It was a wonderful gathering for peace. The organizers say this September 15th antiwar rally and march drew 100,000 persons, but one never knows. And, to be honest, the numbers don't matter. In Washington, DC the politicians and lobbyists and political donors and arms manufacturers and corporations that run our country and make the decisions don't really care what we think anyway. But it matters to us. When we come together like this, we know we are not alone, and we tap into that "people power" we all too often forget we have. To me, the greatest part of this gathering of peace-loving folks was the huge numbers of young people in their teens and 20s who not only attended but were vocal and enthusiastic. I was also gratified to see more persons of color than I've ever seen before at such a rally and march. That is very encouraging! And Middle America was out in full force. This was not just some peacenik bandana-wearing pot-smoking group of 60s wannabees. No, we were young families pushing strollers, farmers in bib overalls, old men and women walking laboriously with canes, middle-aged couples in Izod shirts and khaki shorts, Indian women in saris, cleancut-looking university students, scarved women carrying signs for peace. You name it; they were there.

And I discovered how to do this demonstration in what I believe was an effective way. For 3-4 hours I mounted a stationary vigil with my "Don't bomb Iran" sign and my leaflets, in hopes that these peace people would wake up to what I believe is the imminent threat of war on Iran. In my opinion, the peace movement is missing the boat in their singleminded obsession with Iraq. Yes, we need to stop that horrible war, but we also need to start mobilizing immediately against the NEXT war, the one Mr. Bush, and more importantly Mr. Cheney, seem determined to start against Iran at any moment. So that was my purpose and goal during this huge demonstration, and I received a lot of attention, both from the demonstrators and from the media, at least the Canadian media. I was filmed and interviewed by CBC-TV, and interviewed on CBC-Radio. May our sisters and brothers to the north realize that not all of their neighbors to the south go along silently with what this government does and says in our name! May they see that some of us stand up to the powers-that-be and say a loud resounding NO! to the wars and aggression committed by our leaders.

As the final group of marchers gathered in front of the White House, I left my post, got out my camera and joined them. On the march down Pennsylvania Avenue I met some wonderful people including Marilyn Killingham who was being pushed in a wheelchair by her friend and co-worker in the "Stand Up for Democracy in DC" coalition, Anise Jenkins. I was also grateful to connect with Allia Farhad and Saeed Roshan of the Iranian Left Alliance. They were holding up signs that said, in part, "Only people of Iran have a legitimate right to change the reactionary regime of Iran, not the bloody hands of the U.S. government." That message should be posted all over every city in this country! Who do we think we are to even consider bringing "regime change" (ie., death, destruction & war) to other countries! A block later, Ann Shirazi, whom I'd met in front of the A.R.T. postcard campaign demonstration on Wednesday called me over to meet her husband Ahmed who is originally from Iran. When I got to the Capitol grounds--the end point of the march--there were four of my Michigan Womyn's Music Festival sisters, Kathy & Sheri and Betty & Betsy. But my deepest heart connection of the day was made with Boryana Alexandrova, a committed peace activist who had taken a bus down from Andover, Massachusetts to attend this march. Boryana is originally from Bulgaria and knows what it is like to live in a country where dissent can put you in jail. I suspect it is that firsthand knowledge that fuels her work for justice and peace. I hope we can arrange to see one another again.

So my 6-day Iranian Vigil for Peace here in DC is done. At least for now. Sunday I'm getting together with family, and Monday around noon I'll start my 500-mile drive back home. This vigil has been all that I'd hoped for and more. May plans for peace replace plans for war in the hearts and minds of my country's leaders. May the American people wake up before it's too late and say "NO!" to yet another monstrous war. May our PBase brother Ali Majdfa and his fellow countrymen and women in Iran be protected from harm.

I took many photos of the wonderful people who crossed my path today and, as always, you can see these newly-uploaded images by going to my Iranian Vigil for Peace gallery. CLICK HERE to see them.