Group Resumes Weekly Peace Vigils

15 October 2002

by D.D. Delaney, Port Folio Weekly

In response to growing probability of a U.S. war with Iraq, the True Peace Network will resume weekly anti-war vigils on Tuesdays from 5 to 6pm at St. Paul's Boulevard and City Hall Avenue in downtown Norfolk.

Vigils for most of this year have been held monthly, though they began as weekly events in Sept., 2001, after the al Qaeda attacks. The decision to resume the weekly schedule was settled upon by group consensus after this month's regular vigil on Oct. 8.

Plans were also affirmed to meet at the downtown site for a vigil from 5 to 6pm on the day, should it come, when war begins.

D.C. Amarasinghe, Green Party candidate for the 2nd Congressional district seat now held by Republican Ed Schrock -- there are no Democrats in the race -- attended the Oct. 8 vigil to hand out campaign literature and lend support to alternatives to the Bush push for war. Dr. Amarasinghe was a regular participant in the earlier, post-9-11 weekly vigils.

The True Peace Network is an informal association of non-violent dissenters to U.S. military policies. All ages and faiths are welcome to participate. For more information, call Steve Baggarly or Kim Williams at the Norfolk Catholic Worker, 757.423.5420.