They Can Run . . . and They Can Hide (at least for now)

Yes, I'm back! Let's just say my entourage is very demanding of my time. I've not blogged in almost 3 months, but that doesn't mean that that the Phoenix peace community has been resting on its laurels. In fact, it has been a very busy summer.

But now, to the subject at hand. Our very own Liz is back from the battlefields of Washington, D.C. for a couple of weeks. While it's a nice vacation for her, she wanted to get in some face time with Harry Mitchell while he's back in Phoenix. The last action in a week-long flurry of Mitchell actions occurred yesterday evening.

Rep. Mitchell was set to speak at a Young Democrats function honoring Jim Pederson at the Mondrian in Scottsdale and we were set, of course, to rally for peace outside. Cherub, LB, and I were setting up our banners on the corner when Liz called from inside the hotel to tell us that the event had been postponed. Now, earlier in the week, the head of the Young Dems had called Cherub to complain about our rally, saying that it would "ruin" the event so many young people had worked so hard to put on. He even said that it was "sad" that we would consider putting on our rally at that time. Cherub replied that no, it was sad that mothers and fathers were finding out every day that their children had been killed or injured in the illegal, immoral occupation of Iraq (or words to that effect).

Well, we decided to continue with the rally, but we started wondering why they might have postponed the event. There seemed to be three possibilities:

1. A lot of the Young Dems are still on summer break and complained that they couldn't make the event (which is the excuse they gave);

2. They didn't have many people coming, so they decided to cancel the event; or

3. The Democrats are scared of us (which is what we decided is the case).

Peace organizations, including Code Pink and Gold Star Families for peace, were the darlings of the Democrats until we started putting their feet to the fire and demanding that they do the job they were elected for.

Anyway, if the Young Dems reschedule this event, you can be sure that End the War Coalition, Women in Black, and Code Pink Phoenix will be out there again.

Arlington West

Stearns Pier is, perhaps, the most popular destination in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. And Every Sunday since November 2, 2003, the dedicated members of Veterans for Peace (VFP) have set up Arlington West, a memorial to the U.S. troops who have died in Iraq, just west of the pier. I spent last weekend visiting Santa Barbara and stopped by Stearns Pier to pay my respects. I wore my CODEPINK Phoenix shirt (the longsleeved one -- it was really cold), and had several members of the local VFP approach me to talk about the peace movement here in Phoenix. They were extremely impressed by the way all the peace groups in Phoenix work together. One gentleman, Rod, supplied me with several DVDs intended for our Veterans for Peace and Counter-Recruitment group -- I will deliver these to the appropriate group once I preview them!
Currently, there are 3000 crosses, each bearing a name. Along the sides of the of the memorial, there were some interesting bits of information. The one that shook me the most was the following: "At 3000 crosses, the Arlington West Memorial is 141 feet wide and 310 feet long. A memorial for the Iraqi dead would be 141 feet wide and 12.8 miles long." This is truly a compelling, visceral memorial, much like the Eyes Wide Open exhibit we had here recently. Apparently, about 20% of the crosses have been visited by loved ones and there are quite a few pictures and other items placed with the crosses.
It generally takes the volunteers a couple of hours in the morning to set up the memorial and then some time to take it down at about noon. This weekend, however, the memorial remained up all day and then candles were set up next to all the crosses. The crosses weren't removed until Monday, in honor of Memorial Day. While I was there, one man was constantly caring for the memorial, very carefully raking the sand smooth where people had walked. Several months after VFP started the Arlington West in Santa Barbara, one was started in Santa Monica, too. This kind of visual memorial is one of the most effective ways to show the true cost of this terrible occupation -- human lives.

Can you hear me now?

O.K, so you can't leave work and come with a large peace sign to stand in front of Senator McCain's office for hours in the hot sun. That's understandable. But you can pick up a phone and make a quick call! This is what we're asking you to do in the "Can you hear me now? Campaign." Every day, call a different Arizona elected official and let him or her know that you want an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq, our troops home safe and sound, and no war with Iran. It's simple, fun and effective! Here's the schedule:

Monday
Sen. John McCain 602-952-2410

Tuesday
Sen. Jon Kyl 602-840-1891

Wednesday
Gov. Napolitano (AZ National Guard) 602-542-4331

Thursday
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 202-225-4965

Friday
Your Representative in Congress

Rep. Jeff Flake 480-833-6314

Rep. Trent Franks 623-776-7911

Rep. Harry Mitchell 480-946-2411

Rep. Ed Pastor 602-256-0551

Rep. John Shadegg 602-263-5300

If you're not lucky enough to live in Phoenix, Arizona, substitute your own Senators, Representative, and Governor. It's easy!

This campaign is sponsored by the End the War Coalition and all of its member groups.

What your mother always wanted!

Mother's Day Monday went very well last week. There was a steady stream of people coming by the big pink tent to write postcards to Senator McCain, urging him to stop the occupation of Iraq. C made a large "Dear John" letter to Senator McCain stating, "Our relationship never had a chance. Your true love is War -- it must end." We had many more honks for peace than "war fingers," as my entourage calls them. Many people called out their thanks to us for making sure that John McCain knows that Arizona women do not support his call for more and longer war.

We were given a "free speech" zone in front of the office building. We were cordoned off by a strip of pink tape (how appropriate). The building manager was so frightened of our peaceful rally that she even blocked off the sidewalk to the building. Even though we scrupulously honored the zone, she could not be talked into opening up sidewalk access to the building. It's very interesting that Senator McCain would choose to have his office in a building where the owners are not very interested in supporting our Constitutional right to free speech!



The day-long vigil was followed by an evening candlelight vigil. C read Julia Ward Howe's rousing Mother's Day declaration and we all joined together to sing a few songs. I thought the evening vigil was well-attended even though it conflicted with a Suns' playoff game.

C spent the entire day at Mother's Day Monday and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her hard work. Even I , Pinky, only spent 2 hours out in the heat (my entourage complained of being hot and needing snacks), although I returned for the evening vigil.

My thanks to C, V, and Phoenix FBlogger for the photos. I'm still not a good blogger!

In Julia Ward Howe's Tradition

Enjoy your Mother's Day, but wake up early on Monday to rally for peace. The End the War Coalition, of which CODEPINK Phoenix is a proud member, is sponsoring a couple of Mother's Day Monday events, in conjunction with the Mother of a March planned in Washington, D.C.

Here are the particulars:

Join with other women in a call for peace and to end the Iraq war!

Please come for the day, an hour, a moment...

Mother's Day Monday at McCain's

May 14, 2007 8am-5pm

5353 N.16th Street

&

Candlelight peace vigil follows at 7 p.m. commemorating the U.S. military and the Iraqi civilian dead

If you are a mother, or ever had a mother, we need you on May 14th, the Monday after Mother's Day at Sen. McCain's office, 5353 N. 16th St! We will set up a tent outside from 8am-5pm for you to stop by and write a message to Sen. McCain to end the carnage in Iraq, then you can go into his office and hand deliver your urgent peace message.

Mother's Day Monday at McCain's will conclude with a solemn candlelight peace vigil at 7 p.m. commemorating the U.S. military and the Iraqi civilian dead.

For more information - 480.894.2024

Not Just Your Average Hallmark Holliday

Few people know that Mother's Day was actually first conceived as a peace holiday. Julia Ward Howe (of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" fame) was fed up with the damaging effects of war on both the soldiers and their families. She wrote the following Declaration in 1870:


Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Elizabeth Kucinich visits Phoenix (or, a Good Blogger Never Forgets her Camera)

Elizabeth Kucinich, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, came to Arizona this past week to march and speak for immigrant rights. My friends AR and RR put together a couple of speaking engagements for her with the local peace community, too. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the event on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, however, I forgot my camera (unlike good bloggers, who never forget).

If I had taken my camera, you would, right here, see a photograph of the Free Street Band, a group of 3 local peace activists who like to play drums and bagpipes and wear kilts. They are at most peace events around Phoenix and often make the event a celebration of peace rather than a sober condemnation of war. Cindy McCain even commented on the wonderful music during her speech last Saturday at the Senator McCain event.

Here, you would see a photo of Jeff Farias, local liberal radio talk show host, playing the stand up bass for some more very enjoyable music.

We were also entertained by an animated short discussing HR 676, a bill for universal, single-payer, non-profit healthcare in the U.S. The last opening act before Elizabeth spoke was Dustin James who performed his remake of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."

(Right here, had I had my camera, you would see a photograph of Elizabeth Kucinich) CODEPINK Phoenix does not endorse political candidates, but we do endorse any ideas that would lead to lasting, sustainable peace. Elizabeth spoke of some of these ideas and I would encourage anyone interested in what Rep. Kucinich has to say to research his platform. The idea of focusing on what is good about the U.S. instead of what is bad, is certainly a refreshing idea, as is the establishment of a cabinet level Department of Peace and Non-violence.

While the attendance of the event was disappointing, the message and the company were inspiring. I hope that some of the other candidates, both Democratic and Republican, will be open to meeting with Phoenix's peace community in the future.

In the end, this is the only image I have to share from the event. I really like the globe and peace symbol used on this sign, so I took the photo on my back patio this morning. So, I leave you with a dream of world peace.

McCain announces his run for the Presidency (for the 5th time this week)

Senator John McCain decided to grace his home state with his final announcement that he is running for president in 2008. I know, it's a big shock! I heard throught the grapevine, though, that we provided McCain with the largest protest group of all of his announcements. I think that is the least Arizona could do for him!
As you can see, it was a beautiful day to rally for peace. We had a plan to make noise for a while to make our point, and then we were going to have a silent protest while McCain spoke. Unfortunately, the event was hermetically sealed to ward off all free speech, so a silent protest would not have been effective.


This is about as close as most of us got. My good friends C and R from the End the War Coalition and Military Families Speak Out, respectively, managed to get inside and had quite an adventure, which I hope to write about shortly.


The rest of us kept up the noise, which, C and R tell me, the McCain faithful could hear inside the event. Apparently, every time we would start chanting, they would start chanting inside, thereby interrupting their candidate during his speech.


All in all, I think it was an effective rally, with about 150 peace activists outside the event. We received some media coverage and made the point that since McCain doesn't even adequately represent his constituents, he can't possibly represent the country.

Let's begin in the middle

Code Pink Phoenix was created in 2004, a couple of months before the 2004 election. The first really big event Code Pink Phoenix took part in was the 2004 Presidential Debate which took place in Tempe, Arizona, in October 2004. Now, 2 1/2 years later, it's time to start recording what Code Pink Phoenix is doing to help end the occupation of Iraq and to stop a new war with Iran. So, in essence, we'll begin in the middle.