Lake Forest Park For Peace commemorates 10 years of public presence
Monday, December 10, 2012
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| Ten years of peace vigils in Lake Forest Park Photo courtesy Lake Forest Park for Peace |
Lake Forest Park For Peace will commemorate 10 years of weekly vigiling and political activism on Saturday December 15, 2012 at 11an at the corner of Ballinger and Bothell Ways NE in Lake Forest Park.
Formed as a member of the Sound Nonviolent Opposition to War (SNOW) in response to the buildup of the Bush Administration for the invasion of Iraq, LFP for Peace has continued its public presence with persistence and fortitude.
“The issues regarding our country’s military policies has always encompassed the entire political spectrum”, said founding member Ann Buzaid. “The Obama Administration has not only continued, but expanded on Bush-era policies of military engagement, domestic survelliance, and political suppression.” LFP for Peace consists of over 30 regular vigilers, with an e-mail list of over 120 supporters. “ It is still one of the most radical things a suburbanite can do.”, said long-time activist Glen Milner. “We stand in public, week after week, rain or shine, declaring our personal political beliefs openly and unabashedly.”
The regular Saturday vigil is a mainstay of community life in the north end of Lake Washington.
“We as vigilers as just part of the occasion”, said fellow activist Bob Trutnau. “The people who drive by and support us with their honks, waves, and peace signs reinvigorate us, and we believe the feeling is mutual!”
The Peace Pole installed by LFP For Peace last year at the site of their vigils on the corner of Ballinger and Bothell Ways NE is a constant reminder and reflection of the community’s respect for LFP For Peace’s message.
“ The work continues,” states Sigrid Salo. “Drone strikes, the Afghan War, the Syrian proxy war, the threat of bombing Iran, the expanding rationales for indefinite detention and attacks on all our civil liberties – the list goes on and on! And so we go on and on, doing not only what we can, but what we must.”
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2 comments:
My husband was happy to protect your right to protest.
We're happy that we live in a country where you can protest what you believe in.
It was sad though, driving with a 4 year old who's dad was deployed through signs and protests that included a coffin, signs that said, "War is terrorism" (explain that to a 4 year old who can read), masks of the President and Vice President with signs that said, "War Criminals" and other very inflammatory rhetoric.
Frequently these displays included signs that said, "we support our troops"...
We certainly were not feeling very supported as a family with a husband/daddy deployed.
Here are a few lovely photos to drive by with your child who's father is deployed:
http://www.lfpfp.org/9.html?frm_data1=1&frm_data1_type=large#
http://www.lfpfp.org/4.html?frm_data1=7&frm_data1_type=large
You pretended to support us.
We drove through every day.
We were not supported by you.
Which is fine, but don't pretend.
It should be noted that while this group has claimed to support "peace," they have had signs with full vulgarity for all to see over the years. Their behaviors in the early years was repulsive and hardly "peaceful." Then there was the incident a few years ago in which a memeber of their group was arrested for assaulting one of the Pro-Troops folks after a heated exchange at the switch around. They certainly have staying power but their message has fallen on deaf ears because the antics over the years have turned many who may have been supportive. As to their precious peace pole, boy howdy! Don't block it with the American flag or the flags of the armed services because they will get very unhappy (including calling the local police to demand the removal - an attempt to infringe on other protected speech).
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