[pjw] REPORT BACK: Friday rally #4 under stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Greetings people who believe in peace and justice

Four people made it down to Pioneer Courthouse Square again this week for 
the limited-attendance, limited-action Friday rally and march; one PJW 
member and three PPRC folks.

In keeping with our previous efforts, As with the last three weeks, we did 
not chant along the march route (though per tradition I did yell "NO WAR" 
into the two parking garages along the way, since they provide great 
amplification). Once again, nobody took fact sheets from our little green 
wagon of peace. We stayed six feet apart, some of us with face coverings, 
and did not approach anyone passing by, then took a healthy walk around 
downtown with our signs held high (and extras in tow in the wagon). We got 
a few thumbs up, a curious pair of folks with a camera taking pictures, 
and, to my recollection, no hecklers this week.

One former Street Roots vendor came up, initially joking about being 
pro-Trump, but then engaged in conversation for a while. Then we raised a 
few issues such as the President having sent warships-- er, drug 
interdiction ships off the coast of Venezuela, and ratcheting up sanctions 
on Iran even though they need more than anything to access their own funds 
to fight this virus. I once again reminded people of the Portland Copwatch 
call to action for people to report warnings (or citations or arrests) by 
Portland Police related to the stay at home orders-- contact the Incident 
report line at 503-321-5120 voice or text. We saw no police and had no 
interaction with security at the Square. Prior to the pandemic, there were 
occasionally guards who would challenge the use of the bullhorn or, more 
bizarrely, whether it was ok to have a sign with PPRC's website or a flyer 
with PJW's contact info on it as an alleged violation of commercial speech 
limits in the park. Now there's no bullhorn and no banner and all is calm.

As noted previously, Peace and Justice Works will continue to hold down 
the space on Fridays with no more than a few people from our group so 
long as we're still not in technical violation of the Governor's orders.

Please stay safe and healthy but continue to promote nonviolence in your 
circles of family, neighbors, and whomever else you can contact while 
being limited in your travels and contacts.

Peace


--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group