Ahh, summer..time to kick back:garden, read, and, take a walk, then walk again…then walk some more. The Witness Against War group did some of those things this summer, especially the “take a walk” part.
Witness Against War is a project supported by the Chicago-based Voices for Creative Non Violence (www.vcnv.org) . Their objectives are straight-forward: *Withdrawal of all forces from Iraq *End all military action against Iraq *Full health care, housing and education benefits for veterans and families *Reconstruction of Iraq *Redirection of US resources away from war to improving our community’s – health care, education, housing, retirement, etc
The walk was designed to raise these issues and meet with local communities to open discussions on peace and justice issues. The group began from Chicago on July 12th and ended in St. Paul, MN on August 30th, covering about 500 miles. They carried signs, had a support bus and stayed in local homes, churches and camping grounds along the way.
Our local Catholic Workers hosted the walkers in Winona for a rest day which included organizing a potluck supper, a community discussion and setting up a rest day for the walkers. Many days later the walkers were highly complimentary of their stop in Winona, thanks to the Catholic Workers! They also gave out advance word of the group and provided a link for the Witness Against War project. “This walk is a 6 week campaign to challenge and non-violently resist the war,” says Dan Pearson one of the coordinators.
Their goals challenged me- If I am a supporter of nonviolent protest against the war, I should be walking with them. Several Winona walkers did join the core group of walkers from Trempeleau to Winona. We gathered early at the Catholic Worker House and drove to meet at Perrot State Park at 7:00am, walking early to avoid the day’s heat.
We set off, maintaining a 3 mile per hour pace through the back country roads. The early morning was crisp and green. Somehow we were near a gun club or a shooting range and the sounds of the random gunfire made the Witness Against War walk a surreal event. We shared stories as we walked and our Wisconsin gunfire became background noise although unsettling. In other places the gunfire would injure or kill walkers who might be on their way to the market or school.
During the walk I saw the business of the Witness Against War project firsthand. People stopped to talk about the war, some with anger and others just curious about our signs. The discussions were forthright and I was listening to both sides and learning how to deal with curbside discussions.
It was an amazing walk-seeing the white dome of St. Stan’s and the County Courthouse form along the way on highway 35, sticking out above the treeline. Finally we turned to head for Latsch Island where a welcome was waiting-food, music, and even motivational chalk drawings on the sidewalk for about the last mile! Alice Gerard, a core walker from Buffalo, NY dipped her feet in the mighty Mississippi and their rest day was off to a great start.
Somewhere during the next day I decided I could join the walkers for a week. I packed-mostly socks since “care of feet” had reached a new priority. We met for breakfast in Fountain City and I stowed my camping gear in the bus and we were off. For the next 5 days we followed a routine including hearty food, clear weather and the scenery of highway 35 all the way to Red Wing.
I had a chance to meet people in their front yards as we went through Alma, to discuss our commitments as we walked the miles and to generally enjoythe company of this talented group. We had many joiners who walked for a day or so and the energy was high.
I left the group Sunday afternoon in Red Wing and went to my first day back to school on Monday. My mind and body were much too restless! I now have a new sign on my office door – “I walked because I could…ask me about it.” So , the discussions continue.
Now, my challenge is to continue to live the objectives of the project and to bring them more closely into my life. If possible, I can be more available and open to discussion with co-workers, friends, and neighbors. Overall, it was a fantastic opportunity to join the group for this time and be a part of this project!