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Take a Wisconsin Peace Tour:
Fox Valley
Madison Area
Milwaukee
Northern WI:
- peacenorth.org
WI Network for Peace & Justice
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Here is two reviews and a link from the Wausau Protest.
Article One by Zoltan Grossman (homepage:
www.uwec.edu/grossmzc/peace.html)
Article two by Guy Wolf, LaCrosse
Pictures available at Madison IndyMedia
Minneapolis Review Available at the Star Tribune
Photos/review of Wausau peace rally
and counterprotest, Feb 13, 2003 (article 1)
by Z. Grossman
Wausau Police estimated up to 2,000 people at the statewide antiwar rally in
Wausau, including about 150 counterdemonstrators. Peace people came from ALL
CORNERS of Wisconsin, including many college and high school students, church
people, veterans, and many others. The rally lasted two hours, and ended with an
energetic march to the courthouse. Devon Evans from Bob Marley and the Wailers
sang and got the crowd dancing.
The counterprotest, organized by two local rightwing radio DJs, was very vocal
and obnoxious at first, but eventually petered out. It included costumes based
on the World Trade center towers. The reception to the peace rally from other
local residents and even the police was rather friendly. It was significant that
the peace
rally outlasted the pro-war response.
Wausau Review by Guy Wolf
More than 2000 demonstrators (and another 200 counter demonstrators) rallied in
downtown Wausau. It was cooooold....but we did a great job of representing La
Crosse! Our buses graced the front of the rally site along with the Peace Bus
and stage area. Sr. Anita Beskar brought the Hiroshima Peace Flame. Even the
counter demonstrators began to quiet down as she recited the 125 history of
non-stop prayer for peace at the Sister's Chapel in La Crosse. We gave out 36,
7-day candles lit by the peace flame for 36 different communities that were
represented at the rally. Scores of other communities approached us and asked
for the flame.
The cold (nor the counter protestors) dampened the spirits of the crowd as we
joined in chants, music to the likes of the Bob Marley Band, and words of Matt
Rotschild from the Progressive Magazine! We brought children--ages 10 and up to
the rally, and for some of them--the first rally they ever attended.
We enjoyed duct taping and wrapping plastic around Mike Miles who helped
organized the D. C. and Wausau Rally. Our peace workers banged on buckets, made
great new signs, and found plenty of time to interact with the marvelous
diversity of people at the rally. High Schools students from Neuman High School
in Wausau read letters from Iraqi Students, begging us to see the humanity of
those who have suffered in their country. And of course there were the counter
demonstrators...
Jim Brown, Matt Stewart, and Joan spent a fair amount of time up near the area
counter demonstrators. Their message, "ITS TIME FOR WAR!!". was boisterous and
laden with alcohol. According to the Wausau Police, a conservative radio station
in Wausau had for more than two weeks rallied on pro-war folks to show-up for
the rally. They came carrying more than 20 US flags shouting "NO TO THE UN! YES
TO THE USA". The police informed us that a number of the folks were from a cell
of the Posse Comitatus, (My comments: a militant right-wing group of folks who
advocate the abolishment of the UN, end to the IRS, and belief in a Jewish
Conspiracy to control the war---go to any of their web sites).
While they yelled and screamed at peace protestors and speakers at the rally.
Mike Miles and Matt Davis (Wausau Organizer) offered words of peace and
communication to these folks--even suggesting that they could come and co-mingle
with the rest of us. But the counter demonstrators stayed to themselves while
booing and hissing at the words of a Catholic Priest and monk who suggested to
the crowd "Who is our Family? Are not the people of Iraqi OUR Family?", the
Peace Community responded back, "We are all family!!"
A Great speaker, a former US Veteran of Vietnam, was even booed by the counter
demonstrators, when he suggested that they would be the last to offer their
lives on the front-lines of battle. The vet chastised Bush, Chenney, Rumsfield
and Company for failing to serve their own country in time of need when he and
others offered their own blood to protect America during Vietnam.
The counter demonstrators slowly edged out of the crowd as they tried to remain
steady in the face of "Peace is Patriotic" chants and as offers of dialogue and
discussion were turned away.
Once again, our folks came home charged and ready for peace. Michelle Rand and
others are organizing a student walk out of UWL on March 5th. Bree, Joe, and
Adrian have already organized a rally and march in Viroqua on the same
day--becoming the first COUNTY in Wisconsin to organize every public high school
to let students out from 10-12 Noon to show their opposition to the war!!
Every time we come home I am amazed at how close our La Crosse Community is
growing--how wonderful it is to see that Peace is not only Patriotic but more
importantly--the ANSWER to our world's woes. Keep on Organizing.....
Guy Wolf, LaCrosse
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