Today marks the third day of Peace Week, a five-day, 24-hour anti-Iraqi war demonstration that is taking place outside the office of Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D-Mo.) office on the Delmar Loop.

On Thursday, a number of Washington University students from the Washington University Peace & Justice Coalition will be participating in the 24-hour presence.

The Instead of War Coalition, a St. Louis anti-war organization, coordinated the sit-in outside McCaskill’s office.

Adam Shriver, a University graduate and a member of the Instead of War Coalition’s student committee, stated that Peace Week was planned as a reaction to General David Petraeus’ report to Congress. Delivered this Monday, Petraeus’ report discussed the effectiveness of the troop “surge” in Iraq.

“As part of a nationwide movement we decided to have a response to General Petraeus’ report,” said Shriver. “We knew that report would be coming out and that Congress would be voting for funding for the war. We wanted to put pressure on McCaskill to not fund the war unless there was a decision from the Bush administration to bring the troops.”

Shriver noted that McCaskill, while having expressed opposition to the war, “has been voting along with Bush’s plan.” The Coalition intends to pressure McCaskill to halt funding for the war and to reallocate funds toward domestic concerns.

On Monday night, the Washington University Peace & Justice Coalition gathered a number of undergraduate students to participate in Peace Week. University students will try to hold a presence outside the senator’s office

“We’re trying to meet up with students with Saint Louis University, and have a contingent of Wash. U. students overnight at McCaskill’s office on Thursday,” said Todd Zimmer, a sophomore and member of the Peace & Justice Coalition.

On Tuesday, the Instead of War Coalition held an ice cream social for members of the St. Louis community living near McCaskill’s office to spread awareness about the war in Iraq and McCaskill’s policies concerning it.

“The ice cream social [was] aimed at engaging members of the community living close to McCaskill’s office to inform them,” noted Zimmer.

Thursday will see a critical mass bike ride, or Pedal for Peace, where individuals will bicycle through St. Louis, from McCaskill’s office to a forum focused on single-payer healthcare as well as the war’s effects on healthcare funding. Pedal for Peace, noted Shriver, will serve as a symbolic movement from funding of the war to an emphasis on domestic issues.

We’re going to ask how much healthcare we could buy [with Bush's money on the war],” said Zimmer.

While Shriver gauged a positive response from passersbys on Monday, he expressed uncertainty over how much voter pressure on McCaskill would be needed for the senator to respond to calls for the de-funding of the war.

“It’s tough to call,” he said. “About McCaskill’s response, I’m not sure. I’m not sure what it’ll take.”

On Monday, Zimmer expressed optimism about Peace Week, adding that the event would be reflective of antiwar rallies and demonstrations.

“I think that we’re looking forward to it because it’s early in the year and it’s a good opportunity to have Wash. U. students interested in this to have the resources that St. Louis has to offer,” said Zimmer. “It’s also taking part in the national response of the peace movement.”

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