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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted March 20, 2007 Text © 2007 Michele Anderson. Photos © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu and Michele Anderson, as indicated.

Walk for Peace commemorates Iraq War anniversary

HANCOCK -- Nearly 45 persons, and a few pet dogs, walked from Hancock to Houghton and back on Sunday, Mar. 18, 2007, in a Walk for Peace commemorating the fourth anniversary of the War in Iraq. Although the local event was  not sponsored by any particular group, the Walk was in solidarity with peace events around the country, which included a march of thousands on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on March 17.*

Participants in the Walk for Peace head toward the bridge in Hancock. Carrying a variety of peace signs, about 45 people, accompanied by a few pet dogs, joined the Walk to commemorate four years of the Iraq War and to show solidarity with peace events held around the country this week. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu for Keweenaw Now.)

Sunday's sunny weather added a positive atmosphere to the Walk. Participants carried a variety of peace signs with messages such as, "Vengeance is a Boomerang," "Nobody Wins in War," "Wage Peace," "War is Terrorism with a Bigger Budget," "Money for Jobs and Education, not War and Occupation."

Representing People for Peace, a group in Ontonagon, Yvonne Hayes gave her reasons for coming to Hancock to join the local Walk.

"I'm feeling that we definitely want to end the war -- walking for peace," Hayes said, "and I'm feeling sad for all loss of life -- the military plus all the other people who have died in this war -- and for all the Iraqi people who are suffering and dying in this unjust war."

A sign carried by a Walk for Peace participant quotes Henry Ford: "Show me who makes a profit from war, and I'll show you how to stop the war." (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson.)

A young couple who identified themselves as Josh and Lindsay from Houghton brought their dog Scout for the Walk.

"We came because we believe in peace," Scott said, "and we want to show our support in the community -- and add some young faces."

Participants in the Walk for Peace cross the Portage Lift Bridge on their way from Hancock to Houghton on Sunday, Mar. 18. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu for Keweenaw Now.)

Crossing the bridge from Hancock to Houghton, Kate Alvord of Houghton said she was happy to see such a good  turnout at the Walk.

"It's exciting," Alvord said. "I hope, in combination with other events across the country, that it sends a message to Washington."

Kate Alvord, left, of Houghton, walks with Elizabeth Flynn, center, of Hancock, and Kristin Tepsa, right, of Houghton as the group crosses the bridge from Hancock to Houghton during the Walk for Peace Sunday, March 18. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson.)

One of the youngest participants in the Walk was Cassie Van Dam, 12, of Houghton, who carried a whimsical sign, "whirled peas."

"It's really fun," Cassie said of the Walk for Peace, "and it tells people that we should be peaceful because lots of people are marching today."

Cassie Van Dam, 12, of Houghton, displays her sign, "whirled peas," during the Walk for Peace as the group crosses the bridge into Houghton. In the background, Floyd Henderson carrres a colorful flag from Italy with Pace, Italian for "Peace." (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson.)

Local musician Floyd Henderson, now commuting to Minneapolis, was in town for musical events and Sunday's Walk for Peace. He carried a flag that said Pace, or "Peace" in Italian. Sarah Green, Henderson's wife and one of the organizers of this Walk for Peace, brought the flag back from a peace demonstration in Italy a few years ago.

"This madness of escalating violence has got to stop. It can't continue," Henderson said. "Our current administration is insane."

Anita and Miguel Levy of Chassell participated in the local Walk for Peace while son Diego marched for peace in New York City.

"I came to the march because I'm against the war and have been from the beginning," Anita Levy said. "It's four years too many."

Participants in the Walk for Peace pause in downtown Houghton for some comments and distribution of informational leaflets before returning to Hancock. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu for Keweenaw Now.)

Josh Hendrickson of Hancock, a Finlandia University student in human services, and Heather Britz of Houghton had originally planned to catch a bus in Madison, Wis., for Washington, D.C., and Saturday's march on the Pentagon; but they decided to stay here and participate in the local Walk for Peace.

"I think it's important to participate in events like this just to witness them first-hand," Hendrickson said. "With technology increasing, everybody's relying on the media to get the message on what's going on. It's important to witness an event by yourself rather than rely on media."

Josh Hendrickson, right, of Hancock, and Heather Britz of Houghton cross the Portage Lift Bridge with other participants in the Walk for Peace as the group returns to Hancock from Houghton. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson.)

Sunday's Walk for Peace proceeded without interruption. Several people in passing cars waved or sent positive signals of support for the marchers.

Editor's Note: * See "Tens of Thousands March on the Pentagon" on the A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition Web site. The article notes that Le Monde reported tens of thousands of people around the world demonstrated Saturday, March 17, 2007, for peace in Iraq. See video clips from several demonstrations on Le Monde, including a brief interview with filmmaker Pedro Almodovar in Madrid.