Eight Austin's residents will join thousands across the country for a peace rally in Washington D. C. this weekend.

The national march calls for no war in Iraq and to eliminate U.S. weapons of mass destruction.

St. Olaf Rev. Karl Dalager and his son Jacob, learned of the opportunity while at a used-book store in Rochester.

"I saw a poster with the information," Jacob said.

The 15-year-old high school student said he feels it's the people's responsibility to tell the government when they do not agree or want something to occur.

The group will ride for 22 hours on one of two buses leaving from Rochester.

"We all have different reasons and stands. Some are pacifists and others are not, but we all want to stop a war," Dalager said.

Dalager said the reasons for the war have not been convincing enough for him.

"If we have this war, we will not have one bin Laden as an enemy but 10,000 more," he said.

With this rally the group is trying to give a voice for many who do not want a war but are not saying anything, Dalager said.

If the government realizes that the people do not want a war, then there will be no war, he explained.

When the reverend first called the number on the poster, he said that there were only 10 people signed up, and now there is about 100 people from the Rochester area going.

Joining the reverend will be his daughter Anna, 17, and friends Maria Isabel Arias, her husband Miguel Osio, and their children Judith and Jose Miguel.

"We are going because of our convictions, our principals. We want help create a world that is much more just and peaceful," Miguel Osio said.

Originally from Latin America, Miguel and Maria Isabel said they have participated in peace rallies before.

"We are in favor of life and not death. A world of peace and not of war," Maria Isabel said.

For the Osio family, it does not matter where they are, here or in Latin America, they will always advocate peace.

The group departed Friday morning, and will return Sunday. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. on the West Side of the Capitol in the Washington D.C. Navy Yard.

For people interested in expressing their opinion on the involvement with Iraq, they can call the Bush Administration at 1-202-456-1111 and register their opinion.

Rural Austin farmer Dwight Ault called the telephone number and registered his opinion.

"I spoke to a real human being and didn't get a recording," Ault said.

Calls should be made 9 a.m. to 4 pm. Eastern Standard Time Monday through Friday.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com