Today (Friday), I participated in a symbolic and, I think, meaningful vigil to mark the deaths of the 2,000 American servicemembers in the Iraq war. The leadership of the
Louisville Peace Community came up with the idea of collecting 2,000 T-shirts, stringing them on baling twine, and displaying them in a long line along a busy intersection and thoroughfare, during rush hour.
From 4 to 6 pm, over 270 people helped hold up the 2,000 shirts, plus banners and signs. We didn't move, we didn't shout, and we didn't march. We just stood, and let the sight of 2,000 shirts, each representing a life, tell the tale.
(Pictures below the fold...)
These are some pictures taken by Chuck from
www.Blackwednesday.org, who graciously sent them on to me for posting on dailyKos.
I regret that you can't get a sense of this vigil from the pictures -- the shirts just went on, and on, and on. They stretched from the exit ramp of I-64 at Grinstead Drive (one of the busiest intersections in Louisville), across Lexington Road, and up Grinstead to the entrance to Cave Hill Cemetary. You could see the impact it had on some people, emotionally.
Here's the best long shot I've got, which only shows about 50 of the shirts:
We interspersed small posters on the line as well:
And, we had large posters that either stood alone or were held up:
This one got to me the most, when I saw it:
And this one -- well, this one is my favorite. Resolute, holding the truth up for all to see, ready to stand even when the winds blow against her -- just an iconic image, in my opinion:
So, there you have it. It was, in everyone's estimation, a successful vigil, I think. My only claim to fame in it is just the same as the other 270 people: I stood for a while and helped hold up the rope. The credit goes to the LPAC leadership and all the volunteers.
Bruce in Louisville