Over 320 people participated in a 24-hour vigil outside Senator Coleman’s office on University Avenue during the last week of July. The vigil started on Monday, 7/23 at 10:00 am and ended on Tuesday, 7/24 at 10:00 am. The vigil focused on the 56+ Minnesota soldiers that have been killed in Iraq.

This vigil grew out of the Occupation Project, said Marie Braun, one of the planners of the event. The Occupation Project was an earlier protest that was held over the period of several weeks at Congressional offices all over the country this spring. It was during Holy Week and the 9th week of occupying Senator Coleman’s office, that 12 people were arrested for civil disobedience. Of the 12 who were arrested, three were women in their 70s who had never been arrested before. Disturbed over the Iraq war, these women proudly stepped forward to be arrested to call attention to the war. When the case was summarily dismissed (most likely to avoid publicity), the women were disappointed. They felt that the dismissal was not only about the case, but about dismissing their voices as well. Seven people, about half from St. Joan’s, decided to organize this vigil in follow-up to the court dismissal to demonstrate that anti-war voices will not so easily be silenced.

One of the vigil participants came all the way Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. Gene Barnes(right) was there in her wheelchair, with her grandson, Zach, and daughter, Terry, who live here in Minneapolis. Mrs. Barnes was in Minneapolis for surgery and was delighted that she could be a part of the vigil. She said that she and her husband, who passed away two years ago, were against the war from the start. She is so thankful for all we do here in Minnesota to protest the war.

Reverend Nancy Anderson, United Church of Christ, hoisted a sign that said, “Let Peace Begin with U.S.!” She wants to see an end to the killing. Mickey from St. Albert the Great Church waved her Peace sign at honking cars and trucks passing by. She’s part of a Peace and Justice Team at St. Albert’s and is the one who keeps the Iraq war on the forefront there.

It was a hot and humid Monday afternoon, but everyone kept cool. Julie Madden helped that out by passing out ice cream bars.

The vigil ended with speakers and a brief memorial service where the participants walked to Senator Coleman’s office and read the names of each military person who has been killed in Iraq. Then they presented to Senator Coleman, through his staff, a 25 by 16 framed photograph of the faces of those soldiers who have died. At the bottom of the photograph is printed, “Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar.” They asked that the photo be hung in Senator Coleman’s office as a remembrance.

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Rose Grengshas been a SJA parishioner since 1982. She is an immigration attorney and passionate about the subject. She is a member of the choir and active in the Peace Movement. She and her husband, Paul, routinely attend the 11:00 Mass. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of three. She is looking forward to retirement, travel and enjoys music, especially singer, songwriter, Greg Brown.

Many thanks must also be given to the Twin Cities Peace Campaign who lent its full support, financially as well as physically, to this event.

Rev. Nancy Anderson, United Church of Christ