Peace Rally in Santa Cruz!
[The police department confirmed the 5-7,000 number… it was a huge march, a four lane street filled from one side to another, and from Mission Park all the way back to Ocean and Water (at least). Very inspiring. We will stop this war! -Thomas]
Six Thousand Rally for Peace Santa Cruz
by Paul Franklin
[email deleted by request]
SANTA CRUZ, CA - The city known otherwise for its mild weather,
expensive housing and cruel ordinances against the jobless on
Pacific Avenue turned out by the thousands today to protest war and
advocate for peaceful alternatives. In an event co-sponsored by the
Santa Cruz Peace Coalition and the Resource Center for Nonviolence,
a broad cross-section citizens of the city and county turned out to
listen to an impressive lineup of informed speakers and inspiring
musical guests. Bettina Aptheker and Diane Patterson shook the
crowd, as did Stephen Zunes, Mark Levy and many others. Democratic
Congressman Sam Farr who voted for over 400 billion dollars for war
appropriations requested to speak at the last minute, but was
denied.
The program began on the Courthouse steps at 11:00 AM with some
music and speakers. This was followed at Noon by a mass procession
of 5,000 to 7,000 people along Water street, past the town clock,
then up to Mission Plaza Park. At the park there were information
booths, food, drinks, shirts and a variety of activities for
children.
There were reports of two powerful “M-80″ type fireworks
exploding near the event. One was reported coming from a bush near
the church, while the other blew apart a metal box next to the town
clock, located one block from the park. No injuries were reported
from either incident. Bettina spoke of the unprecedented breadth and
depth of the peace movement, a milestone not reached even after
years of fighting in Vietnam. She said that if ever a war could be
stopped before it is started, it would be now.
