The numbers speak for themselves: 4,191 Americans are dead, 30,774 Americans are severely wounded, 151,000 Iraqi civilians are war casualties, 655,000 Iraqis would not have died but for the illegal occupation of their country, and of course millions of Iraqis are refugees outside and inside their own country. We have never been a formally organized group in protest against the Iraq War here in Albert Lea so I am only writing for myself.

I see us suspending our protest at the corner of Bridge Avenue and Fountain Street each Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. Some have voiced a need to continue to protest at least once a month. I am not sure. One would think that in light of all the dead, wounded and billions spent on this war that many would join us. If anyone is interested in having a monthly presence to protest the war in Iraq, why don’t you e-mail me at lukejudemandel@gmail.com.

I set up this address specifically for this purpose. The names are the middle names of my three children, all of whom are military draft age.

Ted Hinnenkamp

Albert Lea