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New York, NY.
SDS Pace was the first chapter within SDS New York to endorse the "Number The Dead"
protest - held on September 17th, 2006 on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. They were followed
by MDS New York. Members of New School, Pratt and even UCF SDS participated in the event.
Other endorsers included: United for Peace and Justice - NY; Grandmothers Against The War;
Brooklyn Parents For Peace; National Youth and Student Peace Coalition; Veterans For
Peace - NYC Chapter 034; Judson Memorial Church; Bronx Action for Peace and Justice;
Congressman Charles Rangel; Military Families Speak Out NY; Code Pink; Women in Black;
Peace Action of Staten Island; Port Huron Project; Play: Act; World Can't Wait, and;
North Fork People of Conscience
Momentum Films stated the purpose of the action on their website numberthedead.com:
- To illustrate - and draw awareness - to the significant number of US soldiers and Iraqis
whose lives have been lost as a result of the war in Iraq.
- To honor that reality with a moment of silence for the US soldiers and Iraqis who have
fallen in the name of freedom.
The goal was to have 2700 participants stand along the east side of Fifth Avenue - in a human
chain extending from 8th Street to 98th Street. Yoko Ono donated 3000 buttons that stated:
"Imagine Peace" - these were distributed to participants by the organizers. At the event, each
participant held a placard that contained the name of a dead US soldier or stated "11,000 Iraqis".
A documentary film crew videotaped the vigil.
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Pace SDS - a fired up chapter.
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Union Square was the rally point for SDS.
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John Cronan arrives at the action...
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...as the filming begins.
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A dozen Pace SDSers arrived at Union Square about 9:15 AM joining MDS member
Tom Good. The Pace chapter, one of NYC's most active, continues to grow almost
exponentionally and remains one of the militant in all of SDS. At 9:30 the
contingent stepped off, heading west on 17th Street. Arriving at Fifth Avenue
a short time later they were greeted by Todd Eaton of Brooklyn MDS. The film
producer stood nearby in a purple NYU tshirt - issuing imagine peace buttons and
placards. SDS grabbed signs and buttons and took their assigned positions along
Fifth as camera crews drove and walked by.
A short time later John Cronan joined his comrades...he was soon followed by the
Pratt SDS chapter whose activists arrived from the west, behind a large black flag.
Veteran Pratt organizers Davey Vacek, Dan Mirisola and Mariel Nardi were among a
crew of eight who took up positions on the line to the north of Pace. A moment
later Pat Korte of New School SDS appeared with Matt DeVlieger who recently moved
to NYC from Orlando where he had been active in the UCF SDS chapter. Surveying
the turnout SDS and MDS organizers were pleased that the SDS New York contingent
fielded 25 members - at a Sunday demonstration that began at the ungodly hour of
10:00 AM.
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Temperatures were in the mid eighties...
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...warm for a mid-September day.
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SDSers lined Fifth Avenue...
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...reaching out to passersby.
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The response to the vigil was good. Many drivers honked, flashed
peace signs and offered raised fists...
"It felt good to get our message out there to people. It was a really
envigorating experience, considering it was my first protest. It ignited
something in me," said Karly Bacci of Pace SDS.
A number of taxi drivers stopped to ask what the protest was about and
thanked the demonstrators for spending their Sunday in the streets.
"Statistics are one thing, but to see people represent the numbers of dead
soldiers and Iraqis is another. Some people may think "out of sight, out
of mind," but I hope with today's action, we were able to open their
eyes," said participant Kim Egge (Pace SDS).
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Lauren Giaccone (left) and Kim Egge of Pace SDS
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Pratt SDS, Davey Vacek is on the right.
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(l to r): Pat Korte (New School SDS), Matt DeVlieger (UCF SDS) and friends.
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"The action helped people visualize the casualities. It's no longer just a
number when you can actually see the people." - Davey Vacek (Pratt SDS)
SDS and friends vigiled for an hour...the Pratt black flag flapping in the
small breeze. A photography student who had been passing by hooked up with
Tom of MDS: talking about cameras and snapping shots for his class assignment.
"What was the most affective part was seeing the ages of the people we
represented. There were people who were 18 and 19 years old. They were the
same age as my friends and I." Edith Sviridchik (Pratt SDS)
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SDSer being filmed while vigiling.
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SDS forms up...
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...and marches down Fifth Avenue.
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A fired up Todd Eaton at Washington Square.
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Shortly after 11 AM the vigil organizers announced that the event was over and
participants could either disperse or make their way down to Washington Square Park.
SDS and MDS organizers opted to call an ad hoc march. The contingent formed up in
the bike lane on the east side of Fifth Ave and started marching...Tom carried the
flag and the SDSers help their placards high. The familiar SDS chants echoed up
the Avenue as onlookers smiled, waved and on occasion, applauded: "Stop the war,
yes we can, SDS is back again..."
Although a police radio car shadowed the marchers there was no police interference
on the march. Marching in good order and making good time, SDS arrived at the Park
and filled the area beneath the Arch, continuing to chant. Some friends of SDS who
had joined the march remained with the activists as the media hurried over, looking
to discover who and what had arrived in Washington Square. Student activists were
interviewed by various media people.
"I was approached by a sister in her seventies who asked me: 'Where have
you been?'
I smiled and she repeated: 'Where has SDS been?'
I replied: 'We had a problem in 1969...'
The sister, now emphatic, said: 'I know! But we needed you!' I smiled and said
that we were back - and ready to resume the struggle."
- Tom Good, MDS New York
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Dan Mirisola (center, brown shirt) of Pratt SDS.
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Matt DeVlieger signs the Imagine Peace sign.
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A SDSer looks on...
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...as the signing continues.
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The SDSers joined the other activists in adding their names
to a large sign that displayed the current death toll for US
military personnel killed in Iraq. Some SDS, like Pat Korte,
have former classmates who are now in Iraq, waiting to come
home. The event wound down around Noon and SDS returned to
their campuses to prepare for the next march...
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SDS New York.
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Tom Good (left) and Pat Korte (Photo: Matt DeVlieger)
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