Posted on 03/10/2003 5:28:32 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
Peace Rally eyed for county courthouse
By Christopher Nagy
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Although the United States inches further toward military action in the Middle East, Bob Alexander doesn't think "peace" is a dirty word - and he's betting that other Livingston County residents feel the same way.
Alexander is state facilitator for the Michigan Peace Network, a grassroots group protesting a U.S. assault on Iraq. He's organizing a peace rally on the steps of Howell's historic Livingston County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Saturday. Alexander's request to use the county grounds will come before the Ways and Means Committee of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners tonight.
"We decided we needed to take local demonstrations out to the counties instead of having one large statewide demonstration," Alexander said.
The Michigan Peace Network is a new group, forming just a few weeks ago, but rallies across the state have already been held, Alexander said, including a recent rally in front of the county courthouse with 18 people in attendance.
"It wasn't a bad turnout for trying to put something together without notice," Alexander said, adding that he felt the community gave the group a strong show of support.
"For every finger or insult we received, there were five or six or seven different people honking their horns in support for us," he said. "The support for our position is something that's very mainstream. This isn't a left-wing, college-kid activity."
Although the political climate in the country seems to be moving toward a war in Iraq, Alexander said there's still time to demonstrate a support to a peaceful resolution.
"We're not there yet. This isn't something that is inevitable," he said. "There are other threats much greater than this that can be found elsewhere in places like North Korea."
If a courthouse rally is approved by the commissioners, Alexander said the rally will include protest signs, chanting, songs and speakers.
"The usual stuff," he said.
BTW - It never mentioned where Bob Alexander is from....Ann Arbor maybe? I think I need to pay a visit to Howell Saturday.......
Figures that we're dealing with out of town troublemakers here.......
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