John Nirenberg walked across the state line into Rhode Island on Wednesday. Today, continuing his walk down Rt. 1, the Post Road, he will likely reach Connecticut. As one of his hosts as he made his way across our fair state, I'm here to report that Rhode Island came through for John with an immediate outpouring of love and support, that befits a 60 year old man walking 485 miles in the cold to speak with Nancy Pelosi.
John walks more than three miles an hour, so he got to Providence Wednesday morning. A call made to Providence Journal columnist Bob Kerr on Wednesday made for the best possible meetup. Kerr met John on the steps of our State House, interviewing him there for his column that came out in Friday's paper. Kerr is a Vietnam Vet, who writes often about issues of social justice, the current wars and their effect on ordinary Rhode Islanders. John could not have found a better ally in our local press. I had attempted to get the TV news affiliates out, but no luck. After talking to Kerr and admiring the 4th largest unsupported marble dome in the world (that is our State House), John and his companions hoofed it across Providence, and down into Warwick, calling it quits just south of the TF Green Airport. That day, they had been joined by a couple from the Sakonnet Peace Alliance, among other walkers and well-wishers. I met up with him just as he and his team finished for the day, but would be taking over the following morning to drive him to his launch point, and walk awhile. That day members of our peace and justice group began working on a dinner reception for John that would take place Friday. We lined up a Unitarian social hall, and began contacting activists and groups throughout the state to let them know that John was here in Rhode Island, walking, and in need of our support.
The following morning he and I began walking south from his previous stop point in Warwick. Within the first two miles we were joined by a reporter from the Providence Phoenix, who walked with us for about three miles, conducting a "moving interview" that would appear in next week's weekly edition. Again, calls to our local network TV affiliates the day before were less than successful. While we walked Thursday, I called NBC 10, and told them about John and his walk, and the response was near-uninterest. "So this story is good enough for AP, CBS National news, and the Providence Journal, but not worth covering by Channel 10?" I asked them, politely. "Well, if you're going to be nasty about it, I guess not" was the reply. "I just find it interesting, that a guy walking nearly 500 miles to Washington in the freezing cold, coming through Rhode Island, isn't considered news," I said. Channel 10 dug their heels in, and that was the end of it. The Phoenix reporter parted company with us after awhile, but within a mile John got a call from the Brattleboro newspaper, and gave them an interview as we stopped at a busy corner in East Greenwich. (to be continued tonight-remember, John is heading for eastern Connecticut. Connecticut activists, it's your turn now. Please take care of our friend. March in My Name)
David
South Kingstown Justice and Peace Action Group
Rhode Island Impeach