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Thousands rally in nation's capital to show support, 'Stand for Children'

WASHINGTON, D.C. Ñ Katherine Faraway, a resident of Ann Arbor, traveled more than 600 miles last Saturday to join an estimated 200,000 parents, teachers, activists, and children here to "stand for children." The mass demonstration, which was centered at the Lincoln Memorial and spread across the Mall, drew people diverse in age, race, background and geographic location.

Faraway and her friend, Johanna Epstein, were two of about 3,000 people who traveled from Ann Arbor to show their support for the nation's children. The group represented various organizations, including the University's Children's Center and the Interfaith Committee for Peace and Justice. Faraway said the last time she demonstrated on the Mall was during the Vietnam War. She noted that this event's crowd was much different from the one in which she was immersed years ago.

"This is more of a celebration Ñ for children. It's a lot more calm," Faraway said. "I think it's a good turnout." Epstein, agreed. "It's a vow to do more for them," she said.

When the thousands of children and adults weren't listening to the speakers, they were enjoying the sunny day and cooling off in the reflecting pool. Others gathered around the Mall for picnics or to lie in the sun. Shira Robinson, a 1995 University graduate who now lives in Washington, was scoping the multitude of booths when she saw the University's black and white sign in the grass. Although Robinson said the demonstration was inspiring, she cautioned against putting too much faith in the activist spirit that pervaded the green lawns. "I think these things can tend to get hokey," said Robinson, who works at Human Rights Watch. "I think there is a balance here. There is a balance of hokiness and practical use."

Robinson said she was impressed by the number of children who demonstrated and sat around listening to the speakers. "It's fun to see the kids," she said. "It's inspiring today. But what does it all mean tomorrow?" Keynote speaker and Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman stressed that everyone should work to put children first in health care, child care and education. "We are individuals, families É who hold ourselves personally accountable, but who also hold our leaders personally accountable with our voices and our votes," Edelman said during her speech. "Our children need strong families, social and moral values," she said.

For LSA senior Paul Smithivas, who is interning in Washington this summer, Saturday's event marked the first time he attended a "huge demonstration." "I've never seen anything like that before," Smithivas said. "I think it will make a difference, but I did see a lot of people who weren't listening, but who were just hanging out."