered in Veteran’s Park in Highland Falls Tuesday evening to protest President Barack Obama’s sending of 30, 000 more troops into Afghanistan. 

Following speeches, they walked a quarter mile to Thayer Gate to voice their opposition and held a candlelight vigil.

The usual signs were part of the protest, and so were lots of speakers, including Cheryl Worth

Cheryl Worth from Peace Action New York State said the American people are mad because they need $30 million for health care, jobs and infrastructure. America cannot afford to send more troops into Afghanistan and that there are “better and more important things to do with our money and with our young men and women,” she said.

“We are out to say something tonight, to tell the President that this is not the change that we voted for, that this is more of the same,” she said. “We want to see the change that we voted for and we are expecting him to include us in this conversation.”

Debra Sweet of World Can’t Wait, who had previously been involved in protests against former President George Bush when he spoke at West Point, felt that the venue chosen by President Obama to announce the escalation of the troops was a “George Bush-like thing to do.” She felt that the war started eight years ago by the former president is illegitimate. 

“It is immoral, unjust, illegitimate; they have no business continuing it,” she said.

Michael Sussman, convener of the Orange County Democratic Alliance called on all local political figures in Washington, D.C. to take leadership positions in opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Sussman also said that “dishonesty would no longer be allowed” in the county by the people.

“We have to send a clear message here in Orange County.  You come to Orange County with this nonsense, we’re going to be here to protest at the barricades.  We’re not allowing any further lying in this county by any president of any party.”

The demonstration was sponsored by various social justice and anti-war organizations, including Peace Action New York State, Military Families Speak Out, Rockland Coalition for Peace and Justice, World Can’t Wait and the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter.