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Anti-war group raises funds for U.S. troops

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At 25 cents a cup, Bruce Clark would have to sell nearly 20,000 cups of lemonade to reach his goal: a suit of body armor for his son, a U.S. soldier in Iraq.

Clark, an Albuquerque resident, and members of the Iraq Summer Campaign staked out a corner at Copper Avenue and Fourth Street Northwest on Aug. 16 and sold a few hundred cups. They took in $53.19.

But the point wasn't really to raise money for body armor, which costs $4,800 a set, said organizer Greg Richardson. "We're trying to get people to think about the troops that are over there that aren't getting the support they need," he said.

The campaign, funded by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, is meant to pressure Congress to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible, Richardson said.

Clark said he had mixed feelings about the war when it started, but has come to oppose it.

He shook his head while describing how he felt when he learned his son was being deployed.

"I felt like the Earth was opening up and swallowing me," he said. "I can't watch the evening news any more. It's too frightening."

Most Downtown pedestrians ignored the group, but Rosa Barraza said she appreciated their activity.

"We owe the troops so much. We're able to do our everyday jobs because of them," she said. "I think (the protesters) should have charged more for the lemonade."

The money raised on Aug. 16 will be donated to Blue Star Mothers for toothpaste, food and other items for troops, Richardson said.