Here in protest(Thousands of peaceniks at Ft. Benning)

Ledger-Enquirer.com ^ | November 19, 2006 | Mick Walsh

[Dane]

Here in protest People of all types united for common cause BY MICK WALSH Staff Writer A group of protesters join hands in prayer at the foot of a locked gate preventing entrance to Fort Benning on Saturday morning. Protesters gathered at the main entrance to Fort Benning as part of the SOA Watch events this weekend calling for the closure for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, located at Fort Benning.

Judy Cumbee had more than one reason to slip back in her chair and listen intently to the Duluth songbird, Sara Thomsen, as she entertained thousands of protesters, most of whom were at the gates of Fort Benning Saturday.

She was calling for the closure of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

After leading what was called the "Living the Dream" march from Selma, Ala., to Columbus earlier in the week, dodging thunderstorms and angry motorists along the way, Cumbee needed to rest her feet a bit. And while she did, her newfound friend Thomsen romanced the crowd from the SOA Watch stage.

"Today re-energizes me," Cumbee said as she noted that Thomsen, Rachael Kilgour, Brooks Anderson and several dozen others from Minnesota had hooked up with her civil rights organization for the march to Columbus.

"They're called the 'Echoes of Peace' and they helped make our march a lot of fun," she said.

Fun seemed to be the key descriptive word Saturday as the two-day protest on Benning Road celebrated its festive day.

Today is the day that protesters make the decision to cross over onto federal property and risk arrest, as former New York City firefighter Rich Wekerle did in 2003. Serving six months in an Oregon prison "was the high point of my life; it's worth going to jail for something you believe in."

Crossing over could be difficult for protesters later today.

On Friday, yet another high fence was installed in front of the gate, meaning that anyone who wants to go onto the post must scale three fences.

Eric LeCompte, one of the protest organizers, said he didn't know how many might decide to cross. The number has varied since 2002 when 85 were arrested. Thirty-two were charged last year but only 16 in 2004.

One who won't be risking arrest will be Ursuline nun Margaret Johnson of Moscow, Idaho.

"I've actually crossed over twice, in 1999 and 2000, but in neither case was I arrested," she said. "I'm not going to make an attempt to do so this year."

Johnson was one of many clergy on hand at the protest. Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Providence walked hand in hand with Benedictines for Peace, Franciscans and even a small contingent of Buddhists.

"You see people from all walks of life," said Rachael Kilgour, who is making her fifth visit to Columbus. "It's what keeps us coming back."

If fun was the day's watchword, diversity was a close second.

The crowd was made up of high school and college students, retirees and two groups of grandparents, including the 1,000 Grandmothers.

Variety of items

Nancy Jakubiak of Clarksville, Ind., was one of those grannies.

"I want to see the school closed down," she said. "It's the main reason I've come here every year. But not the only reason. I enjoy visiting with old friends, listening to the music and speeches. It may have cost me $200 or so but it's worth every penny."

On a day that began cool, then heated up considerably by the time the "puppetista pageant" began in late afternoon, folks from upstate New York to Atlanta, from Milwaukee and Chicago to New Orleans and Montgomery, Ala., found themselves singing, dancing and eating from lunch time to dinner time.

"There's a spirit here unlike past years," LeCompte said. "The recent election had a lot to do with that. There's a real feeling that the new Congress will shoot the school down. If it does, I'll still come back, if only to see the Auburn-Alabama game."

One thing is obvious to anyone visiting the scene. This is not only a protest to close down the institute, which they believe still teaches torture tactics to be used in Latin and South America.

A quarter-mile long row of vendors is selling everything from anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-poverty and anti-death penalty messages to CDs with many of the Latino songs that were sung on the stage Saturday.

It was sort of like Alice's Restaurant, where you could get anything you want. Even red beans and rice, chicken wings and sweet Georgia tea

[AmericanMade1776]

So that is where the Good Doctor Raoul was. I sure thought he was going to be at the Celebration of our troops..because in his invite he said "One word of caution. If you show up in Columbus that day and there are elderly unwashed folks are holding signs that read, "Don't Trust Any One Under 60", you're at the wrong event. And don't take the brown acid... "

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723379/posts

[Gideon Reader]

I assume that you are talking about the guy with the granny glasses and the muttonchop sideburns. :~)

[JOE43270]

"The peaceniks feel emboldened and are giving America's enemies a warm heart."

I agree with that and this how I feel. If I find some of these peaceniks attacking, calling them baby killers, and spitting on my younger Brothers and Sisters coming home from combat zones like was done during the Viet Nam era, I will be standing with my younger Brothers and Sisters. Those idiot peaceniks will never understand that the reason they can act like they do is because of what America's people in uniform have done for them since 1775. The Stars and Stripes are still flying over these traitorous peaceniks because of what our Best of the Best do for America. God Bless America and ALL who have worn Her uniforms.