Trucking For Peace and Justice

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

Trucking For Peace and Justice

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NEWS FLASH! YOUR HELP NEEDED!

Just hours after a new mural had been completed for the March 20th demonstration of Support for the Troops and Against the War in Fayetteville, and just hours before a MEDIA TOUR to publicize the event, the Peace Truck was vandalized in front of a Public Assembly volunteer's home. The windshield was and both headlights were smashed and the new mural and windows were defaced with red spraypaint.

They unwittingly and dramatically made our point for us about the anti-democratic effects at home of a pro-war foreign policy. That people even ask the question "Who Profits and Who Pays?" and "Is This War Worth It?" is provocative, because these questions have been repressed.

We dug even deeper into our private finances to pay the nearly $300 in expenses related to this vandalism. We managed to make all four stops of the publicity tour, and got some great media coverage, and have not been discouraged by this violence. Please help us recover these costs with your donation!

Necessity is the mother of invention.

The time has come for us to figure out new channels for democratic communication. What better way than turning your car or truck into a billboard and public address system? Buttons aren't enough, and neither are bumperstickers (though both are good).

The picture below is very early in the morning at the Washington Monument for Peace Parasol Painting Etc.... October 25, 2003 "Bring the Troops Home Now" Rally

CLICK HERE for descriptions of other creative actions assembled by our friend, Dave Lippman, who rescued the truck from being put out to pasture (and is himself a national treasure).

The picture underneath is at a Republican fundraiser where Dick Cheney was the honored guest. This is the mural underneath "Who Profits Who Pays." A misguided person, or persons, had used spray-paint to censor the "Democracy Dies at Home" part while it was parked on the street one night. How ironic! We were ready for a fresh message anyhow.

Below the truck is on "Empire Drive" while John Ashcroft was speaking at Imperial Sheraton to invitation-only audience about the misnamed U.S. Patriot Act. We were using a megaphone out the window to read people's signs and allowed anyone to come on board to be part of the "popular broadcasting network." We also were stopped right in front of the exit by a patrol car as Ashcroft and other V.I.P.'s made their exit. I imagine Ashcroft blushed at the classically free breast of Lady Liberty (which he had covered up on the statue at the Justice Department).

Photo Credit for this one to Linda Watson of Raleigh

Roadside demonstrations to urge people to "Honk for Peace" are much more important than one might think because they effectively break through the "spiral of silence" that is produced by the politics of fear. The first honk is always the hardest, but if you've got a good sign and location even one or two people can really get motorists to go wild with supportive honking! People don't speak out because they underestimate the number of others who feel the same way (but are also are silenced by fear). It's crazy, but Americans feel safest in their cars, and when they hear all those other cars also honking and join in you can see the joy of liberation all across their faces! It's good public mental health!

Photo credit to Linda Watson of Raleigh