motley crew confront Northwood
LHM | 29.12.2006 00:49 | Anti-militarism | Free Spaces | Social Struggles | South Coast
'Wise men go the other way' what would you do?
police becoming knitivists - 'resist' war 'love' your enemy 'life' insist on it
Carrying banners, one of which stated that 'wise *men go the other way', lengths of finger knitting, which were seen on the ground stating our need and call on Northwood to 'resist (the killing of innocents) and love (humanity)' and 'life' (insist on it), as well as materials for a makeshift shrine a liturgy was begun and ended amidst opposition by local police.
Whilst there was some threats of using pepper spray (was not used) and minor brutality by the police it was because they were frightened and did not know how to handle people nonviolently, training was offered though not at this point taken up. They did later calm, and nearby service men were concerned about their behaviour and said so (royal marines).
One man (a royal marine) approached those on the opposite side of the road in uniform and thanked a particular woman who was calling out the role call (of names for our memorial of those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq).
This 'booktneck' (royal marine) had friends who had seen others pals killed, he cared that he was not seen as evil, he wasnt. This was a moving numan moment, and I can not detail it well enough myself and I very much respect this courage and vulnerabilty.
**(they we meant woman too).
(Dedicated to S).
LHM
Homepage:
http:// http://www.londoncatholicworker.org/ http://www.menno.org.uk/ http://ickevald.net/vineandfigtreeplanters/
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