Peace group spreads message

By Christina Blair

Correspondent

SOUTH HADLEY Members of the Granby South Hadley Peace Committee gather along the edges of Route 116 by the South Hadley Town Green every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. in support of a question that will appear on the ballot of 139 cities and towns across the state on November 7.

The question asks voters whether their state representatives should vote in favor of a resolution advising President George W. Bush and Congress to end the war and bring American troops home.

The Peace Committee was formed in August of 2002 by five Granby and South Hadley town residents, including Joan Grenier and Judith Ellenburg, who have lived in South Hadley for 41 years.

"We came together in a vigil to protest the preemptive war in Iraq," Ellenburg said.

In its early stages, the group was coming out on Sundays from noon to 1 p.m. from September 2002 to June 2003 and since then has held educational forums at South Hadley High School and the South Hadley Public Library.

This round of Wednesday afternoon gatherings originated as a support of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American Soldier killed in the war, who was arrested for wearing a shirt that said "2245 Dead; How Many More?" before the State of the Union Address on January 31.

The gatherings have more recently become focused on the ballot question, but have always most simply been a support of peace in general.

"We are a continuous reminder that the war is going on and things are only getting worse and it all started because the administration lied, which has been made very clear recently," Ellenburg said.

She continued, "It's important for people to know that they have company in being against the war."

"No matter how many people are out here, it's important that they come to show their support. There is strength in numbers," said Mari Dumbaugh, one of the sign-bearers.

People need to think critically about what's going on and not just be passive citizens," Dumbaugh added.

Dumbaugh is a senior at Mount Holyoke College who receives emails from the Peace Committee regarding the weekly gatherings on College Street. Mount Holyoke's Student Coalition for Action and Environmental Action Coalition members make up a good portion of those people joining the peace committee in their efforts.

The Environmental Action Coalition has considered these gatherings to be their main thrust this fall.

"In the spring, we hope to organize a semester-long focus on the Iraq war, including a speaker series and some other kind of visual representation of lives lost in the war on terror," said Vanessa DiCecco, a member of the Coalition.

Passersby have demonstrated a mixed response to the peace rallies. Several drivers have shown their support by honking their horns in response to one of the large signs that reads "Honk for Peace." Even the PVTA bus honked on its way by this past Wednesday.

But not everyone is encouraging.

"Some people give us a thumbs down or yell out the window," explained Dumbaugh. "It would be more helpful if they engaged in a more constructive way to show their opposition. Come have a conversation with us!" she urged.

During the gathering, a pick-up truck drove by, blowing exhaust in the faces of the sign holders.

"He's done it every single week," one of the protesters said with a cough.

Anyone who would like to support the efforts of the peace committee can do so by joining the group this afternoon or next at 5 p.m. More information is also available at www.commondreams.org.