After Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait in August 1990, the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League passed resolutions giving Iraq a deadline of January 15, 1991 to leave Kuwait and authorizing military intervention if this did not occur. When Iraq did not withdraw, the United States and coalition forces from other countries began a heavy bombing campaign, codenamed Operation Desert Storm. As the deadline approached and war seemed inevitable, many people in Seattle and elsewhere called for peace, joined anti- or pro-war groups and took part in days of vigils and protests.

Here, on January 14, University of Washington students protest the war and face a police blockade on Interstate 5, at the north end of the Freeway Bridge.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, January 16, 1991.
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.

Note: There is some confusion as to the number of January 1991 freeway marches. The date “1/14/91” is inscribed on the verso of University of Washington march images. Accounts in The Seattle Times give January 14th as the date of the UW march, but also describe what may be a second march on January 15th. The inscribed date is used in this record.