Women In Black Memorial Day Vigil
an article by Charlotte Koons

On this Memorial Day, when Gaia's tears cancelled parades and ceremonies in most of the Northeast, a group of 7 women and 1 man stood vigil as Women In Black at a Huntington, Long Island shopping Mall. Women In Black stand silent vigil to protest war, terrorism, violence and human rights abuses all over the world. We are silent because mere words cannot express the tragedies of war and violence. An international peace network of women, WIB was founded in 1988 by Israeli women standing against the occupation of Palestinian lands. Today, WIB has groups in over 200 towns and cities and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

In the Rotunda of this Mall, now dedicated to those that perished on 9/11, a table draped in black awaited us. (Some one suggested that it had been used earlier in the day by the Marine Corp for a ceremony.)

We placed our WIB fliers and a few simple WIB buttons on the table and stood well back in our silent vigil. Many people were obliviious, others were curious and many came and read or took our WIB fact sheet.

One woman told her two young daughters that, "These people are standing here to protest war, violence and terrorism. They are being quiet because these things make them so sad".

After 40 minutes or so, a security guard came and gently told us to leave, which we did in dignified procession.

It was a most fitting and respectful way to honor all the casualties of war on Memorial Day. Women In Black Peace Vigils are now held weekly in 6 different towns on LI. For more information as to locations and times you may contact me at:
--
Charlotte Koons
shegoat75@earthlink.net

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

How can we produce positive peace events
that open peoples hearts as well as their minds?

As a reader, you are invited to join in the discussion of this article based on any of the above question(s): just click on the question, read the previous comments and add a new reply. You may also enter a new discussion topic on this article - see bottom of this page.

Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed:

MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PEACE MOVEMENT

Latest reader comment:

Readers' comments are welcome on this report and discussion question.

This report was posted on June 7, 2003. The moderator is Tony.

If you wish to start a new discussion topic on this article, please copy the title of this article which is Women In Black Memorial Day Vigil and its number which is 59 and enter this information along with your discussion question and a brief text on the new topic form.

A few stories are retained on the main listings if they are considered by readers to be a priority. If you have not already done so, please take the time to check a box below: should this article be considered as a priority?