Carrying signs with messages such as "Stop Mad Cowboy Disease," about 800 to 1,000 anti-war activists gathered yesterday at a walkout for a peaceful resolution to the Iraq conflict.

The protest at Old Main was followed by a march to the Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., to present the State College Borough Council with a petition urging the council to pass an anti-war resolution.

"We are part of a large national movement to say that the U.S., the people, don't agree with war," said Sacha Brown, member of The Streets Project, one of the groups that sponsored the protest.

Organizers estimated about 1,000 people participated in the rally in front of Old Main. The State College Police Department estimated that about 300 people continued to the front of the Municipal Building.

Protest organizer Roger Stahl (graduate-speech communication) presented the anti-war petition to Mayor Bill Welch, who received it on behalf of the council. Welch said he was unsure of what the council would do with the letter.

The two-hour-long event featured student, faculty and community speakers who spoke in opposition to potential U.S. military action in the Middle East.

The first speaker, the Rev. David Miller, a Mennonite minister, told the crowd what he thought was the cause of the conflict. "This present crisis with Iraq is a result of a failed policy of a superpower," he said.

He invited the crowd to pray for wisdom in dealing with Iraq.

Dora McQuaid, a communication arts and sciences lecturer and local activist, told the crowd they could not stay silent.

"I don't know all the answers. ... I have been told I am too confrontational. But I would rather be called too confrontational than too silent," she said.

Scott Morris (graduate-language and literacy) caused the crowd to become more vocal.

"The [U.S. government] says some human lives matter. We say all human lives matter," he said.

The crowd then broke into a chant of, "The people united will never be defeated."

Lawrence Young, director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, said he believed people needed to be heard.

"I believe that we are being lied to, and it is time for the truth to be known," he said.

At 1 p.m., the protesters marched toward the Municipal Building, where they presented the anti-war petition. The petition also included the group's opposition to the USA Patriot Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks, granting the government increased surveillance power, which some have said goes against civil liberties.

State College police directed the protesters across College Avenue and helped maintain order.

Though the majority of people at the protest were against military action, two groups organized in support of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Sean Clark, chairman of Penn State Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) helped organize the counter-protest, which attracted about 20 students.

"There are two sides to every debate," Clark (senior-political science) said. "We are here to show that the anti-war does not have a monopoly on activism."

Kevin Andrews (freshman-crime, law and justice), a member of YAF, said he was there to support the troops.

"Us being here, showing a little presence, is better than not showing a presence at all," he said.

Members of Penn State College Republicans also participated in the counter-protest.

The Rev. Stephen Honeygosky, director of the Penn State Catholic community, said conservatives could be for peace as well.

Morris, one of the peace speakers, was optimistic about the effects of the protest.

"When you have 1,000 people coming downtown, that's one way we as people can invent the future," he said.