WRL- Delaware News: April 2009

If you would like to join the new chapter or for any additional information on events, you can contact WRL Delaware at www.wrl-delaware.tk.

April 26, 2009

Our new chapter got off to a good start on the March 20 – 22 Iraq War anniversary weekend. On the 20th, two of our small group (now numbering six) participated in a march and vigil sponsored by the SDS chapter at West Chester University, in West Chester, PA. We marched on and witnessed at the West Chester Courthouse with the energetic young SDSers. In the course of the afternoon, we were able to distribute many WRL counterrecruitment brochures, as well as many income tax pie-charts. We look forward to future cooperation with this important group of young people.

Only one of our number made it to the DC A.N.S.W.E.R. demonstration, where he took some very fine photos, a couple available for viewing on our website, www.wrl-delaware.tk . Another member attended the Saturday DE Pacem in Terris vigil at the local VA hospital. We continue to work with this long-established DE peace group. (This latter gentleman also hosted some of the walkers from the New England Peace Pagoda en route to Washington, DC. A busy weekend for him!)

The main event of the weekend was a letter-writing party on Sunday afternoon under the auspices of Courage to Resist. Ten people (including our entire membership) attended and produced some twenty-plus letters, mostly letters of support to GI war resisters, with a couple to the new President, urging an amnesty for them.

Ellen Barfield was kind enough to visit us in Wilmington on March 28 and to participate in our regular Concord Pike vigil. After lunch, several of us met with her at the home of a member to benefit from her considerable knowledge of anti-war activism. She gave us much useful advice about possible actions for our group and also provided us with a wealth of printed materials from the WRL. Thanks again, Ellen!

Members distributed tax pie-charts wherever they could during the tax month of April, although we held no formal action.

We still hold weekly vigils along with Pacem members on the Concord Pike at Concord Square, Wilmington, DE on Saturdays from 11 AM till 12 noon. Numbers are small, but we continue to be a presence bearing witness against war and imperialism.

On May 2, we will join forces with several peace groups in protesting at the “Army Experience Center”  – a glitzy militaristic propaganda operation –  at the Franklin Mills Mall, Bensalem, PA.

Finally, we are exploring the possibility of staging public educational programs at local libraries and/or sympathetic area churches.