Vallejo Peace Demonstration

Vallejo Peace Demonstration
Vallejo CA
February 15, 2003
by Marc Buchalter
An estimated 200 to 250 people gathered in Vallejo’s Garden Plaza at 233 Georgia Street to participate in a Anti-War rally. Civic, leaders, social activists, labor leaders and addressed the crowed expressing opposition to Bush administrations intentions to attack Iraq.. Also present were three counter demonstrators expressing their support of an attack on Iraq.
Among the Anti-war speakers were Solano County Supervisor Barbra Kondylis, Benicia City Councilman Dan Smith, Rose Tyson Chairperson of the Solano County NAACP.
Rose Tyson said that she was speaking today in spite of 17 phone calls this morning telling her not to. But in spite of the warnings she was there in accordance with a National resolution of the NAACP opposing the war.
Also speaking were Vallejo City Council member Pamela Pitts, J. T. Miller, Labor Leader and Viet Nam veteran, Sharon Stoepler of the California Nurses Association, and Lerica Davis Co-founder of Speak and Be Heard and Douglas McDonald of the Solano County Peace and Justice Coalition.
One of the counter demonstrators, Chuck Lass, identified himself as a 4th generation Vallejo Resident. Chuck said that he thought the anti-war demonstration was fine, but he wanted to express his “Respect for the flag, country and the President.” Chuck carried a home made sign that said, “No Peace Without Victory.” Mr. Lass was accompanied by his friend Kenn Stevens, also a Vallejo Resident.
Mr. Stevens was dismissive of the Demonstrators and described them as “wanna-be 60s radicals”
Mr Lass also said, “I’m not for war, but sometimes you gotta do what you have to do. ... We need to act now. I would rather have Iraqis die than Americans. Americans don’t conquer they liberate.”