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NEWS & LETTERS, October - November 2007
Iraq war protests
Memphis, Tenn.--Even in a medium-sized city of the Deep South, the rejection of the Iraq War and occupation is strong. On Aug. 28, the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center held a rally outside the Federal Building here, which attracted dozens, though it was the middle of a work day. It featured the Eyes Wide Open Tennessee exhibit--a set of boots for every soldier from Tennessee killed in this war and occupation, together with another collection of 100 shoes, each pair representing 1,000 (or more) Iraqi civilians killed.
Originally, Eyes Wide Open was a traveling exhibit with boots for every U.S. military man and woman killed there, but the ever-climbing death toll made it too big to transport, so it was divided between the 50 states. Along with speeches, two activists--one of them a Vietnam veteran--read out the names of the fallen.
Two weeks later, a different group--the Peace at Pentecost Movement, which brings together laity and clergy from many denominations--held a remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001, which they called "A People of Faith, Not Fear: Working for Peace in a World of War." Along with workshops and an ecumenical service, this included a street-corner rally with over 30 people.
Four years ago, I would have half expected an anti-war rally held in Memphis on the anniversary of Sept. 11 to be attacked with physical violence, maybe even a pickup truck jumping the curb to hit us. But in 2007 we received overwhelming support: honks, waves, and peace signs from numerous passing drivers and passengers.
--Anti-war activist
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