PeaceHq

Action At Y12 - 2004
Rally At Y12
Oak Ridge Tennessee

   Things were pretty hectic at this Rally. A whole lot of activities were taking place as well as folks trying to eat lunch provided by Food Not Bombs. It was also very hot and the "snow cone" machine was working overtime.

   Songs and speaches galore. Larry and I spent some time just walking around the outside talking to people. The tent was very crowded so we didn't hear all the speaches and music but we got enough of it to fill our needs.

   One thing about being between the tent and the "Port-A-Johnies" is that you get to talk to almost everone before the rally concludes!

   The rally took longer than expected and it was getting pretty late in the afternoon. Some of the organizers explained to everyone what was going to take place and asked for volunteers to build the symbolic Peace Town, carry the symbolic bodies out to the road and things of this nature.

   After all the festivities the people who were going to witness and be arrested formed a line across the tent area and held each other in solidarity. Their names were called out and then the speaker asked everyone in the crowd to give them words of support and encouragment. There were a lot of words and prayers provided by a great many of the folks attending. It was a touching ceremony and I am sure it helped the soon to be arrestees quite a bit.

   On a personal note my dear friends Erik and Libby Johnson were together holding each other and they asked my son Jim to stand with them during this very emotional time. Erik and Jim are also very dear friends. Erik performed Jim and Jules wedding ceremony earlier in the year and it was a very special moment for me and brought tears to my eyes as I watched my son standing with them with his hands on their shoulders.

   That was it. The witnesses started out of the tent and were leading the procession down to the gates! Our final mission was starting!



Home