Witness Against War - Content with photos

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:

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

July 22
By Bill Christofferson
dailykos.com

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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.