By Elaine Brower, 2/4/07
Tens of Thousands of anti-war activists
descended on Washington, D.C. last weekend to express our deep
commitment to ending the illegal occupation of Iraq, stop the
meaningless death of our military and end the killing of innocent
people in Iraq and to head off a war with Iran. All of us spent
thousands, if not a total of a million dollars to get to Washington.
People from all States, various organizations, and those who have never
attended a protest before came. An honest cross-section of this Nation
appeared to express how disgusted they were with the leadership of this
Country and the direction we are headed. It was truly a moving site,
and brought me to tears.
|
Pictures from http://aawnyc.org/:
|
Members of Iraq Veterans Against the
War, Veterans for Peace, Labor Against the War, Military Families Speak
Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, World Can’t Wait, Impeach Bush
Committee, 9/11 Truth, Christians Against the War, Palestinians for
Peace, Jews for Peace, Buddhists, Baptists and an entire assortment of
people who span the generations stood on the Mall for hours holding
signs, singing, yelling and listening in solidarity with every single
message given from the stage. News media outlets from every Country
were assembled on a platform, including a wonderful gentleman that
interviewed me from Al Jazeera. He asked me why I was here today and I
said “to Impeach Bush and Cheney for War Crimes and Crimes Against
Humanity. I want all people of this world to know we are here and want
the killing to stop.”
The message went to not
only our Country’s elected leaders, but to any one who may stand in the
way of this movement of the masses. On Sunday, much to my amazement,
there were hundreds of people still around attending workshops on so
many topics. Seminars on “How to Lobby your Congressperson”, “How to
perform non-violent Civil Disobedience”, “Why we should Impeach,” and
so many others were held in a local High School. These were serious
people who meant business. I was there with fellow citizens who gave up
their weekend of shopping, movies, family dinners and relaxation to
gobble up all the knowledge they could to enter the Halls of Congress
the next day and do battle with the people they had chosen to sit
across the table from. I called home and told my husband “This movement
is better than the 60’s. People that are here are savvy, span the
generations and come from all over the Country, and they really mean
business.” I was impressed.
Early Monday morning, I entered the
Congressional Building known as the “Rayburn” to see the Halls churning
with the same faces I had seen all weekend. Vermont, Oregon, Washington
State, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Florida
were all in the “House.” As well as many other States I may have missed
mentioning. For the first time in a while I thought “this just might
work.” It was exhilarating and exhausting all at once. Democracy at
work, that is what I was witnessing. This just might keep my Marine son
from going back to Iraq, for yet another tour of duty.
At noon
my friends arrived ready, willing and able to participate in calling
further attention to the death and destruction that the illegal war
with Iraq caused. Our destination was the “reflecting pool” in the
Atrium located right in the center of the Rayburn. We wanted to give a
boost to the courage and further inspire all those citizens who spent
thousands of dollars and so much of their time to visit with Congress
members. And we did not want anyone to forget the blood spilled by this
current Administration.
Entry into the Atrium was made with
the press following us. Many people in the building already knew that
we would be conducting a Memorial to “Endless War,” and started
gathering in the Atrium, and hallways of the building. Our 5 x 20 foot
black banner which read “WAR” in white letters was unfurled. Cards with
our message of “We Will Not Be Silent” adopted from the “White Rose”
underground student resistance movement in Nazi Germany along with
1,200 white roses were laid out in the Atrium to be tossed into the
reflecting pool. Seven of us participated in the action, 3 holding the
banner, 2 reading the names of the dead marines, soldiers, sailors, and
Iraqis, and 1 ringing a chime after each name was read, and 1 tossing
roses. We were freezing, tired and hungry, but only thought of those
who in far away countries were dying, being executed or tortured and
had it so much worse than we did. Names of young soldiers and young
Iraqi’s, women and children alike, cast a dark mood in this bright,
beautiful setting.
Those inside the building were compelled into
the Atrium once again in solidarity with our commitment to bring peace
to the world. Strangers picked up our white roses and tossed them into
the pool of half-frozen water. The white roses floated and bobbed as
the names were being read. Envision each individual person
participating in this Memorial to “Endless War” without being asked to
attend by a flyer, no organizational banner giving any credit to a
particular group, and mostly without pomp and circumstance. This was
truly a moment of the People.
The Capitol Police were milling
around us from the very instant we unfurled that large black banner.
The Press kept taking pictures and looked as somber as we did. The
Police were determined to stop us by issuing warnings and taking away
postcards that announced “We Will Not Be Silent”. They snapped plastic
handcuffs as they removed them from their belts and bags so we could
overhear them. The cold did not make me shake but I shuddered to think
of what the Police were about to do. Our little group kept standing
there as the names were being read. No one in the Atrium moved. Some
held hands, some kneeled in prayer and others sang. The names of the
dead were endless. Warnings to “cease and desist” were issued through a
bullhorn.
The Capitol Police were then determined to clear the
Atrium. First they announced to those that joined us to leave the area
or risk being arrested. I watched in amazement as no one moved. Again
they announced the looming threat of arrest. People reluctantly started
milling away and towards the doors. The Press was told to leave or they
would be arrested, which did not make them happy, but they left us
there. There we were again, the seven of us, and two who joined in
solidarity with us. They came into Congress that morning to meet with
their representatives but remained there thinking it was far more
important to share this moment.
Nine were arrested in the
quiet Atrium that moments before was filled with many, many people from
all walks of life. But the White Roses remained in the reflecting pool
to honor the dead and dying at that very moment. (see http://aawnyc.org)
This
action was not staged, was not part of any one specific “anti-war
organization”, but a melding of people who believe that the world is in
a serious state of danger. We don’t have a color associated with us; we
don’t believe in fundraising, we paid for the entire Memorial with our
own money. Those who joined us knew that, you could see it in their
eyes, and hear it in their shouting from the hallways and stairs “The
Whole World Is Watching” as the Police walked us out of the building.
We Nine, although scared, cold and tired, felt proud to be a fraction
of the whole group of citizens who, like us, spent their own personal
money and time to earnestly seek an end to all the atrocities of war
and to bring to justice those who have lied and who keep lying to the
masses of People who want these elected representatives to “cease and
desist.”
Anti-war activist, mother of U.S.
Marine currently returned from Fallujah; member of Steering Committee
for the “World Can’t Wait, Drive Out the Bush Regime” and Military
Families Speak Out.