Not long after, mall security staff and local police approached and told us we had to leave. As we talked with them, one of our members called the local police sergeant from a nearby pay phone. The sergeant confirmed what we already knew: We had the right to stand on the sidewalk with our banners. We promptly informed the security guard and the police officer that they were in error and that we would remain where we were. After several tense moments elapsed, the security guard and police officer left.

Local media covered our event, resulting in a front-page article voicing our concerns about the pandemic of violent toys and the effects on our culture.

Later that week, several of us returned to the Toys ‘R’ Us and other chain stores in the area to educate the public further. We re-labeled almost an entire shelf of violent playthings with a bright red warning sticker reading, “Warning—Think Before You Buy—War Toys Increase Violence in Children—Is This What You Really Want?”

We held another banner day before Christmas and continued our “truth in advertising” re-labeling campaign throughout the holiday season and beyond.

uring International YouthPeace Week I found myself focusing energy entirely on prison-related issues. It was really my first exposure to the topic, and I found myself bombarded with facts, opinions and conspiracies. I saw a film excerpt on prisons during a presentation by [the New York City-based media workshop] Deep Dish Network, handed out informational flyers outside Grand Central Station and wrote holiday solidarity cards to political prisoners around the world. Even though only one woman at Grand Central took the time to discuss the pamphlet with me, I knew that one woman had walked away more educated about her community. YouthPeace had made a difference.

e chose three actions for International YouthPeace Week. The first was a “Don’t Buy War Toys” protest at Connecticut’s Crystal Mall. From one to three in the afternoon of November 26, 25 people—most of them high school students—stood outside the main parking lot entrance holding signs that said, “No Hate Toys,” “Don’t Buy G.I. Joe,” and other similar slogans.

At three o’clock we moved the party inside. Since it’s illegal in Connecticut (and most other states) to protest in malls, we had to find creative ways to get our message out to the people shopping. So we went to the mall wearing T-shirts that we had screen-printed with “Don’t Buy War Toys.” It’s not illegal to wear T-shirts—or is it?

Inside the mall, we decided to hit the food court before we started our walk around the mall. The food court was on the opposite side of the mall, so we had to walk quite a way to get there. When we reached the food court, mall security forces were filing out of their office preparing to search for us. We were told we were making a disturbance and we had to leave. A few members of the group tried to walk to the bathroom and were told they couldn’t go anywhere. Mall security again said we had to leave. We said no. In another minute three cops showed up. Some of our older members were ready and willing to be arrested standing up for the right to wear our T-shirts in the mall, and some of our adult allies were ready to put on the T-shirts and risk arrest as well.

Just then the mall manager showed up and said there was no problem at all with our presence in the mall, as long as we were shopping, but that we shouldn’t walk around in large groups. We agreed and went on our way around the mall in groups of four and five. More people probably saw us because of the security guards hassling us.