Tennesse Peace Activist Participates in 500 Mile Walk

by Joshua Brollier

Witness Against War is a 500-mile walk from Chicago to Saint Paul to challenge and non-violently resist our nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The campaign seeks to hold both major political parties - Democrat and Republican - accountable and responsible for continuing and ending the Iraq war.

Joshua Brollier joined the walk in Chicago on July 12 and has participated in awareness events and community forums along the route to St. Paul. The walkers will convene there on August 29 to march in step with the Veterans for Peace at the Republican National Convention protests.

"I am excited to walk with a group, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, that has had a almost constant presence on the ground in Iraq during the sanctions, during the shock and awe bombings, and throughout the current phase of the war."

The group engaged in a non-violent act of civil disobedience at Fort McCoy to dramatize the upcoming deployment of the 32nd Brigade Combat Team, a division of the Wisconsin National Guard.

"We hoped to speak with the soldiers about their right to refuse illegal orders, but we were denied entry to the base," said Brollier. "That's alright though; we have had the opportunity to have many other meaningful conversations with soldiers along the way."

Witness Against War has benefited from a vast range of experienced peace activists and hopes to build opposition to the war through face-to-face encounters with people in urban and rural areas.

"Growing up near Fort Campbell, I saw first-hand the strain of separation that repeated deployments cause to families. I have also seen the cost of these wars while working with refugees from Afghanistan. It's time for these occupations to end."