Vigils in April 2024

[Brian]

Despite it being two weeks into spring, I heard on KNX driving to this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil that tonight would be the coldest of the year so far.  The thermometer on my dash read 49 degrees, but thankfully the threats of brief rain showers and stiff breezes didn't materialize.  Instead we were warmed by the many honks, waves and peace signs from folks in the passing vehicles, sometimes three in a row.  Goodwill is contagious.

Eleven regulars participated, which was also our weekly average turnout in March.  Anni couldn't make it yet I stood by myself for only a couple of minutes before Roberta, Zari and Jim came, followed soon by Dennis, Russell, Bruce, Nancy, Mike and Jeanne, in order of arrival.  Frannie got there before 7 so she counts too.

As a reminder, we stand on the northwest corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue near the Vietnam War memorial in Montrose, CA 91020 every Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. without regard to the weather or holidays -- we haven't missed a vigil since January 2006. Please stop by sometime if you can. Shine a light!

Since October 2011, we have printed and displayed every Defense Department news release announcing the deaths of soldiers, Marines, sailors and Airmen in our many ongoing military operations around the world.  About 2,500 troops remain in Iraq and 900 in Syria with countless more troops deployed in Africa.  The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

The death notice we posted on March 29, 2024 with the Vietnam War memorial in the background.

[Brian]

I'm aware that I often mention the weather in these vigil reports but it has been remarkable so far this year.  After three days with 80 degree temperatures, it was 55 degrees at the start of this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil -- only six degrees warmer than last Friday -- ahead of a rainy weekend.  The sidewalks were teeming with groups of teenagers alongside other passersby of all ages and the roads featured a parade of honks and waves.

The same cast of regulars as last week returned to the corner and with Anni back we had a dozen peaceniks.  In order of arrival:  Roberta, Anni, me, Zari, Russell, Dennis, Jim, Bruce, Mike, Nancy, Jeanne and Frannie well before 7 p.m. this time.

In the previous seven days, the Department of Defense reported no military deaths in Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria nor in any of the other named U.S. operations underway around the world.

[Brian]

We had plenty of company on the sidewalks at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil and lots of folks stopped to talk with us.  Seems like everybody on the corner had conversations with passersby, but I can only speak directly about those who approached me and the peaceniks I was standing with at the time.  The first was a gentleman who noticed Ross' ceasefire sign.  He was an older activist, proudly Jewish, whose kids protested the Vietnam War and now his grandchildren were marching for a ceasefire in Gaza.  He represented just one of four generations of his family who were demonstrably anti-war.  Then a young woman holding a toddler said she wanted to thank us for being there every week -- and to show her daughter that people stood in public for peace.  The girl seemed shy and maybe a little tired, but we got a nice wave from her as Mom walked away.

Two young women from Israel stopped to tell us about their involvement in Standing Together, a grassroots peace and justice movement of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel. They also wanted us to know about the protest at USC this Sunday coinciding with the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Code Pink had planned the event before USC canceled the valedictorian speech by a Muslim graduate, I heard their spokesman say on the Channel 4 news tonight.  Here is Code Pink's link:

www.codepink.org/421la

Taking in the absences of a few people who attended the first two vigils this month alongside the addition of two other regulars, 11 people participated this week:  Roberta, Anni, me, Ross, Mary, Zari, Russell, Frannie, Mike, Jim and Jeanne, in order of appearance.

The Department of Defense reported no casualties in the previous seven days.

[Brian]

ProBoards has been functioning sporadically for hours, so I'll post my weekly vigil report tomorrow.

[Brian]

I was bummed about the events of the week -- everything from the continuing killings and starvation in Gaza to the insanely dispiriting presidential immunity hearing at the Supreme Court -- until I arrived at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  Invariably, I can't help but feel hopeful and grateful on the corner.  We've apparently earned a lot of goodwill from passersby because of our 18-plus years of unbroken weekly vigils and our peaceful messages.  This week the honks and waves were off the charts.  We are building bridges -- not blocking them.

Vigil attendance by our rotating cast of regulars remains solid, as seen in my census below.  In order of appearance:  Roberta, Anni, me, Zari, Russell, Nancy, Bruce, Mike, Jeanne and Frannie.

• Apr. 5 - 11
• Apr. 12 - 12
• Apr. 19 - 11
• Apr. 26 - 10

This month's weekly average was 11 participants, the same as March, after averaging 12 in February and January, 13 in December, 11 in November and October, 9 in September and August, 11 in July and June, 12 in May and 13 in April 2023.

For the fourth week in a row, no U.S. casualties in named operations were reported by the Pentagon.

[Oss Rae]

Apr 27, 2024 23:24:29 GMT -8 Brian said:

I was bummed about the events of the week -- everything from the continuing killings and starvation in Gaza to the insanely dispiriting presidential immunity hearing at the Supreme Court -- until I arrived at this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  Invariably, I can't help but feel hopeful and grateful on the corner.  We've apparently earned a lot of goodwill from passersby because of our 18-plus years of unbroken weekly vigils and our peaceful messages.  This week the honks and waves were off the charts.  We are building bridges -- not blocking them.

I was also very disturbed by events of last week. One thing that's uplifted me some is the activism on campuses all over the country.