bought some black fleece
and cut it into mufflers to protect us from the cutting winds. There was no way to soften the pavement and some elders broght
folding chairs to sit on. Many Saturdays we compared notes on deciding on how many layers of clothes to wear. Thanks to the local thrift shops,I now own a black umbrella, black hats and layers of clothes for all seasons.
We began by standing in silence, creating a public island of quiet while
the cacophony around the war in Iraq increased. I treasured this way of rising above the increasingly divisive political discourse
while also making a statement for positive change.
By standing in silence and peace, we created an
image so powerful that a local photographer took a picture of our vigil and transformed it into the art piece here, contrasting
our black shapes with the lush natural beauty of the Olympic Peninsula in the wall mural behind us.
Women In Black has no rules. You can be silent. Or not. Carry signs or pictures. Or not. Our one common belief is in the power
of peace. We chose to offer flyers rather than carry signs. Sometimes our group was silently contemplative; other times
we shared experiences or waved the peace V sign. Supportive honks and enthusiastic waves were our rewards.
