Takoma Park expatriates, Reverend George Taylor and his wife Ellen Taylor are peace activists who periodically share insights from their travels.
Peace Presence in Crawford, Texas
by George and Ellen Taylor
Roving Reporters
On Good Friday, we drove with our Airstream Bambi Trailer, our home away from home, up to Crawford, Texas for our second visit to Camp Casey to spend the Easter week-end with Cindy Sheehan, Daniel Ellsberg, Gold Star Families against the War, Veterans for Peace, Code Pink and hundreds of other peace activists. Cindy Sheehan, whose son, Casey, was killed on a military mission in Iraq in April of 2004, was visiting Crawford for the third time. She again asked of President Bush: Why did my son die? What was the noble cause that he died for?
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Since her son's death, Cindy has traveled across America to protest the Iraq occupation and demand immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. President Bush was spending the Easter weekend at Camp David, and made an appearance at the White House Easter Monday for the Egg Roll. He still hasn't answered Cindy's questions, and she will keep returning to Crawford until he does. |
One of the key leaders in residence for the weekend was the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, accompanied by his gracious wife of 63 years, Mrs. Evelyn Lowery. Rev. Lowery, the Dean of the Civil Rights Movement, founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) with Martin Luther King Jr.. Rev. Lowry served as the SCLC's President and Chief Executive Officer from 1977-1998. Most recently, Dr. Lowery gave the eulogy at the memorial service for Coretta Scott King at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
"I...commission you all, each one, to be chaplains for the common good. You are commissioned to go forth from this place and work without ceasing for peace and justice."
—Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery |
In his remarks to the peace gathering at Camp Casey, Dr. Lowery said, "I am worried about the soul of America. We are being led by our national leadership down the road to war and corruption which is the wrong road. At 84 years of age I now have the authority to commission you all, each one, to be chaplains for the common good. You are commissioned to go forth from this place and work without ceasing for peace and justice."
Introducing Rev. Lowery was a local pastor, the Rev. Peter Johnson, one of the organizers of the March to Redeem the Soul of America.
Rev. Johnson said, "There is something fundamentally wrong with our nation's soul when rich cities like Dallas, home to large multinational corporations such as Exxon Mobil who registered record profits in 2005, still have people living under bridges."
Their message and ministry was spiritual as well as prophetic, and they led sunset and sunrise services, in which we mourned the dead and remembered that hope is alive, as long as we embody it.
The weekend was marred by a few incidents. At one point, approximately 100 motorcycle riders and 9 riders on horses tried to obstruct the road alongside Camp Casey, attempting to drown out the speakers. On Easter, a man on a motorcycle harassed and verbally assaulted peaceful people gathered at Crawford Peace House.
The local newspaper took several pictures which included the motorcycle license plate number, and the police arrested and cited the motorcycle rider.
Tom Swann, one of those who had been threatened, said, "The local law enforcement arrested my friends for sitting in a ditch. On Sunday the police arrested this man for threatening to injure a blind veteran. Cindy Sheehan inspired us to know we are all God's children. Peaceful people should be able to assemble in a ditch far off the road. No one should be cussed out and threatened with injury. But I can understand this absurdity. Our national role model lies, breaks the law and illegally occupies foreign lands. Leadership and good ethics should start in Washington. People seem confused about the law and peace because George Bush has set a bad example."
For the most part, the mood in Camp was optimistic, energized and upbeat. Easter is, after all, a holiday celebrating life, resurrection and resurgence. There was a lot of great music, dancing and singing.
Mt. Rainier, Maryland-based musicians Pat Humphries and Sandy O. (aka Emma's Revolution) showed up to inspire us with songs of protest and peace. Takoma Park hosted this critically-acclaimed singing duo at the Takoma Park Folk Festival last year. The song that resonated most with us was "Preaching to the Choir," especially the lyric "We need to join together/ Get on the same page and get out there."
That theme was repeatedly emphasized by Daniel Ellsberg, of the Pentagon Papers fame, one of the other leaders who spoke. He said that we are at turning point in America. Most people want peace and an end to this war. It is time for "the Choir" to link up and demonstrate feelings with actions. He challenged people to speak out, to connect with each other and pledge ourselves to non-violent civil disobedience as a way to bring about peace and justice.
Ellsberg practiced what he preached by getting arrested with 12 others for sitting down in a ditch near President Bush's ranch. These thirteen peace-seekers—called "Prairie Dogs"— again challenged the McLennan County ordinances that bar activities such as camping and eating in roadside ditches as well as parking anywhere within a seven-mile radius around the Bush ranch. These so-called "no speech zones" and "no parking zones" were enacted into law only after last August's peace demonstrations. The peace activists maintain that these new ordinances violate their rights to free speech and free assembly as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The Prairie Dogs intend to plead not guilty to the charges.
In a circle session, everyone was encouraged to share ways to promote peace in grassroots actions. We spoke about peaceful actions we've participated in while living in Takoma Park, the ongoing Walter Reed Vigil, and the demonstrations at the Georgia Avenue Armed Forces Recruiting Station. At the last recruiting station action, four women, respectfully known as "Raging Grannies" were arrested when they tried to enlist, and then refused to leave. (Read the story.)
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Sixteen members of the Granny Peace Brigade were arrested in a similar action in New York City at the Times Square Recruiting Station last October. There will be many such actions throughout the spring and summer. Thousands, many from Takoma Park, heeded the call for the March for Peace, Justice and Democracy April 29th in NYC (www.unitedforpeace.org). Closer to home, many joined Cindy Sheehan and other peace activists at a 24-hour Mothers Day Peace Vigil at the White House (www.codepinkalert.org). Now is the time to stand and be counted, to witness truth and justice, in the spirit of Martin and Coretta Scott King.
We both felt grateful that we had the opportunity to be a part of this strong gathering for peace, and will follow the call for continued activism as "chaplains for the common good."
The next large gathering at Camp Casey will be next August, the anniversary of the original vigil. More information can be obtained at the Crawford Peace House website: www.crawfordpeacehouse.org. Stay tuned for future activities dedicated to peace. Our next stop will be the World Peace Forum in Vancouver in June (www.worldpeaceforum.ca). We should be proud that Jay Levy will be speaking at the forum about Takoma Park's Nuclear Free Zone.
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