Analysis:
This story is based on an anti-war march that was held in Grand Rapids on March 17. Channel 17 based this story on an interview with Congressman Ehlers and an ACTIVATE spokesperson on Sunday, March 18. The story is limited to what both Ehlers has to say and a few responses by one of the march organizers. Is it clear to readers of this story what prompted people to go to the Congressman's office? Does the reporter verify the claims made by the Congressman in the story? The reporter does cite a CNN poll and that the US House will vote soon on the war in Iraq. The ACTIVATE member also cites some statistics on what Iraqis think about the war, but the reporter does not verify the claim. The story ends with a mention about arrests made at the march, but no details are provided as to why arrests were made.
Story:
Reporter - The 4-year anniversary of the War in Iraq has spawned protests across the country, including several here in West Michigan. Saturday, the group "Activate" organized more than a hundred people to march to the home of Vern Ehlers in Grand Rapids. Ehlers has supported the war since the beginning. In 13 years as a congressman, this is the first time someone has protested in Ehlers' neighborhood. He stayed inside, but the activists came right up to his door and even taped a sign to the wall.
Congressman Ehlers - Isn't it great that people feel free to come and demonstrate in front of their congressman's house.
Reporter - Activate is a grassroots group made up mostly of college students. Lara Parsons was one of the rally organizers.
ACTIVATE member - We have tried letter-writing campaigns and other more suggestive methods," said Parsons. "And there hasn't been any response.
Reporter - Protestors want to show Ehlers that his constituents are against the war in Iraq.
Congressman Ehlers - Obviously the war is not popular, Americans want instantaneous results. They've never been content with long drawn-out things, we've seen that before.
Reporter - But nationally it's becoming more and more unpopular. According to a recent CNN poll, 21 percent said the U.S. should withdraw now, 37 percent said within a year and only 39 percent said we should stay as long as needed. The full House votes on its withdrawal plan next week.
Congressman Ehlers - A number of members of congress want us to pull out, which I think is stupid. We can't just abandon the Iraqis after we totally mess up their lives and their world. We have a moral obligation to straighten out the mess before we leave.
Repoerter - Opponents say we should leave before more lives are lost.
ACTIVATE member - We're not doing any better staying there, the longer it goes on the worse it gets, and 80 percent of Iraqis don't want us there any more and we should get out for that reason.
Grand Rapids Police arrested four people in the protest. One was a GVSU sociology professor.
