I'm posting this very short diary just to spread the news of a planned student anti-war protest in heavily Republican Livingston County, Michigan. The protest will be from 10 AM to noon in downtown Pinckney, on the sidewalk along M36 at Putnam Township Square.
I just learned of the protest this morning from a local newspaper, the Daily Press and Argus. According to the article, by Christopher Behnan, the students have held 5 protests already this year, in which 5-10 students show up and hold signs with various anti-war messages. The article notes that the students get a mixed response of horns honking in support and one-finger salutes in opposition.
The leader of the group is Chris Dzombak, a senior at Pinckney High. He is quoted as stating that the general response to the protests has been gradually shifting away from the rude responses and towards the supportive responses. About 15 students are expected to attend. The general public is invited to join in.
It's a wonderful thing to see the students taking the initiative and actually doing something! The article in the Daily Press and Argus goes on to note that the protest probably will not change minds in the heavily Republican area. The Republican paper then goes on the quote a local Republican leader (country chairman Allan Filip) as arguing that the war is not a Democrat vs Republican thing. (Of course not, unless it was successful, in which case it would be purely Republican!). No Dems were quoted-what do you think this is, fair and balanced?
Yes, it is expected to be cold and unpleasant on Saturday in Pinckney, MI. I am not certain that I will be able to attend, but I am going to try to make it. It should be interesting to meet some energetic and committed young people!