Power
to the People: Life
for Mother Earth and Her Children
By
Janice Sevre-Duszynska, ARCWP
Despite
the brutally hot weather, about 10,000 activists marched, danced and sang for a
“Climate Revolution” and a “Ban on Fracking” on Sunday, July 24, 2016 in
Philadelphia before the Democratic National Convention began. We traveled from Maryland, New York, (including six buses
from New York City) New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and states from
across the country. The DNC had refused to include a ban on fracking in the
Democratic Party Platform. On our bus were members of the Pledge of Resistance
Baltimore, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Harford County Climate
Action.
Gathering
at Philadelphia’s City Hall with the statue of Ben Franklin looking down
approvingly, some of us tried to cool off by wading through the sprinklers. We
joined the march gathering behind the drone replica leading the Peace &
Environmental Justice Contingent.
A
band of musicians playing clarinets, tubas, trumpets, drums, and guitars gave
us a playful spirit as we began. Our group carried my banner: STOP THE WAR
MACHINE: EXPORT PEACE, which had been held as evidence after 13 of us had been
arrested on January 12th, for daring to ask the Capitol Police to
deliver a petition to President Obama to give a real State of the Union. On May
23rd the case was
dismissed. However, the banner was not retrieved until July 14th.
Along
the streets we met friends in the movement. Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK: Women
for Peace walked over and gave me a hug. We came across Amy Goodman covering
the march for “Democracy Now.” “Thanks for your good and holy work,” I said.
Bernie Sanders’ supporters were everywhere.
Four
of us held the banner high: Bernie Brown, Teresa Reuter Jeanne Dresser and me.
Alongside us was Cindy Farquhar pushing Sharon Jones in her wheel chair. My
partner, Max Obuszewski of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, walked alongside
me with his signs: NUCLEAR POWER: Not Safe After All These Years and HOPKINS
DRONE RESEARCH: Killing by Remote Control. Every so often he would nudge us to
straighten the banner and to stop while media or citizens took videos or
photos. Fortunately, now and then, we were asked if we wanted to be sprayed
with water.
The
march ended at Independence Hall where the Liberty Bell resides. We found a
shady place to rest. At 3 p.m. I relinquished my spot in the shade to join the “It Takes Roots
to Change the System People’s Caravan” sponsored by the Grassroots Global
Justice Alliance. From the RNC to the DNC these human rights activists are
calling for Justice For Berta Caceres, the Honduran environmental activist who
was assassinated in March this year and to denounce US military aid to Honduras
and its foreign policy destroying frontline and indigenous communities in
Honduras and globally.
Just
as I arrived, Caceres’ daughter, Laura, began speaking in Spanish that was
translated into English. With a 10-foot puppetista of her mother behind her,
she indicted the US government and military for financing and training the
perpetrators of the violence that takes the lives of Honduran campesinos.
She also talked about her mother’s spirit, vision and courage. I was quite
moved by her strength of purpose so soon after her mother’s death.
Along
with the other women I was invited to hold a fan with the picture of Berta
Caceres in front of my face during a photo-op.
“Berta
no se murio,” (“Berta didn’t die.”) an organizer called out in rhythm.
“Se
multiplico” (“She multiplied.”) we affirmed.
“Berta
Vive! Vive” she continued, adding that we should raise our left arms. “La lucha
sigue sigue.”
Yes,
“the struggle continues, it continues…”
When we arrived last
evening, Morag Liebert, RCWP, and I participated in evening prayers at the Iona Abbey Chapel. At
Iona there is an active community who leads prayer each day. Last night they
began with instrumental guitar music. The leader, a young woman, invited
everyone to reflect on water and to participate in a mutual blessing. We sang a
TAZIE like chant of praise. The Iona Community is a Christian
ecumenical community working for peace and social justice, rebuilding of
community and the renewal of worship. 
