Funeral Parade in Bend

Great photos. Thanks so much for the wonderful coverage. We counted 275 at the peak of the Bnd event, once the procession got to the plaza. There ere 10-12 people waiting at the plaza who didn't arch, plus people joined in the procession along the way. KBND actually reported 300.

Last Thursday, nearly 300 people from Central Oregon participated in Mourning In America: Inauguration Day Funeral Procession and Call to Action in downtown Bend. After the last election, many people felt depressed and dismayed, so some artists and activists decided to create an event that would acknowledge our grief, try to turn the darkness into light, and create a celebration of hope, community and personal power.

Thanks to everyone for contributing in so many ways — planning, creating a giant Dove of Peace, painting powerful words on tombstones, creating a flag-draped coffin, carrying flags and signs, dressing up as billionaires, creating symbols of war and torture to illustrate the human costs, teaching drumming, contacting the media, answering phones, bringing sound equipment, sending e-mails to friends and family, sharing your insights, art, music and poetry, and most importantly, just being present to let others know that they are not alone in caring deeply.

Thanks to the planning committee for all their hard work and creativity: Bev, Bruce, Chris, Diana, Janice, Jenni, Jeremy, Karen, Kate, Melonie, Michael, Nick, Patrick, Ray, Robb, Roula, Scott, and Spiral. Special thanks to Human Dignity Coalition for hosting the original discussion group where the idea for this event first came to light, and to the two local businesses who brought over delicious coffee and sandwiches! To every person who participated — your creativity, enthusiasm and compassion are truly inspiring!

It was very moving to watch people pace down the street, thoughtfully, mournfully. There was a quiet power in that. Then in Riverfront Plaza, with the sun shining and the rainbow streamers blowing in the breeze, to see everyone gathered together in common purpose made me glad to live in a community where so many people really care about our world and are willing to show it.

When we started walking down Minnesota Avenue, I counted 253 people in the procession. Several people who were watching from the sides, eating their lunches, stood up and joined in the march. More came to the Healing Ceremony/Call to Action at Riverfront Plaza. I think a reasonable estimate for turnout would be 275 people.

Afterwards, a friend said, "for a little while, during the ceremony, I could imagine that I was living in the kind of world that I really want to live in." If we keep imagining it together, maybe someday we will live in that world.

Included is a small photo of a special visitor to the event. At about 1:20 p.m., just as we were closing the ceremony, an adult bald eagle perched in a large ponderosa between us and the river. I would like to take that as a very good sign.

Peace and Best Wishes, Diana

If you are interested in making your own giant Dove of Peace, go to:

www.janegoodall.org/peace-day/index.asp

The dove puppet plans are actually part of "Celebrate International Peace Day (September 21): Fly a Giant Peace Dove Puppet to Say 'Peace is Possible.'"

It was a beautiful day in Central Oregon for the march. I was there with my mother and my two little girls. Three generations marching for peace and the truth. For a town that is run by Republicans and the right wing, I feel we had a great turn out. The marchers were quuiet and the Bush supporters were more vocal about their oppinions.

We are living in trying times and I fear my childrens future with this administration and their agenda.


IMPEACH BUSH!

This really was an amazingly beautiful event. As I stood and listened many around me had tears running down their cheeks through the songs, poetry & speeches. Very touching.

Over two years ago, an anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-fascist rally in Bend, Oregon was written up by..... me. The organizer.
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2002/10/29874.shtml

We have come a long way since then. We're now in the midst of a huge quagmire in the Middle East brought about by a cacophony of lies told to us by our sleazy government. The people's voice was not strong enough in the autumn of 2002 or the spring of 2003 to prevent the criminal George Bush (and his immoral henchmen and Kindasleazy Rice) from lying the nation into an immoral conquest and rape of a sovereign nation in Mess-o-potamia. A region (as described on "The Daily Show" so appropriately and ironically) where our well-trained and ill-informed troops are alternately slaughtering and being slaughtered by the locals. Talk about all politics being local, Oy Vey!

***
What happened in Bend last Thursday should be noted for these several facts:

1) Corporate media coverage of the people's will and our profoundly democratic expressions of concern about the rise of Fascism in America still sucks. Now, more than ever.

2) Our movement has become far more creative in its expression of dissatisfaction with the criminal element who have seized our government.

3) March 19th, the second anniversary of George Bush's total flight into Christian/petroleum/fundamentalist/M.I.C. lunacy is coming right up.

It is time to begin to plan something more than "Not One Damn Dime Day". It's time to plan, as best we can, another day like February 15, 2003 when 15 million decent human beings gathered in our democratic masses in every time zone across the planet to protest George Bush's and Tony Bliar's then proposed Rape of Civilization, their scheme to send the barbarian hordes in order to steal Iraq's wealth for the sake of a handful of Anglo-American corporations.

Remember, Bush and Blair are the most indecent, immoral and criminal men on the planet. Never forget.