War Protesters Confront McCain In Swing-State Michigan

The most dangerous intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan, may be Division and Fulton, though not for the most obvious of reasons.

For the past six years, a group known as Peace Presence has held weekly vigils at the site, including cardboard signs encouraging passing traffic to "Honk for Peace" and "Pray for Peace." In a 2007 interview for Rapid Growth Media, Peace Presence founder Illene Van Brugen said the group tries "to keep [the signs] positive." As for the honks, in 2007, Van Brugen stated the group was sustaining "as many as 450 an hour."

Not bad for a region nationally known for its Dutch Reformed brand of conservatism. It's no wonder that Grand Rapids was selected by the McCain-Palin camp for a good ol' fashioned town hall... and what better stage than the community college field house -- tickets required, of course, available at your local Republican Party office.

This reporter, curiously, was unable to attain one. Huh.

Luckily, those outside the field house decided to stage their own drama, and this one for free. Billed as a "non-partisan" protest that just happened to fall upon the date of McCain's visit, a march for "human needs, not war" took up lines on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College as those privileged enough to obtain tickets filed into the field house.

As we walked from Veterans Memorial Park (at Division and Fulton), the chants and energy of the protesters reflected the non-partisan intent of their mission, although their paraphernalia betrayed their stoicism.

"Think People," read a sign carried by a man in a gas mask and fascist officer's hat. Above the letters was a depiction of Palin. "Really?" was scrawled in the corner.

"I'm John McCain and I approve this lie," another said.

By far the most creative sign I saw all day, however, was one belonging to an older man, seemingly far removed from the youth that dominated the protest. Standing before one of the College's academic buildings, the man's sign read, "McCain-Palin: sign up here for Economics 101 - Just $287.00 + 3 credits!!"

Led by an American flag, a large banner proclaimed: "OUTSOURCE MCCAIN."

Although the prevailing attitude among the protesters was thoroughly one of anger against McCain, there was no evidence of overwhelming support for Obama. A few carried Obama signs, and many wore his campaign buttons, but most adhered to the protest organizer's desire that the event remain as neutral as possible.

"Our theme today is funding for human needs, not for war," said Jeff Smith, a member of ACTIVATE Grand Rapids, which organized the protest. "What we really need to do is cut the military budget and start funding education, healthcare, etc."

Smith recently traveled with several other members of ACTIVATE GR to St. Paul to protest the Republican National Convention.

"Several of our members were arrested," Smith said. "I've never seen the police that militarized in the United States...they were arresting people before the protests even got started."

I asked him if ACTIVATE had planted any protesters inside the field house.

"I'm not at liberty to say," he said, laughing.

In advance of the protest, ACTIVATE did distribute a substantial flyer, however, calling upon "the people who politicians claim to represent to hold politicians accountable and demand that they end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. By immediately ending the occupation...the U.S. could redirect much of the spending towards human needs."

It's this issue that, it appears, many young voters in Grand Rapids are struggling with. According to Anna Thiakos, a student at Aquinas College and a spokesperson for ACTIVATE, "A lot of college-age students are starting to see their friends go to war, and they see Obama as addressing that."

Still, Obama's position on Iraq isn't a lock among young voters.

"A lot of my peers are fed up with the watering down of the parties," said Janelle Lind, who, like Thiakos, also attends Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. According to Lind, the lesser-of-two-evils effect is "definitely" in play amongst college-age voters.

ACTIVATE is calling upon an immediate and total removal of American forces from Iraq, throwing the group's most fervent supporters into what might rightly be described as political limbo. But that's not discouraging them from voicing their frustration.

As the old guard of Grand Rapids -- and that description cannot be well disputed -- filed into the field house, yet another sign was hoisted above the protest line, quoting roughly from Joy Division:

"Leaders of men -- born out of frustration -- won't grant us our salvation."

"You're so old," called one protester across the line. "It's time to change the rules."

Somewhere beyond the barricade, I could hear the honking.

Comments

[venice6]

Go!! I wish I was there with them protesting... Good job... Thank you to the war protesters, they speak for the world!!

[Hare]

Good article and love the signs inscriptions. I agree that even Obama is too much to the center, he needs to put an end to the wars the U.S is waging around the world. He needs those soldiers and military money to rebuild areas like New Orleans, Galveston, fix the infrastructure, bridges, roads, plant trees all over build housing for the homeless. America has to join the Global community not as an empire but as a partner. Now that Bush made the U.S free market a social entity, Obama needs to go all for it and Socialize Healthcare, get rid of HMOs. I enjoy reading the postings...most of them anyway.

[UncleHomer]

Let me begin with a really stupid rhetorical question: Why aren't any of these protests being covered by the MSM?

That is in my opinion what makes this article so important. There have been Palin protests in Alaska. Barely a word in the press. I suspect there are protests wherever McCain goes but that is only a guess because I never hear of any of them. But what is most appalling to me is during the RNC on another forum I belong to, we had a member who was actively participating in the protests outside the RNC.

He was gassed every day of the protests. He was one of the people who was herded by police into an off limits area where other officers could move in using mace and other substances on them before they started making arrests. He was literally shocked to find what a facist police state the US had become but yet the protests with crowds estimated to exceed 10,000 were not even covered by the press let alone the truth about what the police were doing to the protesters.

I applaud your efforts here and hope you continue to get the truth out.

[whiteboyblues]

The MSM only covers Barack Obama protest.

USA, USA, USA!
USA, USA, USA!
USA, USA, USA!

[northcan]

Honor, War, Patriotism, Win, win, win....at all costs. Does anyone recognize how idiotic this sounds? I mean, what honor is there when a war is illegal? What is Patriotism if your founding fathers have a totally different explanation and sufferage of past wars to gain independence, and your government today is taking that independance away from Americans and their 'so called foe'? That in my mind, is nothing less than the evil in this world and no different than al Queda, we also are Terrorist's...do you see what I mean. Terrorist's that hunt for monetary, not religious freedom, but OIL, OIL, OIL.

This is why the world looks at American aggression as evil, not the lifestyle, faith, financial stability, it is the bent perception of greed, aggression and dishoner, distrust, unpatriotic and fraudulant use of the young men and women slaughtered in war for the 'elite' pompous wealthy Americans.

[nomorebombs]

diebold is scary.........

[fran-pan]

compliments to Peace Presence in Michigan and to Neighbors for peace and justice in Studio city for
their courage and dedication to the real ideals of free speech and peaceful protest. It isn,t an easy
job and they receive a lot of harassment..they give the rest of us a good example..they are active citizens and should shame us into doing more to express out disagreement with the current adminstration. these protesters are the good people who are doing something.. thank-you...

[judyann327]

WOW - we were there and they were shouting Obama over and over. The main objective to war was the idiot who had no respect for the American Flag and was draping it over the rail upside down. Fly it when in distress only not at a political rally. That is the problem with so many young adults? today - they have no idea how much the american flag means to many of us. The loss of lives in previous wars and the fact we would not have the freedoms we have if not for our military fighting for them. Actually they only were verbal and I do not believe any police took anyone off. To the taunts of Obama, we merely shouted back Americans.....

[wrabbitt]

McSame remembers the war, well so do we. and we need to get out, if they won't let us win we don't need to be there!

[395spoons]

Great! They should go to OHIO! Much support needed there.


Obama/Biden 08

[helpusa]

In Studio City, California at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Blvd, I often participate in an anti war vigil against the war or any more wars. It is organized by a loosely configured group known as Neighbors for Peace and Justice.
Every Friday from 6 to 7:30 from 10 to 300 people have met at that corner since before the Iraq war started, rain or shine, hot or cold. It sounds like Activate vigils are very similar to ours with the same intentions, including non-partisan but veer more to liberal. A great bunch of dedicated people who have respect for the Constitution and especially the first amendment.
PEACE PLEASE!!

OBAMA/BIDEN MUST!!

[michael098762001]

Ah, the ironies, citing Joy Division, with their fascist aesthetic (the cover of their first ep was taken directly from a still of Leni Riefenstahl's, "Triumph of the Will.") for a anti-McCain demo.

>...As the old guard of Grand Rapids -- and that description cannot be well disputed -- filed into the field house, yet another sign was hoisted above the protest line, quoting roughly from Joy Division:

"Leaders of men -- born out of frustration -- won't grant us our salvation."

[KarlaElisa]

I recently moved out of Michigan but was involved with groups that protested alongside Activate for a few years. They are a high energy group that shows up every time.
God bless em, they do us proud.
I am wondering if the local rag, The Grand Rapids Press carried anything on the protesters. GR is a VERY Republican area. Full of Dutch Christian Reformers, a very hypocritical bunch if you ask me.....

[walley2]

I agree, I was born in GR, I moved out in the 80's, but the amount of hyprocity is unbelievable.

[alt01]

The Grand Rapids Press? Not a word, and I looked through every section, front to back, including the classified ads.... it was presented as a united front for the McSame/Lyin' campaign.

The local news carried the view from inside the Fieldhouse, a few hurried shots of the outside, but it seemed to be made to appear that the crowds were people flocking to see the campaigners...

However, living in a suburb of GR, there are FAR MORE Obama/Biden signs than McSame, and that's a REAL improvement for this area! Surprisingly, there's very little coverage of that on local stations.... so much for local news being any better than the MSM, it's really pretty sad!

[yoli647]

Great!

[sueno]

ROCK ON! Peace Presence and ACTIVATE!
Thanks for standing up!

[Bluejay00234]

Glad to be from Michigan!