Editor’s note: “Citizen journalist” Judith Lowry sent along this report and photos from this weekend’s demonstrations in Grass Valley.
“A lot of folks showed up for this event, in spite of the harsh weather. The GV Police did an excellent job. The two sides of this demonstration were respectful and courteous to one another and the march went off without any unfortunate incidents. I didn’t stay at Sierra Mountain Roasters for the Cindy Sheehan presentation. The room quickly filled to capacity after the march.”
Mary Jorgensen, famed Freedom Rider and Civil Rights activist with her daughter-in-law Eileen
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Sounds like a great day—I found this picture of Mary Jorgensen on-line in the Mississippi Civil Rights Digital Library
http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/sovcom/sovcomphoto/photo.php?display=item&oid=346
I love the smile on her face!
Thanks Mary for our freedom. We owe you big time and will be forever grateful.
Wow, a freedom rider in your midst. That is humbling and Mary looks full of light. I’m so glad and grateful for your peace march today–and some hardy souls to brave such weather for our country. Many Thanks to you all!
Judith,
I would of liked to have met you. Our very unprofessional estimate was 150 to 200 people. All in all it was a very good turn out and rally.
I received a few thumbs up from the Baldwin Group for my sign-
Wells Fargo
B of A
How many homes did you steal today?
Steve,
Thank you for the photo of young Mary.
She is still so pretty and filled with positive energy.
What a smile!
Ben,
Yes, I too noticed all the honking for Peace, thumbs up and smiles. Very positive.
I had to get ahead of the procession, so I passed through the Veteran’s demonstration ahead of the main group.
I am an old Army Brat so I love these guys.
My dad was a decorated hero from two wars.
On that overpass I saw a bunch of nice looking, flag bearing, smiling, laughing Silverbacks and some very determined looking women.
Their message was clear, “Don’t disrespect.”
As I ducked by them, I greeted them, made a few images, smiled, thanked them for their service and expressed my wish that we do our best to keep our young soldiers safe. One man said, “I want that too.”
I know he does. We all want the needless sacrifice of our young, fine and healthy to stop.
That’s where this dialogue might find a common ground and gain some traction on effective solutions.
I am very proud of my fellow Nevada County citizens (both sides) who froze and sloshed through sleet and snow, to walk the walk and show the love to our country.
Peace.
My usual collection of shots is at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keachie/sets/72157626179727117/detail/
Videos showing marchers coming across bridge and of Cindy speaking will show up there later.
Nice photos Mr. Keachie.
Looks like your camera fogged up like mine did.
It was so cold outside and the coffee shop was warm.
Instant fog.
I’ll remember lens tissues next time : )
I also attended this event and brought along my two high school daughters as well as 4 other high schhol girls. I decided to go early on Saturday asking the girls if they wanted to join me. My daughters really wanted to go and I think that convinced their friends to come along as well. I liked the turnout in some cold and lousy conditions as well as the positive energy of those that marched. The other group was okay as well. The GV Police did a great job and we all ended up being very cold with wet feet. Didn’t stick around aftwer we marched but took the girls home for warm showers and a few went into the hot tub. I would consider the march a success. I think it was also a good learning experience for all six of the high school girls. They really asked some good questions and I could tie some of the cost of war back to our local funding issues. I felt it was worth the time. Simple actions can lead to significant changes.
I assume the one photo is of the counter protestors, or what ever they called themselvs. Anybody recognize any of them?
I thought the one in the middle was Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore.
I swear I heard him say, “I love the smell of a “Blizzard in the Basin”. Smells like Victory.”
Steve, it was all good.
Even the Union printed a good story on it today.
Peace.
Now showing new videos at:
Thanks Doug! Well done.
Thanks Doug and Judith.
My 2 cent terminology nitpicks: IMO someone who just takes photos documenting an event is a photojournalist, & a citizen who writes about it is a citizen journalist. As for quotes around “citizen journalist”, to me they convey a distancing, “this is a silly term I’m not comfortable using” msg.
But YMMV…
Thanks for the title, regardless of which one.
I write with pictures and sound. It’s not just “taking a picture.” It’s figuring out well in advance where to position oneself to get the picture, and the sounds, to best capture the event.
In this case it meant arriving well early at the best site, as had I arrived with the marchers, I would not have been able to get the pictures of the Veterans in a positive a way as I did. They rather made the assumption that I was one of them, because of my timing, and thus I was able to get both groups as i think they would like to be seen. See the stills at flickr for the Vet group shots.