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Reflections On DC Peace Protest: The Glamorous Life Of An Anti-War Protestor |
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by Meridith
Email: bmmk (nospam) soltec.net (unverified!) |
20 Jan 2003
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Friday morning I awake before dawn. In the dark I struggle to find the light, turn off the alarm, and pack together some final necessities - extra long underwear, some snack bars, and my sleeping bag.
Then the thirteen-hour drive to DC began. The roads were mostly clear, with only short patches of snow and ice at nighttime through the mountains of West Virginia. When we arrived at the Church Mildred, a grandmother who was also caring for her grandchildren that night, made sure we all had warm spots to sleep on carpeted floors or gymnastics mats and nourished us with complementary food and drink. It seemed important for her to let us know that members of mainline churches were vehemently opposed to the war and wanted to physically support those of us who would take to the streets to protest the next day. |
Friday morning I awake before dawn. In the dark I struggle to find the light, turn off the alarm, and pack together some final necessities - extra long underwear, some snack bars, and my sleeping bag.
A week before, as a group of us sat folding anti-war Martin Luther King letters to send to local churches, I made the decision to help drive a van of protestors out to DC. I knew that being part of the demonstration in DC would be important but also realized that the actual planning and travel itself would provide great meaning and purpose.
In the weeks leading up to the trip Charlotte Green demonstrated true brilliance. She reserved the vans, coordinated the travelers, charted the route, worried about the weather, reserved space for us all to sleep at a church in Maryland, and did so much more. The day of departure finally arrived and we were sent off with a musical tribute from Paul, cheers from community members, and bags of food prepared for the trip.
Then the thirteen-hour drive to DC began. The roads were mostly clear, with only short patches of snow and ice at nighttime through the mountains of West Virginia. When we arrived at the Church Mildred, a grandmother who was also caring for her grandchildren that night, made sure we all had warm spots to sleep on carpeted floors or gymnastics mats and nourished us with complementary food and drink. It seemed important for her to let us know that members of mainline churches were vehemently opposed to the war and wanted to physically support those of us who would take to the streets to protest the next day.
Saturday we woke early to pack our things and head out for a warm breakfast. We took the Metro into Union Station. Several people on the train voiced support for our actions and said they would have joined us if they didn't have to go to work. Walking to the Mall I sensed the capitol being transformed. Peacemakers joined hands and formed a circle in a moment of reflection in a nearby park, members of Women in Black gathered along a side street and thousands of people carrying hand-made signs streamed into the Mall while thousands more arrived by bus.
It was hard to get an overall sense of the crowd when we first arrived on the Mall. People stood shoulder to shoulder listening and responding to the speakers. It was very cold and to stay warm we shared hand warmers walked around the edges of the crowd. Farther down the Mall groups spread out and danced to drum rhythms, looked at artwork, shared leaflets, and listened to the presentation on loud speakers. People climbed trees and light posts to take photographs and locate friends. A man dressed as Uncle Sam danced on stilts as chants and cheers from the crowd reverberated from the thousands in attendance.
After the speakers the march to the Navy Yard began. We were lucky enough to be near activists from the Philippines and Korea who wore brightly colored clothing and played amazing drums rhythms. For the first hour we were literally dancing down the street instead of marching, voicing opposition to the US war machine in Iraq and all over the world. There was a large Veterans presence including Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace. At one point the veterans stopped and stood at the side of the street to greet protestors as they passed. Other creative contingents included a "Glam not War" group who wore shimmering gold pants, pink faux fur coats, and flamboyant hats while holding signs rimmed with feather boas and satin fringe that stated "Activists Make Better Lovers," "I am the Bomb," and "Peace is not a Fringe movement." One protestor dressed as a polar bear and carried a sign "Alaska for Peace." The march was massive, estimates range from 30,000 to 500,000 - with many independent observers stating 200,000 as a number. Since our banner read "Central Illinois Says No to War" many people stopped and congratulated us for work and for making the long trip.
My mood fluctuated throughout the march. I drew energy from the many beautiful images. One banner for peace was stitched in gold and purple thread and shone in the sunlight. Shadows of protestors dancing in the streets reflected an image of resistance against the cold hard concrete. I was drawn to remember my purpose for being at the march by a group of protestors, dressed completely in black, who wore masks depicting emotions of sorrow and suffering. In their arms they carried cloth dolls, bloodied to represent the dead and maimed children and adult casualties of war. The expressions were haunting and permeated me - at this very moment mothers all over the world are crying in desperation as they care for the wounded and dying. Although they were not physically present I felt the spirit of those who are suffering with me at that moment.
There are so many voices that need to be heard. In some ways it saddens me that hundreds of thousands of people will turn out to protest a war on Iraq but remain silent about the war against the poor in our own neighborhoods. We should not be going to war on Iraq - but stopping that war is only the beginning. My hope is that in threatening war on Iraq George Bush, in his infinite stupidity, will actually have sparked something brilliant- a vibrant and diverse movement for peace and social justice. Towards that end I savor and appreciate each act, no matter how small, that helps build and support our community as we engage in the challenges of sustaining and growing this movement. Many are counting on our action and courage.
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