Peace Protests Then and Now
Peace Protests Then and Now
The Balance of Darkness and Light
With anti-war demonstrations erupting on college campuses across our country, I’ve been thinking a lot about the timeline of peace protests. I’ve participated in a few. My parents taught by example that if you want to change the status quo, you’ve got to put yourself out there, marching in the streets, if necessary.
ERA March (1980)
My mother, Magi, shot this photo at a Detroit March for ERA in 1980.
The proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
Despite the efforts of many men and women over the decades, this simply-worded Amendment has never passed which infers that women are still considered “second-class citizens” by the Powers that Be. My mother worked harder than anyone I know to achieve the ERA. She died without seeing it happen in her lifetime. Still, we shall prevail.
Gulf War Protest (1990)
My first march was in 1990, ten years after my mom’s ERA march.
In 1990, Americans protested against the Gulf War (also known as Operation Desert Storm) that began that year. President George H. W. Bush led the coalition effort to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation during the war, in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.
We marched again the following year. Some people wore scarves to express their solidarity with Palestinians who were suffering in Gaza due to Israeli-imposed sanctions. Today’s conflict in Gaza did not happen overnight. It has been fomenting for decades.
Iraq War Protest (2003)
Another decade, another century, but same-old-same-old marching in the streets against a war we could not stop by stomping through the streets: the Iraq War.
I joined a group of women who had formed a fledgling group called Code Pink. I shot and edited this video on one particular day when we all marched in Balboa Park, San Diego, carrying pink negligees as our way to give George Bush Jr. “the pink slip.” Like father, like son. How nice that former President Bush Jr. has retired away from society in a pastoral place where he can quietly paint his days away.
Note: We the People have to do a better job at selecting leaders who actually represent us and make the world a better place, not a hell hole. That’s why we have to vote en masse. I’m voting for President Joe Biden so he and his team can work to restore democracy, a woman’s choice, Americans’ right to privacy, healthcare and safer gun regulations. A nation under the rule of convicted felon trump is unimaginable to me.
We continued the work of marching to express our desires to end war and bring our troops home.
On St. Patrick’s Day of 2007, San Diego marched with renewed vigor against the Iraq War.
Code Pink gathered at Balboa Park in 2009 to mark the deaths of over 1,000,000 in the Middle East conflicts.
With a new decade came new reasons to march. The mounting anecdotal evidence of climate change spurred many to stand up and make our voices heard in 2017.
Saving the children at the border was a big one in 2018. Melania’s Jacket inspired thousands to hit the streets and show disagreement over that administration’s cruel border policies.
Now here we are in the year 2024 with wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza. What’s it going to take to right the “ship” that’s roiling in a “perfect storm” of fear, anger and hatred? I suggest voting Blue all down the ballot when November comes. Tell your friends and family members to vote Blue. Please, please, don’t sit this one out.