Madison-Oneida-For-Peace

Anti-War Protest in New York April 29 06

With buses not available to the Syracuse Peace Council and car pooling being organized out of Syracuse, Marcia found the Albany peace groups had room on their 4 or 5 buses going to the anti war demonstrations in New York on Saturday, April 29. We were some 300,000 strong, marching down Broadway from around 23rd Street to the Federal Building and Federal Park, some 22 blocks. I personally only encountered one heckler, who pointed to a group of red flag-carrying young Communists who were marching near me. "See who you are marching with? Go home and be proud," he said to me from the sidewalk.

"I'm not marching with them, they are marching with me and I am proud. Join us," I retorted, thanked him and walked on.

Marcia made sugar cookies frosted with the peace sign on each. We passed them around the bus and she got a round of thanks from a great group of people!

Charles's sign got a lot of attention. It shows on one side, the photo of each soldier killed in Iraq and the date he or she was killed. He says it needs to be updated, especially when on Saturday, as we marched, we learned that yet another soldier had been killed over there, bringing the total to 2400.

On the other side, he shows the demographics of states where the most war dead come from and compares it to the "red states" and "blue states" voting patterns of the last election. Interestingly, the heavy war loss states voted "blue."

Here are some pictures from the march. In my late 50's and an old rabble rouser from Vietnam War days, I found things a little different. When I finally sat down after the march to rest, I could't get up easily again! Too, I had to check out where some public bathrooms were located as the old bladder isn't as resilient as it once was. I was grateful to all the young people who danced, did street theater, mime, singing, chanting and drumming. THANKS for your energy!!

And although there were many events that may have taken people away from the anti war demonstrations, like demanding action to stop the genocide in Darfur and action to protest pending immigration legislation that would make it a felony to be in the country illegally, I was personally glad that people are TAKING IT TO THE STREETS more than ever. See what happens when PATRIOTISM is in action!! See how much power the people really have when they are together, demanding redress from a government gone amuk! They did it in Eastern Europe, they did it in Tibet! We can do it, too!