At our second annual I Love NY Food Festival, Iran Next? No War! No Way! vigil we unveiled a new communication tool. This large banner encourages people to take action & call congress. Our message provides a toll free congressional switchboard number. The banner/portable billboard was designed by Kim Kennedy in the form of a very large, pillow-case shaped, two sided, banner (slightly different wording on other side) with an ingenious, pvc pipe frame. The frame is light, creates an eight foot high support structure, and can be disassembled for carrying and transporting. After Kim and her husband Paul put together this amazing banner we realized that it would be valuable at all demonstrations that called for legislative advocacy. Way to go Kimmie!
This lunch hour food festival demonstration reached thousands of festival goers. This year more people stopped to engage us in conversation. Priscilla Fairbank had created an excellent leaflet that discussed oppositon to House Concurrent Resolution 362, "The Iran blockade resolution" and gave phone numbers, email information and our website for more background information. On the other side of the leaflet she quoted from voices calling for diplomacy.
August 6, 2008 also commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the United States nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. An ironic fact as we continue to struggle with the issues of preventing nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and with the recent threats of Israel bombing Iran's uranium enrichment facilities. Nine women vigiled that afternoon, Kim, Priscilla, Maud, Linda, Diane, Mickie, Marcia, Sue D. and Sondra. That was a perfect number to fit into our vigiling space near the State Street side of the Empire State Plaza and to hold photos and banners and engage in dialogue, while handing out leaflets.
Diane Reiner, the photographer who took the photos of Iranian people that are such an essential part of our message was one of the vigilers. Here's a photo of Diane at the vigil holding a photo of two Iranian astronomers.
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