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Ian and I attended the Smith Haven Mall event. We stayed by the sidewalk where demonstrators were showing the community and cars passing by that we want peace. For our household, Ian represented “The Green Party”, while I stayed non-partisan and represented “PeaceSmiths.” Many other greens were there, including Roger Snyder, Green Party of Suffolk Chair. There were many positive responses from cars, honks and peace signs. A few people shouting out angry words at us.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYN6YNebe_U]
News 12 did some okay coverage. And, Newsday wrote about it before and after (Excerpts from Newsday story below about one man who was arrested for going inside the mall.) Our friend from NYC just reported that 1010 WIN covered the event, mentioning 1 arrest. (Click here for information about how to support the two people who were arrested inside the Smith Haven Mall.)
In the News 12 story: They credited the correct group, Suffolk Peace Network, who were among the lead organizers. Many other groups helped and endorsed, including PeaceSmiths. Peace movement activist and SOA-Watch leader Bill McNulty added a very enlightening quote. And, News 12 actually admitted that we had around 200 people. The News 12 story gives too much attention/credit to the pro-war side. But, at least they covered us. And, they said approximately correct numbers for both sides.
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The group decided that sets of 2 or 3 people who wanted would go into the mall wearing the t-shirts that said: 4,000 soldiers dead. 1,000,000 Iraqis. And, the word “Enough.” The t-shirts also had a picture of a spatter of blood on them. Our group wanted to bring the message to the entire community.
One woman refused to leave or remove her t-shirt. She received an appearance ticket, and, no coverage in Newsday, for some reason.
Another man, Don Zirkel, refused to leave or to turn his shirt inside out. He was physically arrested.
Overall, I think that the action went well. I am proud that even here in the suburbs, there are people who are willing to challenge the system, and take a stand for peace and justice. While I am profoundly disheartened by the fact that innocent women and children and men are being killed in my name over seas, at least myself and my colleagues can take small measures to try to raise awareness of the injustice, small measures to try to stop a war. Hope the next demonstration is even bigger.
If you are interested in supporting the cause and continuing the dialogue, there are comments sections with each media story. There is a healthy discussion about the pros and cons of war and the pros and cons of demonstrating. For good measure, you can argue with people who commend the police for protecting the clampdown of free speech on “private property” at the mall.
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from Newsday
Police arrest anti-war protester, 80, at mall
BY ANASTASIA ECONOMIDES and MATTHEW CHAYES
matthew.chayes at newsday.comAn 80-year-old church deacon was removed from the Smith Haven Mall Saturday in a wheelchair and arrested by police for refusing to remove a T-shirt protesting the Iraq War.
Police said that Don Zirkel, of Bethpage, was disturbing shoppers at the Lake Grove mall with his T-shirt, which had what they described as “graphic anti-war images.” Zirkel, a deacon at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Wyandanch, said his shirt had the death tolls of American military personnel and Iraqis — 4,000 and 1 million — and the words “Dead” and “Enough.” The shirt also has three blotches resembling blood splatters…
Filed under: activism, Anti-War, local, Long Island Politics, More Events Calendars, Peace, war
Dear Wilderside and Friends,
I was the other person arrested and I have a few comments on this wonderful action. Sometimes we get caught in the here and now by physical and temporal boundaries without realizing the interconnectedness of what we do.
Because of this action of over 250 people outside the mall, and dozens inside protesting there is now an international debate about free speech in “private spaces” not only in this country, but also in England. I googled
protesters arrested at Smith Haven Mall and found ten pages of blogs on which there are thousands of comments discussing what we did.
The t shirt which says 4000 troops dead,1 million Iraqis, and Enough on the other side has been seen by practically everyone who watches the news on Long Island.
Nancy Dwyer,a Pax Christi member and one of our wonderful peace movement activists was on Channel 12.
People are questioning the New York State law which is different from California or New Jersey which has determined malls to be public places.
The war and protest against it is being discussed by thousands of people who were not doing so before.
For over half an hour, twenty or so of us, young and old read the names of the dead publically and got some support from shoppers, but we stood our ground and withstood several arrest warnings. We moved outside our comfort zone in the name of peace and justice. Saving lives was presented as a higher issue than commerce.
This was a classic civil disobedience action. Like the lunchcounter struggle in the sixties it moved far beyond what any of us expected because it took on a life of its own.
Don and I go to court on May 22nd. My hearing for criminal trespass is at 8:30 and Don’s for criminal trespass and resisting arrest is at 2 pm. I hope the peace movement will spend the day trying the war itself and come to the court to support us. We will meet outside in the parking lot before hand as we did for John Phillips hearing.
We are a package deal. Come to support us both since what has been proven is that an issue whose time has come is stronger than fear or money.
To all the wonderful people who bravely stood outside and in, and to the readers of names of the dead, thank you for giving me the strength to be arrested. Without you, I could not have done it.
Much love,
Susan McKeon-Steinmann
I also attended the demonstration. The arrests make me wonder if we are living in a democracy at all. I urge everyone who cares about democracy to send letters to the corporate entity which owns the Smithhaven Mall and explain the bill of rights to them:
Simon Property Group, Inc.
225 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 636-1600
http://www.simon.com (go to the “Contact SPG” link!)
thank you, thank you, thank you. many blessings.
please consider working with whoever gets it, on challenging the military-industrial-media-etc. etc.-corporate complex directly. it’s corporations vs. democracy ~ and guess who’ll keep losing, and who’ll keep making a killing, unless we work together in networks and coalitions, local to national to global.
we must abolish corporate ”personhood” (if this is unfamiliar, please google it) for starters, on the path to transforming our dominator-model, militaristic system.
for peace, justice & life~~~
joyce
tucson, az
(former brooklynite; it’s also on long island ~;-D !)
thank you, thank you, thank you. many blessings.
please consider working with whoever gets it, on challenging the military-industrial-media-etc. etc.-corporate complex directly. it’s corporations vs. democracy ~ and guess who’ll keep losing, and who’ll keep making a killing, unless we work together in networks and coalitions, local to national to global.
we must abolish corporate ”personhood” (if this is unfamiliar, please google it) for starters, on the path to transforming our dominator-model, militaristic system.
for peace, justice & life~~~
joyce
tucson, az
Thanks, Joyce, for the comment and insights. Thanks a lot to Janet Egan and to the Suffolk Peace Network who laid most of the groundwork for these demonstrations. Yes, challenging corporations on all fronts is critical. Peace, Kimberly.