Coalition for Peace and Justice protests war, unites political parties in Hillsdale County
Michael Mayday
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
Sarah DeRose-Wilson, 17, sits on the curb near the Hillsdale County Courthouse. She throws up her peace sign as another car goes by. With another Saturday comes another vigil, conducted by the Hillsdale County Coalition for Peace and Justice, protesting the war in Iraq.
The coalition began in 2002, the same week the U.S. invaded Iraq, when Bob and Carol Ball organized a protest at the courthouse.
"A group of us got together that thought the war was wrong. We were of various backgrounds and were against the war, that's sort of how we came together," Carol Ball said. "Even though we have different views on a lot of different things we still come together under one umbrella."
In the early days, sometimes as many as 20 people would attend the vigil.
Though attendance numbers have since declined, coalition members still stand outside near the courthouse every Saturday, holding signs that protest President George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
"We all have one cause that unifies us, and it's this stupid war," Doug Barker said, as passing cars honked at him.
Barker, a local window factory worker and coalition member, doesn't consider himself a radical. He simply wants an end to the war in Iraq.
"I personally don't think it was justified going in there," said Barker. "Men and women are dying over there for nothing. So a few people can make a few extra bucks, a few select people; a few corporations, oil companies, defense contractors, banks."
When the vigil first began coalition members were met with hostilities. Barker said most angry motorists just wave their middle fingers, but in one instance a pickup driver threw a pop can at a child who was at the vigil.
But as the war in Iraq dragged on the public's opinion toward the coalition changed.
"Well, people don't throw bottles at you anymore," said Isaiah DeRose-Wilson, a small-business owner and Sarah's brother.
"We've also had people stop and bring us hot chocolate in the winter when it's really cold," said Katja Szarafinski a small business owner and German national.
The coalition began in 2002, the same week the U.S. invaded Iraq, when Bob and Carol Ball organized a protest at the courthouse.
"A group of us got together that thought the war was wrong. We were of various backgrounds and were against the war, that's sort of how we came together," Carol Ball said. "Even though we have different views on a lot of different things we still come together under one umbrella."
In the early days, sometimes as many as 20 people would attend the vigil.
Though attendance numbers have since declined, coalition members still stand outside near the courthouse every Saturday, holding signs that protest President George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
"We all have one cause that unifies us, and it's this stupid war," Doug Barker said, as passing cars honked at him.
Barker, a local window factory worker and coalition member, doesn't consider himself a radical. He simply wants an end to the war in Iraq.
"I personally don't think it was justified going in there," said Barker. "Men and women are dying over there for nothing. So a few people can make a few extra bucks, a few select people; a few corporations, oil companies, defense contractors, banks."
When the vigil first began coalition members were met with hostilities. Barker said most angry motorists just wave their middle fingers, but in one instance a pickup driver threw a pop can at a child who was at the vigil.
But as the war in Iraq dragged on the public's opinion toward the coalition changed.
"Well, people don't throw bottles at you anymore," said Isaiah DeRose-Wilson, a small-business owner and Sarah's brother.
"We've also had people stop and bring us hot chocolate in the winter when it's really cold," said Katja Szarafinski a small business owner and German national.
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