Indianapolis— Undeterred by a winter storm that battered the state with several inches of snow and brutally cold winds, Hoosier peacemakers gathered Saturday, Feb. 15, in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, Lafayette, Fort Wayne and South Bend as part of a worldwide show of support for diplomacy in dealing with Iraq.
The weather may have kept the numbers down, but the enthusiasm, passion and creativity of participants was irrepressible. Signs read: "Preemptive War is Terrorism!"; "Those who Question the Right to Question are anti-American" and "How Many Lives to the Gallon?"
In solidarity with the United For Peace and Justice rally in New York City and the 10 -15 million antiwar protesters around the world, on every continent -- the largest day of protest in history. Audio/video coverage by Public Access of Indianapolis.
"You do not prevent war by initiating war."
Andy Jacobs, Jr
Korean War Veteran
Former U.S. Congressman
Jeanette Wallis (left), stopping in Indianapolis in her 2,700 mile cross-country "Walk for Democracy" addresses the cheering crowd of war protesters during the Peace Rally on February 15, 2003. Wallis, who is collecting grievances along her trek that she plans to present to the President, explains, "Peace is the practice of nonviolent direct action."
The weather may have kept the numbers down, but the enthusiasm, passion and creativity of participants was irrepressible. Signs read: "Preemptive War is Terrorism!"; "Those who Question the Right to Question are anti-American" and "How Many Lives to the Gallon?"
"It's hard to stay out here," Harold Donle said as he stamped his feet and surveyed the crowd. "If the weather had held out, we'd have had three times this many people." Donle, a twice-wounded Vietnam vet, was part of a large group of Veterans for Peace, whose chapter president addressed respectful remarks to the Commander in Chief. "We understand military power and its uses," said Joe Farah, a Cold War vet. "Your path is a 'March to Folly.'"
Farah and other vets spoke of the tremendous loss of life to be expected in the event of war as well as the use of depleted uranium munitions that would turn Baghdad, a city of 6 million, into a nuclear wasteland. "Thirty-six percent of the Iraqi people are under the age of 18," said one vet. "This is a war against children."
In a powerful moment, Farah and other vets led the crowd in "Veterans Anti-War Marching Cadences," which vets had used in the January anti-war march in Washington, D.C.
Lines of the cadences included:
"We Don't Want Another War
Peace Is What We're Marchin' For!"
and
"If They Tell You, You Must Go
There's One More Thing You Should Know
They'll Wave the Flag When You Attack
When You Come Home They Turn Their Back!"
Korean War vet and former U.S. Representative Andy Jacobs asked if George Orwell was alive and well in the Bush Administration. "I'm hearing a lot of NewSpeak," he said. He also railed against "the war wimps" in the administration who have never served in the armed forces yet who eagerly send young men and women from the working classes to die.
Emcee Charlie Wiles, from the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, asked all protesters to "about face" and witness the arrival of a "pilgrim for peace," Jeanette Wallis, who left Seattle on foot in April 2001 and is walking to Washington, D.C., collecting grievances that she hopes to present to the President. Visibly moved by the warm Hoosier welcome, Wallis said she's used to being ignored in her 2,700-mile trek. "I can't believe it. I've never had this kind of welcome," she told the cheering crowd. "When you speak up against the war, people expect you to be an expert on foreign policy," she said. "But you don't have to be an expert, you can just be yourself. Peace is the practice of nonviolent direct action."
Hoosier Peacemakers had a busy week preceding Saturday's events. Poetry readings were held in Bloomington, Nashville, Indianapolis and South Bend on Feb. 12 to protest First Lady Laura Bush's cancellation of a poetry conference at the White House for fear that it would be politicized by the poets.
Bloomington activists hosted a benefit for the children of Iraq, and South Bend residents, taking a nod from Bloomington and Gary, are seeking to make their home the third Hoosier city to pass a resolution condemning a pre-emptive strike on Iraq.
Evansville's June 1st Peace Coalition voted support for War Tax Resistance (nwtrcc.org) and those who take part in it by withholding federal excise tax on telephone bills or placing a token amount of their income tax into an escrow account for a worthy cause such as education. The group is also promoting a plan in which participants refuse to drive an automobile one day a week to deprive the federal government and oil companies of tax revenues.
Since coverage of the peace movement by corporate media is inadequate, some peacemakers in Richmond, Columbus, Elkhart and Indianapolis have purchased large ads in daily papers to outline widespread opposition to pre-emptive war.
In the event of a U.S. attack on Iraq, peacemakers are making plans for additional protests:
Indianapolis: IndyIraqAction urges people to gather at Monument Circle at 5 p.m. the day of the attack (or the day after a nighttime attack).
Richmond: Richmond Peaceful Response will hold a rally outside Rep. Mike Pence's office (Richmond City Building) at 5 p.m. on the day of attack (or the day after a nighttime attack).
South Bend: The Michiana Peace Coalition invites all students, faculty, staff and community members, no matter what their opinion of the war, to meet at the flag pole on the South Quad of the Notre Dame campus at 11 p.m. in the event of an attack, to stand in solidarity with both the people of Iraq and the American troops. This is meant to be a chance for people to gather solemnly to recognize the inevitable deaths that accompany war and to pray together. Once gathered, there will be a procession to the Grotto.
Thomas P. Healy is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer and publisher of Branches Magazine. This article was first published at in the Bloomington Alternative.
Indianapolis Rally Sponsor:
Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center
Phone: (317) 920-1510 or 317-926-4318
