[pjw] REPORT BACK: Friday rally #7 under stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello again those who believe in peace and freedom

Our May 8 limited-attendance Friday rally had six people at it continuing 
the now 18.5-year tradition of protests on the SW corner of Pioneer 
Courthouse Square. For the first time since the stay-at-home order was 
issued in Oregon on March 23, we had three PJW members, along and three
people from PPRC. Most of us had face coverings.

As is the new "normal" we did not use a bullhorn and did not chant along 
the march route, got several supportive people passers-by including 
motorists, and-- drumroll please-- had one person pick up a fact sheet off 
of the wagon of peace!

Just as we were getting started, a young man who identified himself as a 
Kurdish Iranian questioned our "No War on Iran" signs, essentially arguing 
that even if members of his family were killed by the US in such a war it 
was better (in his eyes) than living under the current Iranian regime. He 
claimed we knew nothing of the region (no, he was not the person who took 
the fact sheet) but truly showed his allegiance when he yelled at us that 
President Trump would be re-elected later this year.

For the first time since the pandemic hit, the Pioneer Square security 
guard came over-- not to break up our gathering (since we were all 6 feet 
apart), but to encourage the guy to move on, as he'd been blocking a lane 
of traffic for almost 10 minutes. In a truly strange twist of affairs, the 
security guard then _apologized to us,_ presumably for having had to 
endure the heckling for so long. These things aren't bothersome-- we are 
there to have a dialogue with people, but still, an interesting 
development.

As we rallied and marched, we talked about a number of things including 
that the United Nations general assembly now does not work on majority 
rule any more, but rather any country can essentially veto a resolution.


https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/04/25/Saudi-Arabia-s-proposed-resolution-on-coronavirus-blocked-at-UN-by-Syria-and-Iran.html

While to some extent this does counterbalance the US' (and the other 
victors of World War II's) veto power in the Security Council, it also 
means the US and its allies can block meaningful resolutions in the main 
body.

We also noted that at least 16 warring parties (in addition to 114 
countries) have expressed support for the UN's global ceasefire proposal.

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/un-chief-16-armed-groups-have-responded-to-cease-fire-appeal-1.628076

But unfortunately the US and Russia do not support the idea as it will 
stop them from being able to use violence against "terrorists."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/19/us-and-russia-blocking-un-plans-for-a-global-ceasefire-amid-crisis

We also briefly talked about the bizarre plot by a former Green Beret to 
foment a coup in Venezuela.

https://apnews.com/79346b4e428676424c0e5669c80fc310

He's now in a US prison.

We also made our usual comments about how the money spent on the military 
could instead have been used for a health care system that was able to 
respond to crises like the one we are in.

And I mentioned again that Portland Copwatch is still asking for people to 
contact its incident report line (503-321-5120) if they get warned, cited 
or arrested for violating the stay at home orders, as we want to track 
whether police action is being enforced inequitably.

Thanks for all the supportive feedback. We'll keep an eye on the "opening 
up" of Oregon for when we can invite more people down to join us.

--dan handelman
Peace and Justice Works
   Iraq Affinity Group
   PO Box 42456
   Portland, OR   97242
   (503) 236-3065  (Office)
   iraq at pjw.info
   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

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