Pasadena CA
Members of the Pasadena Iraq Moratorium conducted a vigil on Lake Avenue at the 210 freeway -- one of the busiest streets in Pasadena -- on August 15 for the Iraq Moratorium. In addition to focusing attention on the on-going death and suffering of the Iraqi people and US soldiers, the group also highlighted the high cost of the war and occupation -- a cause of our current economic downturn; and also highlighted the relationship between high oil use, war, and global warming. Motorists waved and honked their horns in support -- sometimes 4, 5 and more cars were honking at the same time, and a number of pedestrians joined the vigil.
Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Maryland
We were back at the Takoma Metro this month. It was August in the DC
area, so we didn't have a lot of folks, but there was some new blood, and good
spirit, and we passed out hundreds of copies of our great new leaflet.
Detroit
For the August Moratorium, 11th Hour for Peace sent out a mailing, encouraging people to write letters to the editor, questioning recent calls to expand military efforts in Afghanistan. Sample letters were included.
New York City
THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE: CONFRONTING THE UNSPEAKABLE, SUPPORTED BY THE UNCONSCIONABLE, ONE PHONE CALL AT A TIME: House Congressional Resolution 362 - sponsored by Rep. Ackerman and co-sponsored by NYC Reps. Towns, Fossella, Weiner, Maloney, & Engel - evokes disappointment, fury, and phone calls from constituents.
Let the word go forth: the good people of New York City aren't one bit happy with the language and intent of this nasty piece of business*. On Thursday, August 7, several Grannies, CodePink women and members of Brooklyn for Peace set up shop at Brooklyn Borough Hall to sound the alarm and ask constituents to call their representatives and the response was so terrific, we went back for an encore on August 15th. Once again, Brooklyn welcomed us. Calls were made, conversations were started, voters were registered,and here are a few of the moments we'll certainly remember:
On the 15th, Iraq Moratorium day, our first call is made by that Politically Endangered Species, a man in a suit! As faithful followers of the phone-a-thoners may recollect, this is not our strongest constituent base and we hope this is the start of a trend.
Two women from Yvette Clark's district, giddy with excitement when they discovered 'their girl' missing from the Wall of Shame. "You just tell her we love her to bits and we're proud of her," they tell her office.
A man shakes his head over Rep.Towns' support of H. Con. Res.362. "The man came to my church," he says. "He seemed like such a good man. What's happening here?" We wonder the same thing.
A young couple, just married in Borough Hall, pose for their wedding portraits right near our table. We offer them our congratulations, Granny buttons and we register the bride…to vote!
A young mom from Anthony Weiner's district drops by. Her small son has autism and it is a full-time job getting him the support he needs. She calls Weiner's office, tells the staffer she wants to register her distress at the congressman's support of H. Con. Res. 362, and wants to see him front-burner domestic issues for 'real people'. The office hangs up on her. Note to Rep. Weiner: you've got one very angry constituent on your hands — and she is not about to keep quiet.
We are told that Rep. Edolphus Towns and members of his staff were covertly checking out our table. If indeed this was the case, we sure are disappointed he didn't want to engage us in some discussion.
Next Tuesday at 10AM we'll be rallying at the Times Square Recruitment Center for a press conference and then marching to the Democratic National Committee headquarters here in NYC to present our peace planks for the national platform. Come and join us! And stay tuned — we'll be coming to a neighborhood near you!
- Fran Sears with Phyllis, Caroline & Joan P
- photos (coming) by Eva-Lee Baird
Cornwall, CT
Wow! Moratorium Day #12 was our biggest event yet in Cornwall. As many as 150 people took part in our Peace Fest at one point or another through the evening, despite prolonged, heavy rain which lifted only at starting time. The Peace Fest started out with a potluck supper in the pavilion at the town's public Foote Field. After the feast was underway, a triple header of local bands took the floor.
First up was the well-named Homegrown Band, Cornwall residents all, a bluegrass outfit that plays for area dances. For most of their set, ace fiddler Rachel Gall laid down her instrument and instead tried her hand at calling figures for contra dancers. A slew of couples ranging in age from about five to about seventy five followed her instructions-- or at least tried to--through some basic figures. Observers had almost as much fun as dancers.
Next came the Berkshire Stompers Brass Band, a marching band-style ensemble pulled together by Moratorium regular, Charlie Keil. Their 8 person line up included 6 horn players and 3 percussionists (Yes, we can count: the remarkable Holley Tierney played trumpet AND knocked out the rhythm with steel-soled tap shoes.) The band played intricate riff-based tunes to accompany chants like "Peace Is The Answer/No More War", while the crowd joined in. (Watch the video above.) (Video coming soon.) A special treat, Karl Saliter suddenly appeared during the last number juggling torches!
The last set was the stunningly talented trio, lespecial, young avant-rockers whose presence drew a large audience of local young'ns to their first Iraq Moratorium event. Lespecial was soon joined by folks from the previous bands and musically-minded friends for tunes that morphed into loud, powerful jams, closing out a great eventing.
The rain-defying turnout was no doubt helped by the fact that we got announcements on four area radio stations. While music ruled the evening, there were short talks about the Iraq Moratorium between sets. Despite a bit of disorganization around staffing a literature table and going through the crowd with clipboards, a score of newcomers signed the pledge, asking to be notified of future events. Well over $100 was collected for the national Moratorium clearing house, $40 of of it from an impomptu buck a ticket raffle of a one-of-a-kind lespecial t-shirt, donated by the band on the spot.
Hayward, WI
Ages ranging from a few weeks old to over 75 made up the nearly 30 diligent anti-war protesters rallied on the usual corner this past Moratorium event from 4-6 PM. We had new “Take the Pledge” flyers complete with the new logo to hand out to passer-bys. Two of those gathered took a hand-full of flyers and walked down busy Main Street talking and sharing with tourists while a prominent local business owner stopped by with two boxes of cookies for us as a treat. There were new signs voicing “Health Care Not Warfare.” This event is sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 and we are anticipating a good turnout for next month’s Moratorium anniversary
LaCrosse WI
Again just two of us, Will and I, at the Moratorium at Cass Street bridge. We depart the northern climes in November, so there will be an activist moratorium for this event through October ... upon our return in April we shall see what has occurred during our absence:-)
We had our 12th Iraq Moratorium Vigil outside the Post Office where our Congressional representative, Jack Kingston (R-1) has an office. Had more folks this time. Humidity was 70 % plus......
The Northland Anti-War Coalition held a spirited picket from 4:30-5:30pm in Duluth's busy Canal Park tourist district. We held signs demanding "Bringthe Troops Home Now!" and handed out fliers highlighting how much the war in Iraq is costing, and what that money would buy if it were put towards providinghealth care, or other social services.
Here's the report from Berkeley vigil at University and Acton for IM #12: Twenty seniors from Strawberry Creek Lodge and the Gray Panthers gathered to demand 1) an end to the occupation and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2) that we bring our troops home now, and 3) no attack on Iran. We had music, drums and good comraderie. We look forward to our one-year birthday on September 19.
Waupaca had its first Iraq Moratorium action this month, a short vigil with signs and a banner on the square in the heart of downtown. The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which has nurtured and spread the Moratorium in Wisconsin, was holding its board meeting Friday in nearby Amherst. So a handful of "outside agitators" on their way to the meeting teamed up with a few members of Waupaca's People for Peace. Responses were generally friendly, although this is one of the state's most conservative counties. One family, a couple and child on their bikes, stopped to say that the father was headed for Iraq soon, but they were appreciative of our efforts. People for Peace is discussing moving its monthly action to the Third Friday to join those marking the Iraq Moratorium across the country. We're hoping they'll begin that next month.
Milwaukee, WIThe People for Peace in Rice Lake held their first Iraq Moratorium event this afternoon from 4-6 pm. Just over 20 spirited activists gathered at the corner of Knapp and Main streets in the center boulevard among the petunias to wave at passing motorists and to demand an end to the war in Iraq. Unfortunately our photographer did not show, but we'll have two next month so that we have a back-up.
We were pleasantly surprised when a couple of young people pulled up next to the curb in a Jeep and handed us a bag filled with cans of soda pop and bottled water. Said the young woman behind the wheel, "We can't join you today but it looks like it's hot out here. We got you all something to drink!"
A couple of young men also came by and expressed interest in helping to organize next months event. It was a great start and we look forward to expanding our numbers next month!
Milwaukee's 3rd Friday rally and vigil was very well-received, again. Lots of horn-honking, friendly waves and "V" peace signs. One of this month's highlights was "Puppy for Peace."
