Peace breaks out in Mobile, AL on Memorial Day 2007 (PHOTOS)

[intheflow]

Today I drove 60 miles to spend my Memorial Day honoring vets who died in the line of duty by publicly calling for the end of the war in Iraq. About 50 miles into my drive it started torrentially raining. I was sure no one would be there--I mean, a) how many peace activists live in Mobile, AL, and b) how many would be willing to rally in a rain storm? It turns out there are around 25 peace activists in the greater Mobile area who are more than willing to brave a rain storm for justice. (Plus one camera bug peacenik from Biloxi.)









Veterans for Peace was there. In fact, they helped organize this event.



I learned about another group today, too, The Quest for Social Justice. Here's their Vice President:



I think my favorite part of the rally, though, was this giant "Worst President" sign in the middle of the green. The man who made it had the foresight to paint it on a shower curtain to withstand the weather!



I was most heartened by the number of honks, waves, and thumbs up we got. It was a busy street, and in the two hours I was there I'd say a third of the cars going by gave some sign of support. There was only one flip of the bird and one verbal abuse hurled from a passing car that I saw. It did my heart good to witness a peace event which went that well in the Deep South.

[PDJane]

1. Thank you..........

And blessings. That's hopeful......and I'm sitting here with a grin on my face. All ages there!

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. Send some of that rain to east-central Alabama

My grass is dead. Leaves are falling off the trees. We have received only 0.2 inches of rain since March. The smoke from the fires in Georgia has reduced visibility and made working outside unpleasant. Farmers are feeding cows and horses hay in May. Never, in my 60 years, have I seen anything like this.

[intheflow]

13. That's what the folks I met were saying, too.

They were very grateful for the rain. I'm new to the region so I have no precedent to go by. Seems to me it rains a lot in Mississippi, but after coming from the dry, desert mountains of Colorado while they've been in drought this past decade, I may have a skewed perspective on how much rain is "a lot" in a tropical zone.

[Elwood P Dowd]

15. We're about 15 inches short for the year so far.

Crops are dying and animals are suffering. BTW, I just noticed that I should have posted this to your OP and not to PD Jane. Sorry about that.

[William769]

2. Thanks for the great photos.

At least some good today came out of Alabama.

[Frances]

3. Great pix

I grew up near Mobile. I lived and worked there for 6 months many years ago. Thanks for this post.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. this is amazing. I love the senior lady who is vp of a peace group.

[intheflow]

7. That's Sr. Mary Elizabeth.

Peace nuns rock! :headbang:

[JDPriestly]

6. Thank you Mobile`

Murphy grad.

[Critters2]

8. "War is terrorism with a bigger budget"

That's brilliant!

[intheflow]

14. I also liked "Globalization at gunpoint."

They were a cool couple.

[JeffR]

9. Cool! I just gave this its fifth rec. Kudos to you and everyone there

Someday, all these efforts will bear fruit and this monstrous illegal occupation will be over. Here's to y'all.
:toast:

[Ava]

10. the mobile folks are awesome!

i went to their rally a few months back. mobile is a bit of a drive from us since we are more north in alabama, but it was well worth it. they rock!

[intheflow]

11. They're planning another big protest on June 21.

Bush will be down for a $1K a plate fundraiser. I'll be in Portland,OR, that week, but maybe you could go cover the event in my place?

[babylonsister]

12. You rock, intheflow! Thanks for the pix! nt

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Hey, "I" was going to say "you rock," InTheFlow,

but BabylonSister beat me to it. I love these shots. From experience up here in the dead of winter with sub-freezing temps and strong winds, I know that peace activists can be a sturdy bunch. I'm glad to see you all didn't melt in the rain.

[intheflow]

19. Yes.

One woman there (didn't get a photo of her) was in a full neck and back brace. But there she was, holding a sign and flashing the peace sign.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Most inspiring intheflow

Thank you for the photos

:cry: :patriot:

Kicked and recommended

[intheflow]

18. Hurray! We got some press coverage!

Protesters want Bush to bring U.S. troops home

We made the evening news on three Mobile channels, but only for about two seconds each and none of those stories made it onto the local news casts' web pages. So it's good to see the paper wrote about it, and in much more depth than the tv news covered it. Check out these quotes:

"We're calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney for lying to the American people about this illegal and unnecessary war," (Ernie) Seewer said. "We are here speaking out against this immoral war."
(This is the Vets For Peace guy in my photo, above.)

"I was out here during the first Gulf War, and the ratio of middle fingers to thumbs-up has completely changed," said Mark Moberg of Chickasaw, referring to the types of gestures and the frequency with which he saw drivers use them in 1991 versus this year. In 1991 "it was 80 percent hostility and 20 percent support. This time it's around 90 percent support. I wish our congressman (Jo Bonner, R-Mobile) could have seen this."
(Mark is also one of the leaders of The Quest for Justice, but I didn't get a good shot of him at the rally.)

Cheryl Sabel, state president of the National Organization of Women, said in a statement that "NOW has called for an end to this illegal and unjust war. "Billions of dollars have been spent on this war and, billions more are being sought," Sabel said in a news release. "The American people sent a clear message in the last election, but the message is not being heeded, and those in power continue to disappoint and betray us."
(Cheryl came just as I was leaving, so I didn't get any photos of her.)

[intheflow]

20. One last kick.

:kick: