About six hours prior to the U.S. attack on Iraq, members of the newly organized Teachers and Students for Peace group lined Allen Street yesterday to protest Rep. Bill Clinger's support for military action in the Persian Gulf.

Despite the dreary weather, an estimated 60 people, mostly English department graduate students, gathered outside of Clinger's office in the Allenway building, 315 Allen St., to deliver letters of protest.

The letters stated in part that "War with Iraq will be a moral, economic, political, diplomatic and ecological catastrophe."

"Something had to be done," said John Antinori, an English department lecturer and co-organizer of the protest. Antinori said the group targeted Clinger because members believe he betrayed his constituents by voting for war.

However, Patrick C. Conway, district representative for Clinger, said Clinger voted for the resolution because he regards the threat of war as the best way to pursue peace.

"The congressman didn't come to his decision lightly," Conway added.

The group also submitted a letter requesting a meeting with Clinger to discuss the Persian Gulf military action policy. Groups of four or five at a time walked to Clinger's office with either the form letter or their own in hand.

Clinger's representatives accepted the protest letters and faxed one to Clinger in Washington, D.C.

The anti-war protests have had the largest local response on any issue in the last few years, Conway said.

Conway said he doubts that the Teachers and Students for Peace will be able to meet with Clinger because the congressman is in Washington, D.C., and does not plan to return soon due to the gulf crisis.

Brian Avery (graduate-English) held a sign that stated "Wage Peace" and "Just Say NO to War." Avery said that Clinger should not have voted for military action.

"Quite a few people are against the war. He should have followed his constituency," he said.

Luis Escobar (graduate-political science) has a personal reason to protest Clinger's vote -- his brother is with the 101 Airborne in the gulf and Escobar wants him to come home safely.

"I feel personally threatened," he said. "My brother is the most precious thing in the world to me. This has really made me doubt democracy."

Escobar said he is upset because he believes Clinger helped Bush violate the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to declare war.