April 4, 2007 Honk for Peace

Naomi and I were looking for a date for an April Honk for Peace event and decided on April 4th. It was a random date that was selected, worked for her, worked for me. Then, I received an email from Naomi with this bit of historical information.

And here's a little food for thought, 39 years ago on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was killed in Memphis. Forty year ago on April 4, 1967, King said these words:

"Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world. Moreover, when the issues at hand seem as perplexed as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict [Vietnam War], we are always on the verge of being mesmerized by uncertainty; but we must move on.

We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight."

My daughter was home for spring break this last week from the University of Hawai'i. It was easy to get lost in our family life, cooking out, going to movies, shopping together, having friends over. Those things are important and should be cherished and valued. But I found it so easy to release the responsibility of what I know I need to do to try to change this world for Peace. It is easy to get up and make excuses on why I can't get involved today. But what I realize is that we have to make Peacework part of our daily life, not a hobby or extracurricular event. Studies show that parents who make exercise and physical activities a part of family life, have children that grow up to be healthier and more active than their peers who were not exposed to that kind of family lifestyle. What if we all made working for peace part of our daily family life?

I hope you can find the time to come out and help us at any of our events. Please consider coming to the House Party on April 14th (see event schedule). There is something everyone can do, regardless of how much or little free time they have. Let's all make this part of our daily life. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Scenes from a Protest: Part 2

Taylor and Terri Rice, CodePink Memphis, participated in the CodePink rally in DC, January 27, 2007. Check out the young CodePinker, Taylor to the right or Sean Penn and the others, with drum sticks clacking and "Fire Bush" pink slip. She is a "Peace Princess" just like her crown says.

Report on Peace March

CodePink Memphis had a great turnout at the rally and march on March 17th. Between 20-25 people turned out in pink to participate with the several hundred protesters. The ages ranged from 1 year, 10 years, high school kids, college kids, up to seniors, all marching for peace. Taylor R. and Betsy A. helped sign up new people interested in supporting CodePink and they both led the march of several hundred, in peace chants, even introducing the crowd to CodePink's "What do women say . . . Pull out now!". I was thrilled to see the number of high school and college aged kids joining the march and getting involved. The march led to the military processing center, where the names and pictures of soldiers from Tennessee killed in the war were tied to the fence surrounding the center, with yellow ribbons, while their names were read aloud. It was a very moving visual presentation. We finished the march, walking down Beale St., where the St. Patty's day party crowd was waiting for the St. Patty's parade to begin. We received, largely, a positive response, even picking up a few new marchers. The march ended where it began, at the National Civil Rights Museum. On the way to my car, my daughter and I were stopped by two young men from Denmark, wanting to take our picture in our CodePink gear and signs of Peace. They seemed excited to see that in America there are people pushing for Peace, not just a government pushing for war.

[ Watch the FOX 13 News video. ]

Peace March

On March 17, 2007, CodePink Memphis will be joining a Peace rally and march to mark the 4th anniversary of the War in Iraq. For those of you who are new to these kinds of actions, I'd really like to urge you to attend. I took my daughter to the march in D.C. in January and it was a life changing experience for us both. When I joined other people who are Pro-Peace, there was such a tremendous release of the frustration I had felt at my unability to make a change. I realized how many people there are that want the same things I did, peace, social changes, and a move to make a difference.

Please make plans to attend this event with CodePink Memphis. You will feel empowered that you are taking a stand, speaking out for peace, and meeting others that are doing the same. There will be more information sent out to our email list, that will detail what we are doing, but if you want more information, or are planning on attending, please email CodePinkMemphis@aol.com so that we know what kind of numbers we are looking at. Look at the pictures on our website to know what CodePinkers wear to these events, or some of the national actions at www.codepinkalert.org. We will have some props, but the brighter pink the better, the more pink the better!

Military Testing Action

Wooddale High School was targeted for leaflet distribution today. Several ladies in pink helped the Midsouth Peace and Justice Center educate students and parents on the purpose of the ASVAB for military recruiters. Parents were grateful for the information and the students were interested in learning that they can opt out of taking the test or, if they take it, secure their privacy. Very few students knew in advance they weren't required to take it, or that by doing so, it would mean being dogged by local military recruiters. One young man didn't want the information, saying he wanted to join the Air Force, which his friends chided him for. I was heartened to hear many students saying they wanted to go to college and were not interested in what the military had to offer them. Another Code Pink woman helping stated what she thought would be a terrific outcome, getting the teens talking about it at school together and by doing so, hopefully strengthening their stance on their own futures.

Valentine's Day - Honk for Peace!

Wow! Nearly twenty people attended our Valentine's Day action, even though it was a cold gloomy day with wind chill in the teens. We brightened up the scenery with our hot pink outfits as we deployed our peace banners on a pedestrian bridge over Sam Cooper Boulevard during rush hour. A majority of passing drivers cheered our message with enthusiastic honks and smiles, including many air horns from 18-wheelers and even a few siren whoops from ambulances and police cars!

Our event was covered by the Commercial Appeal and FOX-13 News. You can watch the news video here.