As the conflict in Iraq continues, demonstrations for and against coalition efforts will take place in Ames this week.

There will be a demonstration in support of American troops at 5 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Lincoln Way and Welch Avenue.

J. David Sprau, vice chairman of the ISU College Republicans, said the rally will provide passersby with another view on the war.

“We just want our troops to succeed and get home safely, as quickly as possible, and to enjoy the fruits of their labors,” he said.

Sprau said he believes people who support American troops outnumber anti-war demonstrators.

“Its just as important for us to get out and express our opinions,” he said. “I think a lot of others share our opinions; there are a lot of people who really stand behind our soldiers and military personnel, we just aren’t hearing their voices.”

Josh Reicks, executive director of the ISU College Republicans, agreed. He said support for American troops is not represented equally with anti-war demonstrations in the media.

“It’s always a better story to show people that are anti-war than people that support the troops,” he said. “We just want to let the troops know we’re behind them and that we support what President Bush is doing.”

Alternatively, a Time For Peace demonstration called Books Not Bombs will rally those who believe money should be spent on education rather than the war effort. Books Not Bombs will take place Thursday at noon, south of the Campanile.

Kelly Lao, member of Time for Peace, an organization formed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, said there will be a number of short speeches, poetry, music and street theater performances and ISU carilloneur Tin-Shi Tam will play songs of peace.

Matt Denner, Time for Peace member, said the event will highlight how the war effort affects education and other social services.

“We feel that as tax breaks are being proposed at the same time as further funding for war is proposed, we will see the amount of money given to all social services, including education, being deprived of funding,” he said. “We want to make sure that students, community members, families and all citizens will really understand the results of this war at home and abroad. Beyond the simple loss of life and violence, there will very likely be a loss of services in this country.”

Lao said spending money to educate students should be more important than spending money on bombs.

“For every bomb made, people are going without any type of education or even food,” she said. “There’s other more important things than military machinery.”

Lao said Time for Peace “honors diversity in opinion” and welcomes people with differing viewpoints on the war to come to the event.