All the "regulars" showed up, and a few irregulars, and a lot of people who sometimes come by to say "hi" or just to hang out decided to pick up a sign, and express their position.

The scene was amazing, and I bet Alhambra hasn't had anything like this, ever. People were shouting, but, conservatives willing to discuss politics found what many find at this vigil: a place to debate with other political junkies. It was also like a reunion of sorts, to see a lot of local activists and others who hadn't seen each other in a long time.

Because F911 was also opening this night, the crowds thinned out a little early. I tried to see it, but, the film was sold out at all the local screens.

There were no incidents or arrests, as far as I know.

WC supports the Alhambra vigil consistently, and does their own thing. Their event on June 30th should be excellent.

This was my favorite sign.

Another good one. I am uploading this one for Sheepdog.

This is a cool shirt she got at the big antiwar march downtown.

These kids on the corner have supported the vigil regularly, and came out in big numbers to support. Right on!

Linda's a teacher in LA Unified, and engaged this guy (who's name I don't know) in a debate about the utility of voting. He argued that corporations control everything, while she argued that it's still important to participate at all levels. Keep hope alive :-)

The C is a hammer and sickle. Someone in the counter-protest believes that the ACLU are an enemy of the state. Yet... at the same time... the hammer and sickle represent communism, and implies that the state shall own all natural resources and guide industrial production. What the ACLU really is, is a defender of the Bill of Rights, which sought to restrict federal power; they defend individual rights against state incursions.

Ignoring all convention, some signs are long.

The usual corner, but not just the usual suspects. A lot of new people participated in this demonstration.

This corner was established as the "base" for al-Buscha. It was invaded by anti-war demonstrators.

They brought their protest to the corner. I think they could have been more assertive and stepped out to the curb, but, they are new to this.

She made this shirt for her husband, who is a Smiths fan, and participated in the Louder Than Bombs anti-war group.

Two of the counter-protesters brough a huge "Bush" sign, professionally printed and mounted on some corrugated plastic material. The anti-war folks got in front of and behind this mammoth sign to counter it with their hand-made signs. It was almost like a "street theater of signs", a battle between the society of artisans, and the society of mechanical printing. At some level, I was jealous of their gigantic plastic computer-printed sign. Maybe in the future, I'll be immune to this machine-seduction.

Juan is a hard-core KPFK listener and fount of knowledge about, it seems, anything. And, he's the nicest person in the world. He can talk to absolutely anyone about politics.

Not only that, he can have discussions about politics with people who disagree with him, and they'll come back for more. I'm in awe of this man.

Yup, some of us are still wating. (Others have given up.)

I dunno. Do you?

This sign wasn't used by the opposition. It could be interpreted as racist. Had they used it, odds are, some people would have switched sides to us.

This was strange. I couldn't tell if it was for or against the war. Maybe it was created as agitprop to discredit the conservatives. The conservatives were waving American, Israeli, and British flags. The British one was unexpected, as 80% of the public there do not support the war. Maybe they were old Def Leppard fans.

REPORT FROM FRIDAY'S ALHAMBRA VIGIL

Last Friday evening, in response to the right-wing
counter protesters appearance last week, approximately
100 people turned up on the corner of Garfield and
Main in Alhambra in an incredible show of solidarity
on the part of the local Peace and Justice Community.


By the time the bulk of the signs and the Vigil
organizers arrived at 5:20PM there were already about
5-7 Vigilers at the intersection. By 5:30 there were
about 10-15 and by 6PM the numbers were in excess of
50. The Vigil peaked at about 6:15 - 6:45PM with
approximately 100 Peace and Justice/ Anti-War
Vigilers.

The right-wing, pro-Bush (paid Republican?)
demonstrators were there again. There numbers were
dwarfed this time though. Last week the numbers were
approximately 30-15 in our favor but this week they
were approximately 100-10. A blowout.

The “war lovers” waved the Israeli flag as well as the
British and American flags. One sign of note held by
a pro-war person read “Thank you George Bush for
protecting our freedom”. Confusing still reigns.

This week the “Bush lovers” brought a new sign, a 4x8
foot "George Bush for President" official looking
banner/sign which two of the pro-war/pro-Bush people
continually marched through the crosswalks. They
seemed to learn a little from last week when most of
their signs were unreadable (orange marker on white
cardboard).

And based on the actions of their apparent
"ring-leader" it seemed that the Bush sign crosswalk
marching was an attempt to provoke a physical response
from one of our people as two Alhambra officers
watched from their vantage point on the Northwest
corner of Garfield and Main.

Nobody complied however and they were able to march
the intersections without physical harm (I think they
lost a little bit of their souls everytime they
stepped foot inside the crosswalk though) and in turn
simply made themselves look like two-fringe "Bush
true-believer" whackos marching amidst 100 peace
loving/anti-war Vigilers.

The rest of the Bush-ites confined themselves to the
Southeast corner of the intersection where everything
from heated exchanges to civil discussions took place
between the two sides.

Every corner of the busy intersection was occupied
with Vigilers as signs and people decorated busy
downtown Alhambra for a half a block in every
direction.

The community support was great with very few negative
reactions. People honked from their cars, yelled and
waved in support. There were even several curious
onlookers that simply stood by and watched.

All of the Vigilers seemed to have a good time as it
was incredible to be on a busy intersection in the
middle of suburban Alhambra on a Friday afternoon with
100 other folks protesting the war!

It was an incredible sight to behold as someone who
has been a regular at the Vigil for over a year and
has seen the numbers consistently stay at around 25-30
(except for the desolate Vigil last Winter when only 8
diehards stood in the dark for two hours receiving a
smattering or support from passersby beneath a
smattering of raindrops).

It was surely a memorable evening for everyone that
could make it.

-Rich

aww thanks. I've named my god pup after you. Now I must train him.

With your open mind and strong spirit your belief in human equality,tolerance ,compassion and dedication wil continue to encourage people like all of us who have decided to rise up. Thank you for all you do.
To : johnk

John, a really thorough and professionally done photo display of the mass Alhambra vigil, thanks for taking the time and sharing. The W. Covina corner vigil on Wednesday night, 6/30, to protest the sham Dubya calls "hand-over of power" to the Iraqis, was very well attended by vigil/peace activists from around LA County. Just one counter protester showed up waving his flags, you know the mentality, and he was engulfed by a large crowd of vigilers echoing one another's cries for the dismantling of Bush's neocon regime. We received special horn-blasting support from passing motorists who had just taken in Moore's hit documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11. Yes, the times they be a changin! The public is welcome to attend our vigils every Wednesday evening in W. Covina from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Southwest corner of Vincent & Lakes in front of Applebee's Restaurant. Again, John, thanks for your special effort....

Saddam is the A.N.S.W.E.R. !!!

Keep up the good work, comrades. With our continuing hard work, the sheeple of Amerikkka are learning. Soon, the fake government of Iraq will be defeated and Saddam will step back into his rightful role as our leader. Michael Moore is right -- Iraq was a happy and carefree place before the Amerikkkans came in.

Saddam is the A.N.S.W.E.R. !!!