Washblog

Pictures from Seattle Peace Rally

This recruiting center in the Central District closed after being confronted with anti-war chants from a mass of demonstrators. One woman was arrested here for civil disobedience, apparently.

Pictures below:


Lietta mentioned she wished she'd seen more young people at Olympia's anti-Iraq War rally yesterday. I saw plenty of them at Seattle's event, as evidenced by this group.


Young people marched alongside those who have been there and done that before.


Some even younger participants feel passionately about civil rights.


The rally began at the Peace & Justice center, former Aaron Dixon HQ. "Eleanor Roosevelt" made a surprise guest appearance. She related that she had recently been detained as a terrorist suspect, traveling with a copy of the Constitution in her handbag. Mrs. Roosevelt, speaking with her characteristic high warbling voice and perfect diction, asked us if we would be willing to give up our rights of protection from unreasonable search & seizure or privacy if we were told it was for our own safety. No! Roared the crowd after each such question.


The Watada supporters are well-organized and asking people to come to Ft. Lewis to protest his court martial and declare their support.


This lone counter-protestor was engaged in a conversation with a policeman for awhile. I have no idea what his sign means. How can one possibly "Support Mr. Bush" and not his wars? They're one and the same.


This lady in a wheelchair seemed intrigued by the possibility of being pictured on a blog, so I'm including this picture, although it's pierced by a laser-like beam of light.


No comment necessary.


The sign at right features what looks like a 12-year-old soldier. I guess they are taking recruits younger than I had thought.


This woman displays a peace quilt-in-progress, honoring Lt. Watada.


The West Seattle Neighbors with their banner, designed by moi.


I bumped into a strutting Commander Codpiece, suitably stuffed and attired. He seemed to consider my sign a challenge to his ego.


At Langston Hughes Theater, I got siphoned into the overflow room, where the speakers in the main hall upstairs appeared on a screen: the student leader, the IVAW leader, former Black panther & senate candidate Aaron Dixon, and (I think) Iraq war vet Darrel Anderson, who was interviewed by Pen last week.

The video Watada got standing ovations even though he couldn't see us. Watada might be dramatized as the personification of integrity and courage--no wonder he engenders passionate support. He said (paraphrasing):

"We hear that military personnel have no right to pick and choose their battles depending on their own judgement. I would say they not only have the RIGHT, but the moral obligation and DUTY to do so."

"History tells us this is the same argument that was made by the Germans, that the troops must leave it to Hitler and the Nazis to determine what is in the best interest of their country."

"I will not participate in military actions that are illegal and immoral. They can imprison me, torture me, or kill me--I WILL NOT DO IT."

Thus the standing ovation.

 

 

 

< Unity, Unite, Union, Us | My LTE: Public campaigns story in News-Tribune >

Poll

Did you or didn't you?
I looked at the pictures AND read the story.
I looked at the pictures only.
I was there, but my picture isn't featured.
I am pictured but you didn't identify me.
I'm busy, didn't look at the story OR the pictures.

Votes: 17
Results | Other Polls
Display: Sort:
by the news I saw last night ...

I fell asleep on hte couch and woke up and the idiot box was on and I didn't know what planet I was on, but, the news was on.

I saw that someone got arrested ... is that cuz Leiberman said that anyone who didn't think like bush is aiding and abetting the enemy?

I hired someone to bang on a drum all day, and then I spent the day marching around my apartment with a flag while the drum was beating ... is that how I can learn to think like bush and not get arrested?

rmm.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Sun Jan 28, 2007 at 09:27:01 PM PST

I forgot something. Watada told us that his stepmother--"a woman who has loved me as if I were her own son"--at the rally in D.C. that day  to speak in his behalf, had just suffered a stroke.

by dinazina on Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 10:32:57 AM PST

I'm glad to see it, having been at the Olympia event.  Peter McGowan has a great piece up at Cool Aqua:

Seattle Surges.  Here's his Youtube video:

by noemie maxwell on Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 02:07:22 PM PST

to let us know down here in Pacific County what folks are doing in Seattle.  I have been following your photo-blog stories and appreciating the visual context.  

Noted;  young people did participate in Seattle - and as one of your photos depicts, right alongside a seriously bearded baby boomer.

So, Ehren was there - and yes, after hearing and seeing him, so many are inspired by his quaulities of humility, dignity, and courage.  I did read where his stepmother collapsed in DC, attributed to a minor stroke.  Personally, I don't think there is too much minor about a stroke.  It has been a whirlwind eight months since Ehren gave his first press conference - June 2006 in Tacoma, WA.  Longer for his parents though, as Ehren made his decision earlier in 2006. I do hope she will recover quickly.

 

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King Jr.

by Lietta Ruger on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 05:22:15 PM PST

  • Lietta by dinazina, 01/30/2007 08:47:37 PM PST (none / 0)
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Photo courtesty of photographer/thankyoult.org
LT. WATADA MILITARY COURT MARTIAL
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

February 5, 2007

 

 

 

 

 


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