Paris terrorist attacks change protest, rally lines

Thoughts of Paris lingered on the minds and lips of many gathered outside Drake's Sheslow Auditorium in the hours before the Democratic debate.

Martin O’Malley supporters and a few issues-based groups could be found outside the debate hall.

Fans of Bernie Sanders rallied near the Varsity Theater a block away. Hillary Clinton’s team did not hold an organized rally in deference to the attacks.

“We had a meeting between me, the O’Malley camp and the Clinton camp and (decided) we weren’t going to do the traditional sign war, out of respect for what happened in Paris,” said Robert Becker, state director for the Sanders campaign.

Dozens of O’Malley fans, some wrapped in Christmas lights, sounded bells, shouted chants and hoisted signs near the debate entrance. O’Malley made a surprise appearance on the street to pump up the rally less than two hours before the debate began.

Several people wearing Clinton T-shirts stood quietly near the entrance.

“We want to pay respect to Paris and stand in solidarity,” Clinton supporter Darol Gibson said.

The biggest cohort of identifiable non-Democrats showed up to support Republican candidate Ben Carson.

Roughly 15 millennials with the “Win Ben Win" Super PAC stood across the street from Sheslow Auditorium. They remained mostly quiet, but held signs supporting the Republican presidential candidate.

Other advocates showed up touting key issues, while claiming a nonpartisan stance.

Several people held signs about climate change. The Save the Children Federation was represented a couple dozen people, including children. Many marched, hoisting oversized foam fingers in the air.

A peace group spoke against military spending, holding a large sign that read “the World Still says no to war.”

They said attacks in Paris do not change their request for the government to cut military spending. And they expect presidential candidates to address the issue.

“We’ve been lifting up this message of peace even before the attacks in Paris,” said Erika McCroskey, director of the Catholic Peace Ministry in Des Moines. “What do our priorities say about us as a nation? Just follow the money (on military spending).”