a note from M. Colby

M. Colby December 3, 2007 (from http://broadsides.org)

Wow. And that about sums it up –
the anti-war event last Friday, that is. Well, let me add this: It was moving. It
was inspiring. It was energizing. It was empowering. And it was nothing short of an
honor to be a part of it. To each and every one of you who helped make it happen:
Thanks. I needed that.

If you haven’t read about the event here, here or here, go
there, there and there to read about it. They’ve got all the facts and figures – and
photos, too! — to give you a sense of what happened. The movers and shakers behind
this event, the Peace Club at Mount Mansfield Union High School, deserve one, long
moment of recognition and honor for putting this action on the agenda and then
working with the “old timers” to make it happen.

These students were tired of seeing the U.S. military recruiters coming to their
school week in and week out to hand out recruiting propaganda in the pursuit of more
young war fodder. And they didn’t just bitch and moan about it, they took action.
They decided that they wanted to returnthe “favor” and visit the recruiting offices of
the military to give them a message of their own: “Out of our schools, out of Iraq.” And so they did.

These students also had a goal of shutting down the recruiting offices while delivering
their message. They wanted to participate in a peaceful act of civil disobedience to add a little
punch to their message. Specifically, they wanted to hold a sit-in at the offices
while also doing “counter-recruitment” by handing out anti-war materials and forming
a coalition with Iraq Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out. And so
they did.

But before embarking on their act of civil disobedience, they realized they
needed a plan and they needed training.. And so off they went for an all-day session
at Wheelock Farm on a snowy Saturday in November, where they got advice, made a
plan, and were trained in the fine arts of civil disobedience.And then they made a
media plan. They made signs. They rehearsed the various scenarios. They met and met
again. They checked and checked again. They changed their plans when the military
folks let them know that they knew they were coming. But they kept coming. And
meeting. And planning. And checking. And just making sure it all worked. And so it
did.

On Friday, November 30, 2007, all five military recruitment offices in
Williston, Vermont were shut down for the afternoon and evening because of the dream
of these students. No, make that, because of the dream and the willingness to act on
that dream of these brave students. Better yet, the event was peaceful – even joyful
– as 70 or more people made their march with the students to spread the original
“Out of our schools, out of Iraq message.”In the end, thirteen of us – myself
included — were arrested for trespassing in the offices of the Vermont National
Guard.

Standing before a judge and – eventually — a jury to answer these charges
will be a small price to pay for having the opportunity to be a part of such an
uplifting and hopeful event. Getting to spend those hours with the students, the
veterans, the family members of soldiers and the other activists was pure
nourishment for the activist soul. I was moved. And I remain moved. Thank you, MMU
students. Onward.

Thank you so much! Onward indeed...