Second Peace Vigil Results
On January 27th, more than two dozen people, ranging in age from 14 months to members of the Geritol Generation, stood at the four corners of Eden Terrace and Oakland Avenue from Noon to 1 PM. Holding up signs that ask “Where is your outrage?” and tell the simple truth that “War is hell” and encourage drivers to “Honk for Peace”, these folks took time to stand with strangers and call for an end to the war on Iraq.
Most drivers passed without comment, but quite a few honked in support. At least one driver parked and joined the group. Students from Winthrop University, and similarly aged people who were not in school, participated. Some members of the Winthrop University Socialist Student Union were there, as were members of Amnesty International. To be clear, this was a York County (SC) Greens sponsored event, and was not associated with Winthrop University, the SSU, nor AI. But having them there was a wonderful addition, and in fact, a vital addition.
After about twenty minutes I heard that the media was at an event in downtown Rock Hill, so I drove my van downtown to invite them to stop by and cover our vigil. They were covering a commeration of the Freedom 9. I was as discrete as possible, not wanting to disrupt what was going on, and was able to let several media folks know what we were doing. I did not have any literature to give them, nor any way to contact me. We have got to get better organized. None made it to the vigil before we had to wrap up.
After about fifty minutes the Winthrop University police stopped by. They wanted the students standing in the median to get off the median, which they did immediately. One officer asked me if we had sought a permit and I told him that I had not, but had called the Rock Hill police and asked them about using the sidewalk and had been told that we could do as we wished so long as we did not impede traffic, including pedistrian traffic, and remained on the sidewalk. He suggested that this was what he understood, but asked me to contact the University Relations office to let them know what was going on. I agreed, and on Monday the 29th I did meet with them.
The University Relations office appreciated being brought into the loop and indicated that they have no problem with plans, agreed to by the folks at the vigil, to hold the vigil again every weekend. They asked me to give them a call each week to update them on our plans, which I agreed to do.
At 1 PM we gathered briefly to talk, and as I mentioned earlier, decided to hold the vigil on a weekly basis. Same time and location until things change. We also went to Tequilla Restaurant after the vigil and ate, getting to know each other better. Please check back in a few days for my report on my meeting on Monday, January 29th, with Robert Hopkins of Congressman Spratt’s office.
These photos were taken by Ted Malone. The first is of his daughter in front of a tank. What a spirit, eh? Thanks for letting us use there Ted.
Timothy V. Gatto of Greenville, SC came to the vigil with his wife. He writes about the vigil at OpEdNews.com, right here. There are several great photos there too.
In a piece he wrote before the rally he points out that people are losing the battle for representation to corporatioons who give the cash the politicians need to get re-elected.