OBSERVATIONS FROM A STREET CORNER
by Larry Syverson
Larry Syverson at his 100th vigil outside the Federal Court House in Richmond, VA.
Larry Syverson, from Richmond VA, is on the advisory board of Military Families Speak Out. He has four sons who served in the military; currently three are active duty and two have served in Iraq and face redeployment.
I’ve seen America change before my eyes.I’ve seen it change slowly, one hour at a time.Friday, March 17, 2006, will be my 200th protest in front of the Richmond, VA Federal Courthouse.I began my protests before the war began, and I haven’t stopped.
My first protest at the courthouse was at noon on March 19, 2003; that night “shock and awe” began.The courthouse isn’t in the friendliest of neighborhoods, in the middle of the financial district, just one block from the Capitol of the Confederacy.
In the beginning, the reception wasn’t that warm.I can’t count how many people shook their fists at me, yelled epitaphs and called me every name in the book (traitor, Saddam lover, coward, …).Many people would honk, and when I would turn to make eye contact, they would shoot me the finger.The days were discouraging and draining.But I was determined to do anything I could to get my two sons out of Iraq.If they could dodge bullets in Iraq, I could dodge a few foul words in downtown Richmond.
I also decided to take control of the honking situation.I made a sign that read “Honk for Peace.”I confiscated their honks!Now they could only honk for support.I made eye contact with each person that honked and yelled out:“Honk for peace, bring the troops home!”I began watching to see who was honking, or to be more exact, who was not honking.African-Americans and some seniors were honking.SUVs or mini-vans?Nope and nope.Cars with American flags or yellow ribbons?Nope for both.Semis, dump trucks or construction vehicles?None, nada, zip.
The absolute worst time out on that corner was in early May 2003.On May 1st, Bush gave his infamous speech on the Abraham Lincoln and basically said the war was over.Everyone, and I mean everyone, was yelling:“Go Home, the war’s over!”“Haven’t you read the newspaper, the war’s over?”“Go home, get a life, the war’s over.”I answered their yells with “War’s over, bring the troops home!”It went on for weeks.The drivers and passers-by believed their president; that the war was over.
But the war wasn’t over.And the passers-by began to tire of the war and wish it were over.I hate to use a cliché, but the straw that broke the camel’s back occurred in November 2003.That month 40 soldiers were killed in three helicopter crashes.It was like a dam bursting; the honks were deafening.Everyone was honking!SUVs and mini-vans?Yep and yep.Cars with American flags or yellow ribbons?You bet.Construction vehicles, dump trucks or semis?All three with unbelievably LOUD horns!If asked, I could actually pick a time when the American people turned against the war.November 2003.
Since then, the honks have never stopped.They come from everyone.One can no longer do profiling to determine who is against the war.One particular day in the spring of 2004, a worker in the federal courthouse came out on the street to talk to me.She said she knew about free speech and understood my right to stand out there.She just had one small favor.Would I occasionally stand farther down the street and not under her window?All of the honks were making it hard for her to work!I felt like I had finally arrived.Richmond was really against the war!
As I approach my 200th protest, it’s hard to remember the vitriol on the street three years ago.I can’t remember the last time someone cursed at me or shot me the finger.Daily, passers-by pat me on the shoulder and say:“Thank you for being here.”“Keep up the good work.” or simply “God bless you.”
Yes, in these last three years, I have seen the American people change their opinion of the war.If only President Bush could stand down there one day with me and see that change.Perhaps then, he would finally make the decision to “Bring the Troops Home Now!”I’m easy to find.Just follow the honks.
