Witness Against War, photos

The anatomy of a march: Veterans for Peace event ends in arrests

Jeff Leys — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:59:39 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

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August 31, 2008
By Jeff Severns Guntzel
Minnesota Independent

When Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin took the stage at the Veterans for Peace rally in front of the State Capitol building today, where hundreds of activists gathered before marching towards the Xcel Energy Center, she started with the string of weekend raids on her mind: “This is not the Midwestern welcome we expected!”

Her audience cheered — among them a vet hoisting a desert-camo anti-war flag:

A cadre of protesters were clad in orange jumpsuits meant to evoke those worn by prisoners at the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison. The held black hoods in their hands and stuck signs to their backs — on each sign was printed the name, age and story of a living, breathing Guantanamo detainee:

CONTINUE READING the Story with photos at Minnesota Independent

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August 31, 2008
By Jeff Severns Guntzel
Minnesota Independent

Her audience cheered — among them a vet hoisting a desert-camo anti-war flag:

CONTINUE READING the Story with photos at Minnesota Independent

Local activist makes 500-mile trek to oppose war in Iraq and Afghanistan

Jeff Leys — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Excerpt

August 28, 2008
Clarksville, TN Online

Witness Against War is a 450-mile walk from Chicago to Saint Paul to challenge and non-violently resist our nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The campaign seeks to hold both major political parties, both Democrat and Republican, accountable and responsible for continuing and ending the Iraq war.

The journey began in the City of Chicago, site of the 1968 Democratic Party convention in the midst of the Vietnam War. The walk will conclude on August 31 in St. Paul — in time for the start of the 2008 Republican Party convention in the midst of the Iraq war.

Joshua Brollier joined the walk in Chicago on July 12th and has participated in awareness events and community forums along the route to St. Paul. The walkers will convene there on August 29th to march in step with the Veterans for Peace at the Republican National Convention protests.

CONTINUE READING AT CLARKSVILLE ON-LINE, INCLUDES PHOTOS

Short Information Teaser

Clarksville, TN article on participation of Joshua Brollier in Witness Against War.

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August 28, 2008
Clarksville, TN Online

CONTINUE READING AT CLARKSVILLE ON-LINE, INCLUDES PHOTOS

13 Arrested at Fort McCoy for Opposing Iraq War

Jeff Leys — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:11:31 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

Arrests at Fort McCoy Wisconsin on August 10

Excerpt

August 10, 2008

View Photos

August 9 was a day of preparation for Witness Against War. Preparation for the act of nonviolent civil resistance to take place the following day.

We gathered at the Lafayette Town Hall just north of Sparta. Our host’s family goes back 7 generations on this land. His aunt and uncle donated the property on which the town hall now sits.

VCNV Author

Jeff Leys

Voices Author

Jeff Leys

Body

August 10, 2008

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August 9 was a day of preparation for Witness Against War. Preparation for the act of nonviolent civil resistance to take place the following day.

We gathered at the Lafayette Town Hall just north of Sparta. Our host’s family goes back 7 generations on this land. His aunt and uncle donated the property on which the town hall now sits.

The nonviolence workshop was to begin at 2:00 p.m. At 1:50 p.m. we looked at the clock on the wall and wondered aloud whether anyone would be coming. Only our friend Steve Carlson from Trego, Wisconsin had arrived by that time. The surrounding hills and bluffs prevented our cell phones from receiving signals, so we had no way of knowing whether those we expected to arrive were 30 seconds away or 30 minutes away (or stranded on the side of the road).

Then, as if they were waiting together just down the road and around the curve, all our colleagues began to arrive within minutes of each other. Christian Peacemaker Teams arrived with the 15 people currently training to become team members or reservists for CPT. Brian and Renee arrived from Des Moines. Ceylon and Christine arrived from Memphis. Joy from Madison and John from Eau Claire. The Lafayette Town Hall was transformed from the grouping of Witness Against War walkers to a near overflow gathering of committed social justice advocates.

Planning progressed for the following day’s action at Fort McCoy as we began to put flesh on a fairly skeletal action concept. By the end of the evening plans were in place for the following day.

Sunday, August 10, began with breakfast at the home of Dick and Violet, our hosts. We arrived at Tunnel City, our starting point that day, at 9:30 a.m., in time to meet with Sheriff Pederson to discuss the day’s walk. We explained that we intended to walk on the shoulder of the road facing traffic, as required by state traffic laws. He explained that he’d met with his officers and with officers of the Wisconsin State Highway Patrol that morning. Their intent was to ensure that the walk was able to proceed safely, and not to interfere with the walk’s progress. Indeed State Patrol and County Sheriff patrol cars accompanied the walk as it processed from Tunnel City to the edge of Fort McCoy and onward. One patrol officer turned on his vehicles flashing red and blue lights to slow traffic down along the highway (with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour and a fairly narrow shoulder), keeping a health distance form the front of the walk and backing up on an even pace with the walk.

We began walking at about 9:45 a.m. The first question mark of the day arrived three miles into the walk. At that point Highway 21, on which we were walking, enters Fort McCoy with a yellow sign informing motorists that they are “Entering a Military Area.” We were relatively certain we’d be able to proceed without any difficulty since we’d received a letter from Colonel Daniel Culver of the base advising us that normally the only time the base law enforcement would get involved along Highway 21 is if the operations of the base were being interfered with. Since we were walking on the shoulder, we were relatively certain we’d be fine. Yet, the question mark remained: would there be a change in the base’s position now that the walk had arrived? Would we be met by Fort McCoy security determined to prevent us from crossing the base?

The answer was “No”. Fort McCoy’s command would not block the progress of the walk. We would keep on walking forward, never turning back.

Witness Against War aimed to engage in civil disobedience / civil resistance at the main gate of Fort McCoy. A flashing traffic control sign located along the highway near the entry to Fort McCoy advised incoming traffic that the main gate was closed and directed traffic elsewhere.

Had Fort McCoy decided to wait us out? To allow us to engage in a vigil on the entryway into the base, without allowing us onto the base? Since our intent was to remain in order to gain entry into the base to talk with soldiers about the war, the question began to be raised: How long would we have to wait to gain entry?

Witness Against War arrived at Fort McCoy at 11:45 a.m. We gathered along the shoulder of the highway, across from the main gate. Those of us intending to seek entry into the base-and to risk arrest in doing so-gathered together. We thirteen crossed the highway together when a break in traffic made it safe to do so.

Fort McCoy had placed wooden horses across the driveway entrance to the base. Two officers from the base security were present. As we approached, and began to pass the wooden horses, Fort McCoy’s law enforcement engaged us in conversation. The officer advised us that if we went beyond the horses and continued to walk up the driveway towards the entrance that we would be subject to arrest. He asked if there was any communication which would like to present to him for him to relay to the base commander. We replied that we sought to distribute an open letter regarding the Iraq war to those currently serving on the base and to engage in dialogue with those on the base.

The letter we sought to deliver began:

“”We today come to Fort McCoy to seek an end to the war in and occupation of Iraq by the United States. We come to Fort McCoy because of its key role in training National Guard units deploying to Iraq-a training that should end immediately with the commitment of the U.S. to keep National Guard units home and withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq….”

The letter concluded:

“…the strain upon service men and women and their families continues unabated with repeat deployments to Iraq. The Washington National Guard’s 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team will deploy to Iraq for the second time this fall. The 32nd Red Arrow Brigade Combat Team of the Wisconsin National Guard will deploy to Iraq in 2009. This will be the largest deployment to combat of the Wisconsin National Guard since World War II when it logged the most days in theater of any U.S. Army unit. We call upon the United States to keep the National Guard at home in the U.S. and to end these repeat deployments abroad.

“We come to Fort McCoy to, in some small way, act in solidarity with members of the military who choose to nonviolently resist this war by refusing to be deployed to Iraq. We encourage members of the active duty military, Reserve and National Guard to consider refusing deployment orders and to be in contact with the GI Rights Hotline regarding their rights within the military at 1-800-394-9544.”

We stated that we intended to move forward to deliver the letter to those on the base and that we understood the potential consequences of doing so. He said he understood what we intended to do and moved aside as we processed up the driveway.

Then a “swarm” of officers from Fort McCoy emerged from the garage at the base entry point. We were walking slowly and deliberately towards them. They were walking slowly and deliberately towards us. It was clear that we would meet somewhere in the middle but that neither felt intimidated by the other nor that either side felt as if it was necessary to try to intimidate the other side.

We thirteen were arrested, processed and released in short order on the offense of trespass to land. We’ll be notified at some later time the date on which we are to appear in court. Those arrested include: Kathy Kelly, 54, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence ; Jeff Leys, 44, of Watertown, Wisconsin; Joy First, 54, of Madison, WI; John Bachman, 56, Eau Claire, WI; Brian Terrell, 52, of Des Moines, IA; Renee Espeland, 47 of Des Moines, IA; Kryss Chupp, 49, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Chicago; Ceylon Mooney, 33, Memphis, TN; Eileen Hanson, 34, Winona, MN; Joshua Brollier, 25, Clarkesville, TN; Lauren Cannon, 38, seminarian at Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL; Alice Gerard, 51, of Grand Island, NY; and Gene Stoltzfus, 68, of Ontario, Canada.

All but one were released the same day. Kathy Kelly was detained on an outstanding warrant that dates back over ten years to an act of nonviolent civil resistance at Project ELF. ELF was the Navy’s old transmitter system, closed in 2004, that played a key role in the nuclear first strategy of the United States (ELF was the bell ringer to call U.S. nuclear missile subs to the ocean’s surface to receive precise launch orders for a nuclear first strike against another country). It’s expected that she will be transferred to Ashland County to appear before the judge on the warrant. Arrest warrants have also been issued for several others previously arrested and convicted for acts of resistance to Project ELF who refused to pay fines.

Witness Against War continues westward to La Crosse later this week and then begins its northwestward trek along the Mississippi River, aiming to arrive in Saint Paul on August 30, in time for the Republican National Convention. Emphasizing that the issue is not about Democrat or Republican; that it’s not about Left or Right; but rather that it is about what is Right and Wrong-Witness Against War began its trek in Chicago, site of the 1968 Democratic Convention and will end in Saint Paul, site of this year’s Republican Convention. It truly is a matter of challenging the powers-that-be within both political parties and holding both accountable for ending the Iraq and Afghanistan war.

PHOTOS: Witness Against War, Aug 3-6

voices — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:43:21 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

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Walk Blog: Alice Gerard (Baraboo to Reedsburg)

voices — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:18:05 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Excerpt

By Alice Gerard
Aug 5, 2008

We left our campsites at Devil’s Lake State Park early on Saturday morning. It didn’t take us long to depart. We seem to have become quite proficient at packing our luggage, the air mattresses, and the tents in a short amount of time.

We all got on the bus and returned to Baraboo. Just the previous day, we had walked from Devil’s Lake State Park to Baraboo. It was a short walk but a workout, nevertheless. Half of it was uphill on winding roads. Saturday’s walk was promising to be longer. Fortunately, we started early. I didn’t really feel awake yet and was hoping that I would be halfway to our destination before I realized that I was tired and that my feet hurt.

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By Alice Gerard
Aug 5, 2008

We walked out of town on sidewalks. I have learned to appreciate sidewalks greatly since I began this walk. Many places are not equipped with either sidewalks or paved shoulders. Walking on the loose gravel that seems to be a staple of many country roads certainly plays havoc on many feet and shoes.

So, I enjoyed my time walking through the town that was so famous for circuses that it had a huge circus museum in its downtown section. I got to window shop and to look at windows and architecture. Before long, we were out of town. The sidewalk had ended and we were back to walking on gravel. After a while, we were stopped by a Sauk County Sheriff’s Deputy. He told us that the shoulder was coming to an end and that it might be a good idea if we were to walk in the closed lane on the opposite side of the road. We thanked him and crossed the road.

From that point on, Saturday’s walk had become quite easy. When we switched to another road for the rest of our trip to Reedsburg, we were able to walk on a wide shoulder. This enabled us to walk together and to chat and to hold up our signs so that passing motorists could see them and honk, wave, and flash peace signs. I walked with Cassandra, one of our day walkers. She is part of the Christian Peacemaker teams, and she is planning on spending two months in the West Bank next spring. She has already been there, so this is a return trip for her. Conditions there sound very difficult, especially for children, she told me.

While we were walking, we saw our usual share of road kill. Speeding cars and animals are a very poor combination. One of the deceased was a skunk. We could smell the deceased long before we saw it. Helene, who has a poor sense of smell, fortunately, was spared from experiencing that aroma. The most difficult sight for Alice the cat lover was an orange tabby cat that lay dead in the middle of the road.

The cat looked as if it must have been someone’s beloved pet. Somehow, the cat got out of the house and lost its life in the middle of a high speed road. I wondered if the owners had put up lost cat flyers or if they had advertised in the newspaper. Most likely, they will never know what had happened to their beautiful cat.

A pet is as much a family member as a human. We grieve when the cat or dog dies, just as we grieve when a human dies.

But when a family member, animal or human, simply disappears, we don’t know what to do. During the course of this walk, during our presentations, I have heard so many stories of people who have disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Their families are left sad and wondering, where is our son? Where is our daughter? Where is our father? Our mother?

We had to keep walking. Eventually, we found our way to Dick and Tricia’s house. There we had our lunch on their deck. It was a beautiful space, and lunch was delicious. It included a cucumber salad, fruit, pasta salad, feta cheese, and iced tea.

Dick told us about the devastating floods in the area. He said that the rainfall was torrential in June. One day, 12 and 1/2 inches fell, and the next day, another five and a half inches fell. Many houses had to be condemned because of the flooding.

After lunch, we walked toward Reedsburg. I was so happy to see a horse stable. The horse were outside, running in an enclosed pasture. They looked free and happy as they ran.

At about 2:15 p.m., we arrived at Oak Park in Reedsburg. The park was full of kids and coaches. They were having a practice session: throwing, catching, and batting. Some of the people were so impressed with the Wheels of Justice bus that they pulled out cameras and started clicking right away.

Soon, we all piled onto the bus and went to St. John’s Lutheran Church. It was to be our home for the night. We were greeted by Pastor Marsha Swenson and the pianist, Leta Palmer. Pastor Marsha mentioned that there would be a service at 5:15 p.m. I was very happy about that. I wrote in my journal, bathed my feet in epsom salts, and then went to the service.

The service was a good experience for me. Afterward, Helene said, “You look all happy now.”

Dinner was provided to us by Barbara Hoffman, Pat Belongie, and Joanne Robson. They prepared lasagna and garlic bread. They also made a salad. They had made two versions of the main course: one for vegetarians and one for vegans. Laura and Leah were so happy with their vegan feast. We even had vegan chocolate cake. Leah told me that it had no cholesterol in it! It tasted great!

After dinner, Barbara got her guitar out and played songs. We all enjoyed singing. We also sang a good bye song to Helene and Bob, as they were leaving the walk on Sunday. We would have sung to Laura, too, but she was singing. Bob is coming back soon. Laura is unable to return, and Helene is going home to Sweden.

For the most part, it had been a happy day. I had gone to church at St. John’s because that was the church that provided us hospitality. Pastor Marsha had created the warm, nurturing, meditative environment that I needed. She said everything that I needed to hear.

The world was a beautiful spot for me.

I was determined to continue walking to end the war. It seems to be the least that I can do… and the most that I can do.

(to be continued…)

Walk Blog: Josh Brollier, from Baraboo to Reedsburg

voices — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:57:53 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

"Maybe we do not need to wait on iconic figures or saints. Maybe it is time that ordinary people everywhere stood up and resisted this current incarnation of oppression."

Excerpt

By Josh Brollier
August 2, 2008

Today we traversed a 16 mile trek from Baraboo to Reedsburg. Much of the time I was thinking of Hiroshi, the organizer for last night’s event at the Garden Party Cafe, and his description of just how difficult it can be to get large crowds of people to come out for peace events in Baraboo. The event was not a failure by any means. There were probably twenty to thirty folks there, and I was very excited by the enthusiasm and the response of the crowd. However, many activists and concerned citizens share Hiroshi’s concerns, questions, and confusion as to why there is not a more organized and visible peace movement at present in the United States.

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By Josh Brollier
August 2, 2008

I do not think the answer lies in lack of ideological support for peaceful and non-violent solutions in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere. The response to our “witness” has been overwhelmingly positive in both the cities and the towns of Illinois and Wisconsin. This also rings consistent with a recent referendum that found that 72% of the citizens Milwaukee are in favor of ending the Iraq war.

There is a combination of spiritual, moral, and/or political depression that comes along with feeling helpless to alleviate the suffering we inflicted on our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a cynicism that easily creeps in when we do not see immediate changes. But my reflection is this: How should we respond to this depression?

Last night Dan Pearson and Helene Hedberg described to us just a glimpse of the very bleak situation that some 4 millions refugees are facing as a result of the conflict in Iraq. We have an enormous responsibility to these families to do more than to sink into depression.

One of the most important things that Voices has been advocating for during the walk is to build genuine relationships between Americans and the people of Iraq. The Direct Aid Initiative and The Iraqi Student Project are two avenues that we could take advantage of to become actively engaged in building justice in Iraq while bypassing the corporate looting and unaccountability that have become so prevalent.

And just what is our responsibility to pressure our elected officials to bring home our troops from these wars of aggression? It seems to me that it is time to take some risks. Neither presidential candidate is making concrete plans to shift the foreign policy in a more compassionate direction. Continuing to pursue our present course will be detrimental to world security and suicidal to our own economy and environment.

Presently, the risk levels in our country are relatively low for exercising our rights to free speech and even civil disobedience. We must take advantage of these opportunities now while there is still an open window to reach out to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and to re-shape the dreadful direction in which our nation is heading. How will future generations remember us if we fail to effectively organize and tackle the challenges that face us today?

I do not make any claims to being an experienced organizer or a great leader. Maybe we do not need to wait on iconic figures or saints. Maybe it is time that ordinary people everywhere stood up and resisted this current incarnation of oppression. Previous generations resisted slavery and succeeded. Will we walk in their footsteps?

Walk Blog: Visit to Governor Doyle's office (Madison, WI)

Kathy Kelly — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:17:33 -0500

Project

WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

delivery of a letter to Governor Doyle

Excerpt

July 30, 2008

In Madison, WI, we delivered a letter to Governor Doyle, urging him to support State assemblyman Spenser Black in his efforts to prevent the National Guard from going to Iraq. Mr.Farland, an aide to the governor, met with about two dozen of us who crowded into the reception area of the governor’s office. The letter reads:

Governor Jim Doyle
Office of the Governor 115 East State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin 53702 Governor Doyle,

The Red Arrow 32nd Brigade Combat Team of the Wisconsin National Guard is currently scheduled to deploy to Iraq in 2009.

We urge you to take all necessary steps to prevent this deployment from happening. This includes, but is not limited to, taking legal action in the form of a lawsuit to prevent future deployments to Iraq.

VCNV Author

Kathy Kelly

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July 30, 2008

Governor Jim Doyle
Office of the Governor 115 East State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin 53702 Governor Doyle,

The Red Arrow 32nd Brigade Combat Team of the Wisconsin National Guard is currently scheduled to deploy to Iraq in 2009.

We urge you to take all necessary steps to prevent this deployment from happening. This includes, but is not limited to, taking legal action in the form of a lawsuit to prevent future deployments to Iraq.

We believe that you have the legal authority to prevent the deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard to Iraq. Specifically, the Authorization to Use Military Force against Iraq, passed by Congress in October 2002, achieved its objectives. Congress authorized the use of military force against Iraq for two very specific reasons:

to force Iraq to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions; and,

because Iraq was considered to be a threat to the national security of the United States.

Each of these two conditions have been achieved. Indeed the U.S. is negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement with the current government of Iraq, indicating that the U.S. considers Iraq to now be an allied nation.

With the achievement of these two conditions, the purpose for the authorization for the use of military force against Iraq has terminated. This authorization provided the basis for the federalization of the National Guard. With the expiration of this authorization, the legal basis for the federalization of the Guard has also lapsed.

We encourage you to challenge the deployment of the National Guard by refusing to permit the deployment of the 32nd Brigade next year. This no doubt will result in legal action involving your office. But it truly is essential that such a constitutional crisis be created in order to challenge continuing deployments of the National Guard to the Iraq war.

Precedent exists for Wisconsin to challenge the federal government’s military decisions. In 1983 Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government seeking to prevent the operation of the Navy’s Project ELF, a transmitter key to the U.S. nuclear first strike strategy.

We look forward to your action to keep the Guard home.

Jim Cusack, a labor organizer and organizer with Voces de la Frontera (an immigrants rights and workers rights organization based in Milwaukee), spoke of displacement and loss caused by the war, recalling the hundreds of thousands of families, in the US and in Iraq, aching for loved ones who will never return.

Dan Pearson explained Representative Spenser Black’s proposal to Mr. Farland and emphasized that funds allocated for military spending should be redircted to ease the humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing war in Iraq. Dan briefly noted that he had lived amongst Iraqi refugees in Damascus, Syria, for five months and then worked with Iraqis resettled in Chicago. He could verify, through personal experience, that many Iraqis he met were unable to provide basic needs for their families.

I wanted the governor’s aide to know that we’re planning to visit Ft. Mc Coy, which is training soldiers from other states to deploy for combat duty in Iraq. I told him that after living under aerial bombardment of Baghdad throughout the Shock and Awe bombing, I felt acutely responsible to help prevent the terror and horror that these attacks cause.

A teacher from Wisconsin told Mr. Farland that the state had abruptly cut funding for a program to teach English as a Second Language to refugee families that have just arrived in the state, many of them families displaced by the Viet Nam war who, for decades, awaited resettlement in the U.S. and who have now finally arrived here. She asked if the war in Iraq would likely create new waves of displaced people whose needs would be unmet while the military demands dominated state and national budgets.

Alice Gerard told Mr. Farland about a crossing guard, in Jefferson, WI, who told Alice that she supported our walk because she had a son who is in Iraq now and this is his fifth deployment. “Mr Farland, there is a hole left in these families,” said Alice, “a hole in their homes and their hearts when their loved ones go off to war.”

“Witness Against War” walkers and supporters presented earnest, well-informed and persuasive testimony to Mr. Farland. We encourage anyone reading our reports to echo the sentiments we presented by writing letters to Governor Doyle.

Walk Blog: Josh Brollier, July 25

voices — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:03:55 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

Josh Brollier write from Lake Mills, Wisconsin

Excerpt

By Josh Brollier
July 25 2008

We woke this morning to less than sunny skies, but it was a near perfect day to be on your feet and exploring the countryside of Wisconsin. The weather was cool and the group seemed to be re-energized and ready to tackle the stretch of highway set before us.

We arrived at Commons Park in Lake Mills before noon, enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of the large trees, and shared a leisurely lunch while the town of Lake Mills was preparing for their Race for the Cure. Though our messages were not one in the same, there was definitely a common thread linking the groups and it felt good to be among people who were actively pursuing a cure and life for themselves, their loved ones, and humanity.

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By Josh Brollier
July 25 2008

Last night we were shuttled to this very same park where Jeff Leys was asked to speak at an event for The Democrats of Jefferson County. This sort of event is a bit out of the norm for Voices, but it was a good chance to meet people of all kinds and to gauge the political environment leading up to the election. Jeff delivered a very relevant and well spoken message, challenging the crowd to continue to organize for peace no matter who may be elected in the next year. I had one particularly moving conversation with a veteran who fought in Vietnam and “the first” Gulf War. Cliff described to me his struggles with PTSD and the mysterious Gulf War Syndrome that he acquired from working in the chemical weapons containment field while in Iraq.

As we prepare to continue on our journey and the “Race for the Cure” takes off into the streets of Lake Mills, I am reflecting on the cancer that war is to humanity. Our weapons not only produce real cancerous side effects like “Gulf War Syndrome” and birth defects, but war leaves a deep psychological and spiritual scar on all who are affected. Many veterans from World War Two and Vietnam, like Cliff, are just now starting to be able to speak of what they experienced. How long will it be before our current troops are able to open up and let out the madness they have seen and experienced? How long will it be before Iraqi and Afghani kids are able to process the violence that has consumed their countries as a result of our invasions?

What message will we send to our soldiers if the leaders who deliberately deceived the nation and put them in harms way are not held accountable? -That their lives are an expendable tool for corporate interest…

What message will we send to the youth in America, Iraq, and all across the globe if our foreign policy continues in its present destructive course? -That might makes right and the strongest and greediest will always win… I came across a kid in the park the other day who accurately described our foreign policy as “Don’t f*&k with America”- he was more than ready to imitate our aggressive stance.

We listened to an Obama speech last night where he vowed to never go to war “without enough troops to win”. I am proud to be a part of this Witness Against War and advocating for a deeper change that addresses one of the core problems facing humanity- our acceptance of violence as a means for bringing about a better society.

Hopefully we will embody the message of love and non-violence as we seek to hold ourselves and both political parties accountable for the misery that has been brought the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hopefully our message will be heard.

Witness Against War Photos: 2 Days in Milwaukee

voices — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:52:39 -0500

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WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

photos by Susan Ruggles

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Photos by Susan Ruggles
July 24, 2008

Day One: Arrival in downtown Milwaukee at O’Donnell Park Plaza. Entertainment by One Drum and Harvey Taylor, welcome by Sr. Virgine Lawinger, and presentation by Kathy Kelly and walkers at Friends Meeting House.

For day 2 photos:

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Photos by Susan Ruggles
July 24, 2008

Day Two: Voces de la Frontera joins the walk, which crosses 6th Street Bridge. Press conference at Zeidler Union Square Park featuring local supporters, including Peace Action-Wisconsin and Voces de la Frontera. Local media coverage by TMJ4-TV and WISN12-TV. Walk leaves for Brookfield along Wisconsin Ave. and Blue Mound Rd., ending at Unitarian Universalist Church West.

Walk Blog: Walking across Wisconsin, witnessing against war

voices — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:45:05 -0500

Project

WITNESS AGAINST WAR 2008: From Chicago to St. Paul

Short Information Teaser

Bill Christofferson joined the walk and wrote and took photos

Excerpt

July 22
By Bill Christofferson
dailykos.com

VIEW PHOTOS

In some ways, much of Kathy Kelly’s adult life has been a walk against war. So it was completely in character for her to be walking through Milwaukee Monday, on a 450-mile trek to St. Paul and the Republican national convention.

Kelly, a high school and community college teacher, has repeatedly risked her life and her freedom as an advocate for non-violence. She is now affiliated with Voices for Creative Nonviolence, based in her hometown of Chicago, which organized Witness Against War now making its way across Wisconsin.

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July 22
By Bill Christofferson
dailykos.com

VIEW PHOTOS

A three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work , Kelly is a longtime pacifist who refuses to pay war taxes. She’s served prison time for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites and for crossing the line as part of an ongoing effort to close the School of the Americas, an Army military combat training school at Fort Benning, GA.

She helped initiate Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign which brought medicine and toys to Iraq in open violation of UN/US sanctions against Iraq. Voices in the Wilderness organized 70 delegations to visit Iraq in the period between 1996 and the beginning of “Shock and Awe” warfare in 2003. Kelly has been to Iraq 24 times since January 1996, when the campaign began.

In October 2002, Voices in the Wilderness declared their intent to remain in Baghdad, alongside Iraqi civilians, throughout a war they still hoped they could prevent. Kelly and the team stayed in Baghdad throughout the bombardment and invasion and maintained a household in Baghdad until March, 2004. During 2007, she spent five months in Amman, Jordan, living amongst Iraqis who’ve fled their homes and are seeking resettlement.

The 450 mile Witness Against War walk is a continuation of the effort to challenge and nonviolently resist our country’s continuing war in and occupation of Iraq.

The walk left Chicago on July 12 and had logged 108 miles, nearly one-fourth of the total distance, when it left Milwaukee on Monday morning, after a potluck and program at the Friends Meeting House that drew more than 100 people on Sunday night.

The core group of walkers numbered eight on Monday (it’s an accordion-like group that expands and shrinks as some members drop out to take care of personal business, then drop back in). An equal number of local folks joined them for the day and the 10-mile hike from Zeidler Park in downtown Milwaukee to the Unitarian Univeralist church across the Waukesha County line in suburban, conservative Brookfield.

The group included Kelly’s co-workers at Voices for Creative Nonviolence. an Iraq veteran from Minnesota, a young woman from Sweden, Helene Hedberg (with mileage sign) who met Kelly at a human rights conference, and others who were attracted to the cause and were able to make the time commitment for much or all of the walk. They are joined every day by local supporters who want the war and occupation to end; in Milwaukee that included members of Peace Action, a staff member from Casa Maria, a Catholic Worker hospitality house, and one young man who just joined us as we walked along Wisconsin Avenue. (I’m hesitant to try to name too many names, because I didn’t ask everyone and took few notes. The ones I do mention I’m sure of.)

Two television cameras, the local NBC and ABC affiliates, showed at Zeidler Park for a brief informal news conference before the walk kicked off, with a colorful bus, provided by the Anathoth community in Luck, WI. That is major media for antiwar event, as any organizer who’s tried to get coverage will attest. Monday morning’s daily paper carried a photo of the group with supporters who greeted them when they arrived on Sunday. But no story accompanied it, and no reporters went along for the day, although it seemed to me, as a former reporter and editor, that it would have offered enough grist for an interesting feature story or column.

To walk with them for a day is energizing. It offers a chance to walk with different people for a stretch at a time, hear some of their stories, and get an idea about what motivates them. That helps the time pass, and the walk moves at a pretty good clip of 2 to 2.5 miles an hour. Monday’s walk took five hours, including a lunch stop (Subway box lunches and healthy snacks) along the road.

Paul Melling, the Iraq veteran, (pictured giving his feet a break at the end of the day) has just finished an associate degree in computer networking at a St. Cloud, MN technical college and decided to do the seven-week walk before starting a new job. He spent 14 months in Iraq as an artillery crew member, in 2004-05. Melling said he was somewhat conflicted for a time about whether to speak out on the war while others were still fighting it, but decided the best way to support those troops still in Iraq is to work to get them home.

Unfortunately, Melling was taking a break in the bus to prepare a talk he was to give that night when we encountered an Army recruiter on Blue Mound Road, who pulled across the crosswalk and confronted our small band of sign-carriers. He challenged us on whether any of us had served, so I stepped forward, wearing my Vietnam Veterans Against the War T-shirt, and assured him there were some veterans in the group. He said he was an Afghanistan vet and said what we were doing was undermining the troops. The US military is in Iraq to keep the Iraqi sects from killing each other, he said — seemingly unaware, as we pointed out, that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died because we are there. After he threatened to break my camera if I took a photo, I put him down as unpersuadable and let others take up the debate. (I had signed a non-violence pledge in order to join the walk, and tend to be nonviolent by nature anyway, although it was tempting to take another photo and see what developed. Maybe we would have actually made the newspaper; violence seems to get covered. He apparently didn’t know I had already taken the one that appears here.)

Other than that, the walk was uneventful, although the walkers got a nice reception from a group awaiting them at Marquette. All of the walkers carried signs, whch promoted some friendly horn-blowing, waves and yells of encouragement from drivers along Wisconsin Avenue, Blue Mound Road, Highway 100 and North Avenue. The Chicago crew also leafleted when there was an opportunity.

The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, a statewide coalition of local organizations, is helping coordinate the walk and find lodging and meals and arrange programs along the route.

Anyone’s welcome to join the walk for a day or more if you can. There are some stretches across rural Wisconsin where there may not be any organized groups, so company and support might be especially welcome. Here’s the schedule for the rest of July:

7/22 Tues 7 pm Witness Against War - The Iraqi Refugee Crisis – Waukesha. 1st Congregational Church, 100 E. Broadway. Contact: Judith Williams of the Waukesha Catholic Worker House at 262-524-8278.

7/24 Thurs 5:30 – 8:15 pm ‘Witness Against War’ speaks at ‘Democrats of Jefferson County’ Picnic – Lake Mills. Commons Park in downtown; Main and Madison. Schedule: 5:30 pm - a kids parade around the park, 6 pm - dinner, 7-8:15 speakers, including Jeff Leys of Voices for Creative Nonviolence - followed by video cast of Obama speech. Contact: Anne Johnson amjlakemills(at)yahoo.com 608.576.0498 or Ray Murawski of the Watertown peace group.

7/27 Sun 8 am – 3 pm WITNESS TO WAR WALK– Madison.- We are inviting members of the community to join VCNV, walking 8 miles from Cottage Grove into Madison. The walk will end up at Olbrich Park. (early-morning car-pools for community walkers- leaving from Olbrich Park to Cottage Grove - at 8 am) Check out (www.wnpj.org ) for a form to sign from VCNV if you are interested in participating in the walk. Contact: Joy at

7/27 Sun 5 - 9 pm ‘Witness Against War’ - Dinner and Presentation by Kathy Kelly - Madison. St. Bernard’s on Atwood Ave- Everyone welcome! Raging Grannies and Will and Dot Williams sing…..and more! Contact: Joy First at . WNPJ is co-hosting the event today - Contact o call 608-250-9240

7/28 Mon 12 noon SPECIAL Vigil for Peace with ‘Witness Against War’ - Madison. In front of the Post Office on MLK Blvd. Contact: Mary Beth Schlagheck at .

7/29 Tues 3:30 – 5:30 pm Witness Against War - Waunakee. At the Village Park. There will be an informal conversation and/or a talk. A welcome of the marchers by concerned residents of Waunakee and surrounding towns would be most appreciated. For further information, contact Hildegard Dorrer, 608-849-4219

7/30 Wed 3:30 – 4 pm (flexible – when the Walkers arrive) WAW Vigil with Women in Black - Sauk City. Meet on the Bridge. We gather to silently mourn ALL that is lost to war – wherever this occurs. We stand in solidarity with those throughout the world who suffer from oppression, violence, and injustice. Contact – Mary Ann Novascone at

7/30 Wed 7 pm Spaghetti Dinner with the WAW Walkers – Sauk City. At Park Hall, 307 Polk Street. www.freecongregation.org. Bring a dish to share. Contact: Maggie McGlone at or Sally Dahir at

And here is the map and schedule for the whole thing.