But Harvard employee Joe Lourenco said he felt force was an appropriate response to the terrorist atacks.
“They killed enough of our civilians—We should end the terrorism now because if [we] don’t it could go on forever,” he said.
Many Harvard students chose not to attend the rally because they disagreed with its message.
Aleia J. Crum ’05 described war as “part of a natural process.”
“In a time of crisis, even though it’s painful to see innocent people dying, you have to see the big picture and we have to put a foot down for what we believe,” she said.
HIPJ organizer David Jenkins ’03 said he was “very pleased” with the rally’s turnout.
“I thought the speakers characterized the points of the rally well and definitely spoke eloquently,” he said.
“It’s OK to be scared, it’s even OK to be angry, but it’s not OK to lash out violently as a result of those emotions, it’s not OK to target groups of people, it’s not OK to accept ‘collateral damage’ of the lives of innocent people for a retaliation against terrorism,” he said.
In addition to yesterday afternoon’s rally in the Yard, another demonstration for peace took place last night that drew hundreds of community members to Harvard Square.