Peace walkers demonstrate

Hundreds participated this September 11th in a procession down Charles Street called Path for Peace. The two hour rally was attended by many, including members of the Friends School and the Friends Meeting House.

Gary Gilespie held a sign that read, "Take the Risk of Peace." As a member of the American Friends Service, a national Quaker organization with a meeting house across the street from Johns Hopkins, he supports alternatives to violence such as social and economic change. He believes that through external and internal work, war with Iraq can be avoided.

Meegan Cooke, another member of the Friends Meeting House in Baltimore, sported a t-shirt that displayed the word "peace" in many languages.

"I want to show kids how important it is to stand for peace," said Cooke.

Cooke explained that the events of September 11th still shock and grieve her. She said she thinks that the anniversary of September 11th is a good day to support peace in general. Her friend held a sign which read, "Girls for Peace."

For some in the Baltimore area, the protest took on a more personal note. Debra Evans, a Baltimore native, was raised by a Vietnam veteran, and her cousin is enlisted in Korea. She is not sure what the Bush adminstration should do about the war in Iraq, but she is worried for her cousin.

"I'm tired of the killings in Baltimore and overseas," she said. "I just wanted to come out here and stand."

Eileen Norton and Terry Dalsemer decided to protest to raise awareness.

"We want raise human universal awareness," Norton and Dalsemer said. "This is beyond partisan politics. We can't risk more lives, and the Bush government is taking advantage."

They want to discourage future death and they believe that the United States should not go to war with Iraq without provocation.

Students came from Loyola College and the Johns Hopkins for Peace group came to show their support as well.

"On the aniversary of September 11th, we wanted to show that war is not the answer," said Judy Berman, a sophomore at Johns Hopkins and a member of the Johns Hopkins University for Peace group. "War is not the way to commemorate the victims of September 11th."

Susan Rose is an organizer of the Path for Peace. She is also a member of Women in Black, an international peace group organization with a chapter in Baltimore.

"We are marching for all victims of violence," said Rose.

She noted that the procession would commemorate especially those killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

"Peace is the best way to handle things," said Rose.