And here is a much richer report on the event from Michal Golan of
the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence (more pics below):
Dear friends:
Tens of thousands of people stretching
along 11 blocks in Downtown Los Angeles marched today for peace and justice
and against an immoral, illegal and dangerous war.
This was by far the largest, most peaceful,
most harmonious and most well organized demonstration Los Angeles has seen
in many many years. I am inspired !!!
I met people I have not seen in years.
I met people who I thought would never demonstrate but there they were.
I saw little children joining their parents and grandparents, speaking
truth to power. I saw elders over 80 years old and disabled people
in wheel chairs. It was wonderful to be there.
The signs were intelligent, funny and informative
and the energy reflected the true spirit of American democracy at its best.
There was no massive police presence in riot gear. In fact, police
presence was very light and the officers seemed to enjoy themselves.
Quite a contrast to our traumatic experience during the 2000 DNC demonstrations.
Neither were there any signs of anarchist groups who usually tend to express
themselves in a more explosive language.
This was deeply aligned and educated crowd
who love America and is dedicated to saving the American vision.
Five of us from the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence, walked behind
a group of Aztec dancers who anchored peace through a ceremonial dance,
drumming and dancing the whole way. It was very powerful.
I remember that during the first series
of anti-war demonstrations about a year ago, we encounter all kinds of
adversarial remarks from fellows on the sidewalks who shouted at
us that we were anti patriotic, that we were cowards, that we were the
real problem in America etc. This kind of rhetoric seems to have
completely disappeared. Not only did we not encounter it, but in
fact we encountered exactly the opposite. Ordinary people who lined
the sidewalks cheered, people watching from windows and balconies made
the V sign... The energy had shifted.
We are approaching critical mass of awareness
and dissent in America that could no longer be ignored. What this
government will do with it, is unknown at this point but what we know is
that the power of the human spirit is independent of it and that transformation
takes place when we, as individuals and as communities move together to
bring about the change we want to see; not through violence, but with love.
Not through anger, but through nonviolent protest. Not with bitterness
but with hope. Today, Peace was in the air
And today I am inspired again.
Thought this may inspire you as well.
Peace,
Michal Golan
Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence
www.nonviolenceworks.com |
