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After receiving the announcement of the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem as the last of a series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, Marcia Hopple brought the idea of leafleting and vigiling for peace at that performance to the October meeting of WAW’s Iran Project. After a discussion it was decided to vigil and leaflet in the courtyard leading to the back doors of Proctor’s theatre. We obtained permission from both the Orchestra and Proctors to be there and be a voice for peace. Alexandra Lusak got permission for us to park in the lot of a nearby church so that we could leave the Proctors’ parking to the concert goers. Here are a few details from our outreach flyer to Capitol District peace groups:
Women Against War is planning a peace demonstration on Saturday 
November 10 to dovetail with a performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. It will also allow us to stand in spirit with Veterans for Peace and others who will be vigiling on Sunday, 11/11/18 in Washington DC
TIME: 6:15 – 7:30 PM. There will be two groups: arriving for the Pre-concert talk with David Alan Miller at 6:30 PM, and for the concert at 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Rear of Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady NY 12305 (near State and Jay Streets) We will be standing in the courtyard outside doors to Proctors from rear parking areas
OCCASION: Albany Symphony Orchestra performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem to commemorate the first Armistice Day 100 years ago, ending World War I (the war that was supposed to end all wars).
The concert is the culmination of several events commemorating the first Armistice Day 100 years ago http://www.albanysymphony.com/armisticecentennialevents/
ACTION: Handing out leaflets and displaying signs related to the theme End Endless War, as about 2,000 concert goers enter the theater.
We will provide signs. Please try to carpool and dress for standing outside for the demonstration. We will leaflet and hold our signs primarily at the rear of Proctors where most patrons arrive from the parking lots. The Symphony and Proctors welcome us to be present at this Armistice Centennial event. Proctors even offered to hand out coffee to the vigilers.
Parking available WAW has permission to park in the lot at the First United Methodist Church of Schenectady. They are at 603 State Street, about two blocks east of Proctors. The lot is behind the church. Another option is to park at Schenectady County library at 99 Clinton Street, at the corner of Liberty St., about three blocks from Proctors. Please avoid parking in the lots directly behind Proctors to leave room for concert patrons. A parking garage near Proctors is usually free during performances and is accessible from Broadway. Parking in the lots behind Proctors is not free.
As an update about our action: on a bitterly cold evening with a strong breeze 12 brave vigilers carried signs reading End Endless War and War Is Not The Answer and handed out about 500 leaflets with the theme Working for Peace through Music, Art, Poetry and Policy and ending with the phrase “Together we can make a Peaceful World.”