Vigil faithful stand for peace as wars continue
From our weekly issue dated July 14, 2010
In this I.V. News file photo from February, protesters demonstrate as they have for nearly eight years in front of the Josephine County Bldg. in Cave Junction.
Monday, July 5, the day after the nation celebrated its independence from Great Britain, many businesses throughout Cave Junction were closed, along with the Josephine County Bldg. on Redwood Hwy. in Downtown Cave Junction.
A few minutes before noon, people began to show up at the building for the silent vigil held by the group, Women in Black.
The group, which subsequently modified its name to Women in Black & Friends, has been staging its pro-peace protests weekly since November 2002, from noon to 12:30 p.m.
As the conflict in Afghanistan continues, and even escalates, it has surpassed the Vietnam War as the longest in American history. The “surge“ strategy is now being led by U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, who assumed command after the fallout from a Rolling Stone article featuring Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
That article contained many blatant criticisms of the Obama administration“s handling of the conflict, and led to McChrystal being relieved of duty in the war-torn nation.
There were only two protesters in front of the county building at first. Daniel Night and Carrie Yellow Wolf were present as the clock struck noon, but they“re just as dedicated to their stance as they were from the beginning.
Various vehicles zoom by on the busy highway as the pair stand in silence. Drivers and passengers give the occasional glance. For many, it may very well be the only regular reminder they have of the global “War on Terror“ that has become part of the American experience for nearly a decade.
A third protester, Gabriele Birnbaum, pulls up a few minutes later to join. She brought her poodle and a chair, and said she sits for the demonstration because she cannot physically stand for half an hour at a time.
Fred Mittleman eventually meets up with the group. He said that as the years have passed, people have become more sympathetic to their position.
“It“s a big difference,“ Mittleman said. “They“re less hostile, for sure.“
He said that passers-by often used to flash middle fingers at the Women in Black as they gathered. But these days, it is not uncommon for them to smile, wave and honk their horns.
One o“clock hit, and Yellow Wolf rang a bell, signaling that it was time to pack up for the day. They folded their wooden sign and took down the pair of U.S. flags that stood atop it.
Yellow Wolf said that the group used to draw counter-protests across the street, but that no longer is the case. Night said that many people used to give them the thumbs-down “because they didn“t understand what we were about.“
A maximum of around 30 people have attended the silent protests at a time, Yellow Wolf said, and have endured various discomforts to do so, including 100-degree temperatures.
“We“ve had people standing here in the rain,“ Yellow Wolf said. “We“ve had people standing here in the snow.“
One frequent protester is an 80-year-old woman, Yellow Wolf said, adding that it tends to be a diverse group.
“People come here for their own private reasons,“ she said.
Yellow Wolf said that military veterans occasionally stop by and shake their hands in support.
It“s uncertain exactly how long the U.S. military will be involved in Iraq or Afghanistan, but one thing is sure — until they come home, the Cave Junction Women in Black group will continue to press for peace every Monday in front of the county building.
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