Posted on 03/14/2003 10:25:19 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Peace rally planned in Howell Saturday
By Christopher Nagy
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
An estimated 100 residents are expected to show up for a peace rally Saturday at the Livingston County Courthouse, and Theresa Brennan, local spokesperson for the event, said she's been receiving a positive response in planning the rally.
"I've been making calls over the last couple days and been getting a good response back for the last couple of days," Brennan said.
"I've only had positive feedback É but I really won't find out until Saturday what the count will be," she added.
In an 8-1 vote during a committee meeting Monday night, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners approved the use of county grounds at the historic courthouse building for this weekend's peace rally. The event is just one rally being organized by the Michigan Peace Network for Saturday. The organization plans to hold similar rallies at the same time in every county in the state, according to Bob Alexander, state facilitator for the Michigan Peace Network. The day will culminate in a statewide rally in at the state Capitol in Lansing at 2 p.m.
Although helping to organize several rallies, Alexander said he will be in attendance at the Livingston County event because it is a "crucial" area in the district of U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, who has come out in support of a war with Iraq and recently returned from Turkey where he met with that country's leaders to discuss the importance of stationing U.S. troops at Turkish military bases for a northern assault into Iraq.
Alexander will be one of two speakers at the county peace rally, along with the Rev. Dr. David Swink, pastor of the Chilson Hills American Baptist Church in Howell. Swink said he wasn't speaking as a representative of his church, but instead over his concerns as an individual citizen and county resident.
"I have been corresponding with Congressman Rogers for about nine months over this issue, and I'm concerned about the humanitarian and moral implications of what we're doing," Swink said. "Beyond that, I'm not sure of what I'm going to say."
In addition to the speakers, Brennan said the rally will include chanting, songs, signs and poems.
"Pretty much everything you'd expect," she said. "The purpose is to get together and make our position known. Like any demonstration, it's just something to make your message known to your leaders."
Alexander said he will be in attendance at the Livingston County event because it is a "crucial" area in the district of U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Brighton,
There you have it. There's the key. Mike Rogers. The good news is that Mike won with 70% last time against a no name. However, it is still a marginal seat if the dem is a strong opponent. Mike may run for statewide office as well and is one of the two or three strongest Republicans in the state.
Mike
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