Our most recent very public vigil with the Iran Next? No War! No Way! banners and 8 of our 10 beautiful enlarged photos of Iranian people and families was held during the July 4th celebration at Empire State Plaza from 2 PM to 4 PM. We chose a location near the State Street entrance to the Plaza and in front of the area where BNP had their (glorious and ever expanding) booth.
Banner unfurlers, photo display artists, and leafleters from Women Against War included Pat Beetle, Sue DuBois, Dinah Farrington, Leslie Hyland, Jen Illenberg, Mickie Lynn, Linda Muralidharan and Terri Roben. We were also joined part of the time by a couple of members of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. BNP also offered chairs, their own leaflets listing local peace and justice groups and other encouragement including veggies. Pete Looker fed us black raspberries and Doug Bullock rode around the area with Grace White's (Code Pink) Don't Bomb Iran poster attached to the back of his bike.
Response and attention to our vigil was generally positive. The leafleters were engaged in some long conversations in which much information was exchanged. Having forgotten to count the leaflets before we handed them out I can only estimate that we distributed at least 200 Iran Myths and Truths leaflets during the two hours.
Even the weather was cooperative, not too hot and humid but ideal for vigilers and festival goers. We were grateful for the help of a row of lovely trees that provided us with shade for the entire vigil.
Our next planned vigil will take place during the NY I Love Food Festival at the Plaza on Wednesday, August 6th from 1 PM to 2 PM, unless (God and Goddess forbid) we need to deal with a US military attack on Iran before that time.
Please stay tuned for further updates from the Iran Project Committee of Women Against War. If you want to get in touch with us you can email info@womenagainstwar.org or call Maud at her office (M-F 9:15 am to 1 PM) at 518-426-0710.
