Protesters young and old rally the streets of Flagstaff in the Funk the War March on Saturday. The march started on south campus and ended at Flagstaff City Hall. - Chad Sexton/ The Lumberjack

On Saturday, Sept. 27, NAU students gathered behind the DuBois Center for a march on City Hall to protest war and promote peace.

Students congregated south of the business building on campus, bearing cardboard signs, plastic flowers and tie-dye shirts in preparation for a “Funk the War” peace march on City Hall. Organized by the Peace and Justice club, the march featured dancing as a peaceful way to protest.  Members of Peace and Justice, as well as other NAU students and Flagstaff residents, danced in the streets to funky beats on their way to City Hall.

Mia Kontnik, a sophomore undeclared major, was one of the chief organizers at the event and was happy with how easily the entire event came together.

“We did this last spring, so this time around we knew what we needed to do,” Kontnik said. “It’s really just about getting the idea out there. You need to get people out here and be energetic about your cause.”

Rather than parade into town as a hostile force, Peace and Justice chose a different theme for the march: dancing for protest.

“We’re going to gather and dance and celebrate peace,” Kontnik said. “Today is also Green Day, so it’s a chance for us to march in solidarity and promote green jobs. Also, it was recently National Peace Day and that’s our main cause.  We’re hoping people like us can bring an end to these horrible wars.”

Kontnik believed it was her duty to be a big part of the peace march, and the club even created a cardboard tank with flowers shoved into the gun to make their message clearer.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Kontnik said. “We’ve been in Iraq since 2003, and we’ve been in Afghanistan since 2001. Our economy is crashing, and it makes no sense to keep funding this war with American dollars and American lives. Our duty is to stand up and out against the loss of human lives.”

Katrina Taylor, a graduate political science major, agreed with Kontnik.

“I’m definitely against the war,” Taylor said, “and I like the theme of ‘Funk the War.’ It’s neat to put music in the protest.”

Peace and Justice screened musician Michael Franti’s film I Know I’m Not Alone later that night at 7 p.m.  in the Gardner Auditorium. Franti’s film explores the human cost of war.

“I’m also going to see Michael (Franti), (a) really politically-conscious activist, later tonight, and it’s interesting to compare his message with the message here,” Taylor said. “It’s about the human cost of war.”

A participant in Funk the War march on Saturday waves an American flag. The march started on south campus and ended at Flagstaff City Hall. - Chad Sexton/ The Lumberjack

Taylor said she was excited to be a part of the march, hoping that the march’s influences will bring the atrocities of war to the front burner, and that awareness will bring an end to the war.

“As with any demonstration, it’s about being aware, and keeping the topic on the political agenda,” Taylor said. “It’s important to have demonstrations. It shows that it’s not just one wacko that wants change; it’s a pervasive discourse. A lot of people don’t believe in what were doing, and we need to change that.”

Several members of Peace and Justice attended the march with  posters displaying simple messages in green and blue and pink: “Funk the War,” “Peace” and “No War.”

Matt Stagner, a freshman political science major, and fellow Peace and Justice member Chelsea Burden, a humanities major, both wore tie-dye shirts and held peaceful signs.

“We’re part of the NAU Peace and Justice club, and we’re here to promote peace,” Stagner said.

“We think it’s important for people’s voices to be heard,” Burden said. “Support peace.”

Other marchers chose more subtle ways to encourage peace. Judiah “Faldwin” Christy, a freshman elementary education major, frequents the tables outside the Union with a “free hugs” sign, offering hugs to any person walking by: students, children or teachers.  On Saturday, Faldwin decided to bring his message to the peace rally.

“Well I had this ‘free hugs’ sign, and I wanted somewhere to hold it,” Faldwin said. “It’s a kind of ‘hugs, no war’ thing.”