Here you go, smartie. 2 accounts from 2 different papers.

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Six counties in 60 seconds
Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Ill.: Oct 3, 2002. pg. 8

300 attend rally against Iraq war:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson called on the Bush administration Wednesday to "lead the world, not rule it" at a downtown rally protesting plans for war against Iraq. State Sen. Barak Obama, a Chicago Democrat; the Rev. Paul Rutgers, chairman of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago; and former state Sen. Jesus Garcia of Chicago, among others, joined Jackson in urging the federal government to avoid a military strike against Iraq. "While we're looking at Saddam Hussein, we're taking attention away from our economic problems," Jackson said, pointing to the recent stock market plunge and the $2 billion national deficit. Obama, along with several of the speakers, acknowledged the necessity of war in some cases, but only as a last resort. "I don't oppose all war; I oppose dumb war," Obama said. He also said a war in Iraq based on passion and politics would provoke the worst impulses of the Arab world. Police estimated 300 people attended the event.

- Greg Bryant and Jane B. Vaughn, Medill News Service

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War With Iraq Undermines U.N.
Chinta Strausberg. Chicago Defender. Chicago, Ill.: Oct 3, 2002. pg. 1

Nearly 3,000 people attended an anti-Iraq war rally Wednesday where the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D-13th) warned the Bush administration that a war against Iraq undermines U.N. protocol.

Held at the Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn, the anti-war protesters urged Congress not to give Bush "a blank check" to declare war on Iraq. It is a war federal officials admit will cost U.S. taxpayers more than $9 billion a month to wage.

The rally, one of many scheduled through November, comes on the heels of Bush and House leaders agreeing on a resolution on how to deal with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein "diplomatically if we can, militarily if we must."

Bush said the U.S. may not be able to avoid a war and former President Bill Clinton is urging the UN to "call Saddam Hussein's bluff" with tough new inspections demands.

Joining Jackson, who late Wednesday night spoke at Northwestern University kicking off a three-day tour around Illinois pushing voter registration, were former Illinois Senator Jesus Garcia, Rep. Julia Hamos (D-Evanston) and many others.

With less than five weeks before the Nov. 5th election, Jackson and other Democrats said voters will be watching the economic downturn that is costing U.S. income, security, trillions of dollars in deficit and about 2 million jobs and a drop in consumer confidence.

"Bush's idea of blessing an assassination is a very dangerous message to send around the world," Jackson told the Chicago Defender.

"The preemptive strike idea undermines the UN charter, which is the way to resolve conflict and reduce wars. There is no compelling reason to confront Iraq except oil, defense contracts and polls," said Jackson.

The protesters also read a letter from Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in support of the protest. The senator admitted he is facing one of the most difficult votes in his 20-year career -- whether to vote in favor or against war with Iraq.

"When the Senate votes this week on President Bush's resolution to wage war against Iraq with preemptive force, I will vote no," wrote Durbin.

"I do not believe the Bush administration has answered one simple question: Why now? Why now, when we have not given the United Nations ample time to prove their relevance in the international community by enforcing weapons inspections?

"Why now, when we do not have allies or a coalition behind us? Why now, when we are still engaged in a costly and time consuming nation building effort in Afghanistan?

"I think his motive is a diversion from the economic agenda. Over the past 2.5 years, we've lost 2.5 million jobs. We have corporate corruption that is abounding," Jackson said.

"We've gone from a $1.5 trillion surplus to a $2.5 billion deficit. The range of economic items are being lost like they are focusing on Saddam," warned Jackson.

He said Bush "does not deserve congressional support because he has not made a compelling case to fight a war."

Photograph (Protestors against war with Iraq)

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And since I can tell you're dying to see the full text, here you go:
http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php