Saddam Hussein is out and crowds of Iraqis are shown on television welcoming American soldiers as liberators, but that hasn’t changed the opinions of Lawrence antiwar demonstrators.

“Saddam was an evil man, but the way we went about it was wrong,” said Alyce Maher, 55, Lawrence. “One coalition soldier’s life is too many.”

Maher was one of about 400 people who Saturday morning marched down Massachusetts Street, calling for an end to what they said was needless bloodshed in Iraq.

The number of demonstrators was considerably less than the more than 1,300 people who marched downtown in February before the war started, but the enthusiasm for their cause still was evident Saturday.

Marchers carried numerous signs; “Power to the Peaceful” and “Bush can kiss my liberal butt” were among their messages.

Yet many of the marchers, such as Jean Hershey, 57, who 30 years ago worked in Vietnam as a nurse with Vietnam Christian Services, emphasized that while she opposed the war she still supported the troops.

“I agree with the objectives, but I’m convinced that war is not the answer,” Hershey, of Lawrence, said.

Some of the marchers were skeptical or disbelieving of television scenes showing Iraqis welcoming American troops with cheers and handshakes.

“The CIA paid those people,” said Mel Smith, 58, Lawrence. “We killed way more people than the terrorists did in 9-11.”

William Willmott, 17, Lawrence, said he didn’t think the entire story about the war was being told.

“I think the media’s interpretation of how the war is going is not correct,” he said.

Lawrence Protesters march from Buford M. Watson Jr. Park to the county courthouse along Massachusetts Street. About 200 protesters participated in the march against the war in Iraq.

In agreement was Paula Schumacher, 41, Lawrence, who marched carrying a sign that said “Stop us before we kill again.”

“You have to put it into perspective,” Schumacher said of media reports. “It’s just propaganda.”

Allan Hanson, who has helped organize the marches and peace rallies for Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, said he was fearful that U.S. leaders now would target other countries.

“To us, war to change another country’s policies is just dismaying,” Hanson said. “I hope this is not the beginning of something against Syria and Iran.”

Later, at the end of the march during a rally at the gazebo in South Park that included speeches and music, Hanson reiterated his fears and urged those in the crowd to be vigilant in keeping an eye on the federal government.

During the South Park rally, Chantel Cherie, a member of the Lawrence Anti-Imperialists and a self-proclaimed anarchist, said she was upset about the deaths of Iraqi civilians.

“How can anyone celebrate when winning means so much death?” she said.

Paul Fairchild, speaking for the Coalition for Peace and Justice, called the war on Iraq immoral.

“We have to give up the nonsense that patriotism is something that comes out of the end of a gun,” he said.