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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May-June 2008, page 73 Waging Peace Des Moines’ Weekly Anti-War Vigil Now in Fourth Year
ON THURSDAY, March 13, nine Iowa anti-war activists turned out for the weekly anti-war vigil in Des Moines. “The wonderful thing about the vigil is that it gives people who want to do something about the war a way to do something,” said Wendy Vasquez, the vigil’s founder. “It’s always there.” Several local activists have been showing up for the noon-hour protest and leafleting event since day one, which was Nov. 11, 2004. “We’re against the war, and we’re here because we want to provide a visible presence in the community,” said Renee Espeland, coordinator of the Iowa Peace Network. “Anybody working in these office buildings, if they want to, can come down and be a part of something pretty easily for even 10, 15, or 20 minutes of a lunch break.” Vasquez creates a leaflet for each vigil and those who are not holding signs pass out leaflets, Espeland explained. While attendance varies with the season and other factors, she noted, “This vigil goes on rain or shine. There are some other vigils in town that quit for cold weather, but even if it’s cold, we’re here. Now we did cut it a little bit short on a couple of ’em, when it was below zero,” admitted Espeland, laughing. “We stayed about 45 minutes.” Unlike other events that are sponsored by a particular organization or organizations, the weekly vigil in Nollen Plaza, across from the Civic Center and a block from the Federal Building, is a grassroots community effort. “Bless Wendy’s heart, she got this going,” said Espeland. “She just took it upon herself as an individual. She’s not representing a group. There’s no 501(c)(3) organization, it’s just simply individuals. “Now, American Friends Service Committee, Iowa Peace Network, Catholic Peace Ministry, Catholic Worker, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom—all those are certainly behind it and we have people from those groups who show up,” Espeland said, “but it was one woman who decided that something had to be done to keep a visible presence in the community to draw people’s attention to this war. And that was Wendy Vasquez.” Mary Clark has been coming to the vigil since October. “I’m a grandma, a wife, I have four grandchildren, and I am strongly against the war in Iraq, strongly against any war going into Iran, strongly against war, period,” she said. “I don’t want my grandchildren fighting in a war that was started with lies. I just wanted to do something, and this is what I can do. It’s not much, but it’s something.” Sherry Hutchison has been coming to the vigil since its inception. “I’m a little worried now,” she acknowledged. “I think anybody who is hopeful is not realistic. Seems as if Admiral Willam J. Fallon, who opposed attacking Iran, may have been forced out, and that is a bad sign, because it means the Bush administration can get everybody it wants to to agree that this is the thing to do.” Hutchison said she would be calling Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) and Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) later in the afternoon to “worry out loud” about an attack on Iran. “I try to remember to thank them if they vote the right way about something,” Hutchison said, “but I don’t always remember. “I just came from a meeting to plan a protest on tax day,” she added, “to remind people that that’s what their money is going for. That never gets any publicity, but I hope maybe it will this year.” Although there was still snow on the ground, after the long winter the activists were clearly enjoying the somewhat warmer weather and anticipating the spring and summer months when their numbers will grow. —Michael Gillespie |
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