Eureka Peace Vigil

This week marks the 4th anniversary of the military assault and occupation of Iraq by our federal government and its military. More than 160 US cities and towns will be marking this anniversary with public events. 56% of Americans now oppose any further military force increases in Iraq.

Here in Humboldt County, Communities for Peace (CfP) has organized something a bit different this year - NOT another march and rally, but a HUGE afternoon vigil. (CfP is the group that has organized annual peace marches in Eureka since the invasion.)

County residents are being asked to arrive at any one of three downtown parking lots in Eureka between noon and 1245pm - at 5th x D, 5th x H, or the Courthouse parking lot between 4th and 5th at K street. There you will be handed one of 3200 lightweight tombstone placards (the number of US troops killed thus far - not to mention the more than 650,000 Iraqis estimated to have died). Blank placards will be available for those who wish to write their own messages.

Beginning at 1 p.m., participants will spread out on the sidewalks on both sides of Fourth and Fifth streets from approximately C to N streets to form a living memorial wall honoring the war dead. That means Humboldt's residents need to turn out in sufficient numbers to create a single file line the equivalent of 44 blocks long. People are being asked to be in place by 1pm, and to stay in that location in peace vigil until 3pm. "Taps" will be played to mark the beginning and ending times of the vigil.

Hoping you can join thousands of your neighbors from across the county this Saturday afternoon. This event happens rain or shine. But the forecast so far looks GREAT!

Oh yeah, one more thing.....

Tune in tomorrow night to Thursday Night Talk on KHSU at 7:30 pm to learn more about Saturday's vigil - and as always, call in with your questions. 826-4805 or 1-800-640-5911.

KHSU can be found on the radio at 90.5 Arcata/91.9 Crescent City-Brookings/89.1 FM Ferndale-Fortuna/89.7 FM Garberville/99.7 FM Willow Creek and streaming on the web at http://www.khsu.org