Peace activists flash
signs of the times

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Peace activists fought gusting winds while holding their picket signs in hopes of affecting even stronger winds of change during a Tax Day protest outside of the Internal Revenue Service building on Roosevelt Boulevard.
The protest was one of three that members of Coalition for Peace Action and Northeast Philly for Peace and Justice staged on Tax Day to protest what they consider the misappropriation of tax funds for the war in Iraq. The protesters say the funds should instead be used for human needs here at home. CFPA members also brought their cause to the forefront in Quakertown and Doylestown.
"We’ve got to change hearts and minds. I feel obligated to be out here," said Debbie Kavanagh.
Car and truck horns honked in support of the protesters’ messages during the evening rush. Their signs read, Too many taxes for war; Less guns, more butter; No funds for nukes; De-fund the war, fund human needs; My tax $ for peace not war.
"Whenever we have a demonstration we get horns honking," said the Rev. Al Krass, coordinator of the Bucks and Eastern Montgomery County chapter of the Coalition for Peace Action.
Northeast Philadelphia resident Larry Horwitz’s large Support our troops, bring them home sign blocked the wind for a little while, until a gust grabbed it and sent it flying down the IRS driveway.
"I hope (the protest) helps bring the troops home," he said.
Fellow peace activist Susan Deckhart shared his sentiments.
"When they say you have to support the troops, it means bring them home alive. Now would be fine," she said.
In addition to declaring the heavy toll on soldiers and their families, a flier documenting the reasons behind the protesters’ crusade noted the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, who estimates that the $1 trillion war burden will rob U.S. taxpayers of much-needed resources and social services.
"It’s not very easy changing attitudes and realizing we’re part of the majority. It’s painful to realize we can’t get legislation passed at this stage," Krass said.
According to Northeast Philly for Peace and Justice co-founder Harvey Chanin, who was on hand with his son Mitch, the group has between 4,000 and 5,000 signatures on a petition urging U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.) to move the Congress to decisive action to end the war. That includes setting a timetable for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops, contractors and mercenaries from Iraq by the end of this year; cutting off funding for U.S. military actions in Iraq; funding only a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops; continuing reconstruction funding; and calling for an international conference in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, the U.S. House and Senate prepared to vote on a $124 billion war-funding measure that also would set a schedule for troop withdrawal. If the legislation passes, however, Congress is unlikely to have enough votes to override a promised veto by President George W. Bush. ••
For more information about the petition or Northeast Philly for Peace and Justice activities, call 215-698-2422 or e-mail nephillyactivist@yahoo.com
Reporter Diane Villano can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com