Posted on 03/14/2006 12:19:22 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The anti-war movement in Wisconsin is alive and expecting a busy weekend, if the schedule of vigils and pickets, rallies and gatherings everywhere from Hayward to West Bend to the Wisconsin Dells is any indication.
While the efforts of various anti-war groups have not drawn the sort of large demonstrations against the Vietnam War witnessed in Madison in 1969-70, that does not mean the "movement" doesn't exist. It is there, just making its point in a different context, suggested Joseph Elder, a longtime advocate for peace and a UW-Madison professor of sociology.
The Madison Area Peace Coalition, for example, lists 53 organizations and businesses as members and is meeting today to make signs for Saturday's Madison rally to commemorate the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which traces its origins to the Gulf War in 1991, includes more than 150 organizations as members.
Elder said a better indication of the anti-war movement than the size of demonstrations is a look at polls that show support low levels of support for the war and the president.
"There will be anti-war rallies this weekend, signs are going up all over the city, and there will be lots of attention to getting people to vote yes on the referenda," said Elder, referring to the more than 30 Wisconsin communities that will be asked this spring about their support for the Iraq war. Many ask for a yes- or-no vote on a statement saying the U.S. should call its troops back immediately, and at least two municipalities have referendums requesting support for the war.
"The polls are steadily swinging around, reflecting just how badly things are going in Iraq, in Afghanistan," said Elder. "The poll figures are more dramatic than large marches on Washington."
He noted that during the Vietnam War, supporters of the government's actions claimed the anti-war movement was having no effect, "something they later discounted."
Three years ago, there were large protests before the Iraq invasion. "Those big crowds from three years ago are doubled and tripled as far as the people saying we shouldn't have gone in," he said.
Rachel Friedman, a spokeswoman for the coalition planning this weekend's rally in Madison, agreed there is not a "great big lead organization or any one group" running a national anti- war movement.
"But just because we all have different names, it doesn't mean we are not a united movement," she said.
What has also contributed to a perception of disparate support, said Friedman, is that different people and groups have organized to protest different facets of the war.
"We have critical thinking and difference of opinion. We have people protesting the financial impact, the impact on children, the cuts to veterans - there are so many components," said Friedman.
• Upcoming protests The main Madison event this weekend, Home Improvement Rally, Set America's House in Order, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday on the Library Mall, with the rally to be held at 2 p.m. in the Orpheum Theater on State Street.
More information can be found a www.madpeace.org.
A schedule of events around the state is available at www.wnpj.org.
As it has since December 1981, the Vigil for Peace on Monday made its weekly, one-hour commitment to "nonviolent conflict resolution and opposition to excessive military spending" at Doty Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The group, which usually ends the vigil by singing the Latin hymn "Dona Nobis Pacem," or "Give Us Peace," includes, from left, Judy Miner, Jackson Tiffany and Bob Radford, all of Madison.
Amazing how the MSM is rooting so hard for the aging hippie class to get out there for a good anti-war fire-bombing!
Pray for freezing rain.
I have a BIG weekend planned....Ski Jay Peak ...
I'm getting out of here too, LOL! Going to a Rock, Gem & Mineral Show and talking DH into buying me something "sparkly."
I know, it's shallow. I should put my anti-war sentiments first. /sarcasm
Hmmm there is a street protection dog class that weekend...
Would be nice to let my shepherds get some 'hands on' experience...after school...for extra credit?
:)
I hope we get some good video footage for the November elections. Nothing turns off the voter (including moderate democrats)better than these anti-american groups
I hope we get some good video footage for the November elections. Nothing turns off the voter (including moderate democrats)better than these anti-american groups.
Don't know if that works here in the People's Republic.......we keep electing that G-D Dork Feingold.
A freezing rain is good. A blizzard with 80 MPH winds would be even better!
Cut throat here.
'Here's to' the 'Good Guys & Gals" giving the geriatric flatulating ingrates masquerading as Americans even more dead enemies to weep over
More than a foot of snow hits northern Wis.
More than a foot of snow brought travel to a near standstill Monday in northern Wisconsin, sending trucks jackknifing and cars sliding into ditches, while southern Wisconsin dealt with wind gusts topping 60 mph and rain that raised flood threats.
In Rice Lake, 19 inches of snow fell.
``This is the most (snowfall) I've ever seen,'' said Rob Jefferson, 50, owner of Nancy's Northside Family Restaurant there.
Jefferson said the snowplow he hired to clear his business couldn't get there, though a few customers managed to make it.
``But once they get in, they can't get out again,'' he said.
Randall Parent, an employee of a Citgo station in Rice Lake, said travel was extremely difficult.
``The only people getting around are those in four-wheel-driver trucks, and even some of them are stuck,'' he said.
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