The Declaration of Peace

The marchers arrive at the army recruitment center in Hollywood

See LA IndyMedia for original and photos

LOS ANGELES, September 25, 2006 – A coalition of faith based groups succeeded in closing the army recruitment center in Hollywood today.

Early this morning a group of about 50 marched down Hollywood Blvd. to the recruitment center and proceeded to block the entrance. They were prepared to risk arrest but it did not come to that. Police monitored the group but did not interfere. It is believed that the center knew in advance of the action and closed because of the demonstration.

About 25 people set up an all day vigil at the front doors to make sure the recruitment center did not try to reopen. One of the people who took part, Ann Bishop, said of the action “We may have saved a few lives. Somebody didn’t sign up, and maybe having a day to think it over they won’t sign up, and they won’t go some where and be killed or kill any body”.

MP3 Audio: Declaration of Peace
Recording of the statement read at today’s anti-war action in Hollywood.

After holding banners over the main commute routes into San Francisco early on Monday, Sept 25, many gathered again at four to block the entrance to the military recruiting stations. In attendance were about thirty protesters including the mother of a slain US soldier, the mother of a current soldier, and a group of teens from a local high school. One radio and six TV stations covered the story. There were lots of police, in attendance, but in recent times, police no longer arrest non-violent peace activists in San Francisco.

Photo by Stephen McNeil

Photo by Stephen McNeil

Photo by Stephen McNeil

Iowa City, Iowa held a “PeaceFest” this past Saturday. About 1500 attended the event. Attendees were invited to sign the Declaration of Peace and about 50 did. (Most had already signed it on line.)

Congressional candidate for Iowa’s 2nd District, Dave Loesback was asked to sign the Declaration. He took a copy and said he would consider it. Green Party candidate Iowa gubernatorial candidate did sign the Declaration.

-Mona Shaw

Audio of Declaration of Peace Die-in Demonstration held in front of the downtown post office where 60+ people came out to a nonviolent “die-in” to honor Iraqis and American servicemen and women killed in Iraq and call for an end to the killing.

Listen to Skidmark Bob’s excellent coverage on Free Radio Santa Cruz 101fm

FRSC - Free Radio Santa Cruz

By Noah Merrill
American Friends Service Committee
Southeastern New England Area

11 activists from the American Friends Service Committee and Rhode Island Military Families Speak Out were arrested yesterday evening, following an all-day vigil both inside and outside the office Senator Jack Reed, (D)-RI. Among those arrested was a local gold star mother, Stephany Kern, of Westerly, RI, whose son, Lance Corporal Nicholas Schiavoni, was killed in Iraq in November.

Outside, an all-day vigil featured images of Iraqis, boots to represent the three unknown soldiers who die every day in Iraq, a photo of Lance Corporal Nick Schiavoni, and a banner reading, “Senator Reed, Please Sign the Declaration of Peace”.

This action follows on nearly six weeks of letters, faxes, and phone-ins to Senator Reed’s office urging him to take the leadership of which we know he’s capable on setting a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq. Our communications with Senator Reed and the media have consistently stressed our deep respect for Senator Reed and his engagement with this issue; we’ve also emphasized our need for him to do more, by signing the Declaration of Peace, and calling for a definite timetable for withdrawal of US troops.

Senator Reed’s staff reluctantly called the police only after one hour of discussion and urging the group to reconsider its witness against the war. When police arrived, numerous officers, including the chief of police, urged protestors not to choose arrest. After thorough consideration, all present were led to remain in the office. Arrest and processing were carried out in an exemplary and respectful manner, with numerous expressions of support for the goals of our action.

More than 30 people provided direct support for the inside group risking arrest, and a parallel phone in generated consistent, unrelenting phone traffic throughout the day, including after the office closed and demonstrators remained.

Those arrested were charged with trespassing and released with a summons to appear on October 18.

On Sunday night, those participating in the Monday action held a candlelight spiritual gathering and preparation for action meeting in the manner of Quakers, with members of the group sharing prayers, fears, and hopes for the next day’s actions. This was followed be a “commissioning” and laying on of hands led by a local Unitarian Universalist minister, who recognized the confluence of holy days and time that brought Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah together with traditional Christian time observance the beginning of the new liturgical year.

Organizers will meet shortly for a follow-up as we prepare to support next steps in the Declaration of Peace campaign.

The Providence Journal, the main regional newspaper, ran an article on the front page of its print-edition “Rhode Island” section, but had not posted this article online as of this writing. We expect at least 1 more article by a friendly columnist, and a story on local and national DOP work in the alternative news-weekly in Rhode Island.