By Courage to Resist. June 7, 2016
Photo by Ilona Sturm

On May 16th, in honor of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, San Francisco Bay Area supporters of Courage to Resist gathered to celebrate the 10th Annual Berkeley C.O. and War Resisters’ Day at the flag poles in front of City Hall.

With David Harris, Co-founder of The Resistance, the movement to Resist the Draft during the Vietnam War. Bob Meola, Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission, War Resisters League, Courage to Resist. Melissa Keith, Courage to Resist, Chelsea Manning Support Network. Sing along “Ain’t fest” [“I Ain’t Marching Anymore,” “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” “Down By the Riverside (Ain’t Gonna Study War No More)”] with Max Ventura, Hali Hammer, and Nancy Schimmel and Vic Sadot  Lyrics below.

In 2007, on recommendation of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission, the Berkeley City Council unanimously passed a resolution and the mayor issued a proclamation which recognized that May 15th is International Conscientious Objectors’ Day and stated, “that the Council of the City of Berkeley declares that May 15th of each year be publicly designated and recognized as the day on which Berkeley honors, acknowledges, and celebrates conscientious objectors and war resisters, civilian and military, past, present, and future.” We have been celebrating and raising peace flags on Berkeley city flag poles ever since. The Peace Flag raising ceremony takes place at two locations: Civic Center flagpole at 2180 Milvia Street, and then at the flagpole at Civic Center Park, Berkeley.

This year’s event was sponsored by the City of Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission, with the support of Courage to Resist, War Resisters League-West, and the BFUU Social Justice Committee.

I Ain’t Marching Anymore                                                                               
by Phil Ochs                                                                                                   

Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain’t marchin’ anymore

For I’ve killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying I saw many more dying
But I ain’t marchin’ anymore

chorus)
It’s always the old to lead us to the war
It’s always the young to fall
Now look at all we’ve won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all

For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brothers
And so many others But I ain’t marchin’ anymore

For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain’t marchin’ anymore

(chorus)

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain’t marchin’ anymore

Now the labor leader’s screamin’
when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it “Peace” or call it “Treason,”
Call it “Love” or call it “Reason,”
But I ain’t marchin’ any more,
No I ain’t marchin’ any more

(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around
by Joan Baez

Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around…
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around…
Keep on a-walkin’
Keep on a-talkin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Ain’t gonna let the administration turn me around…
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let the administration turn me around…
Keep on a-walkin’
Keep on a-talkin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Ain’t gonna let no first-strike policy turn me around…
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let no first-strike policy turn me around…
Keep on a-walkin’
Keep on a-talkin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Ain’t gonna let Indira Ghandi turn me around…[Barack Obama]
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let Indira (how’d she get that name?) ’round…
Keep on a-walkin’
Keep on a-talkin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Ain’t gonna let that Henry Kissinger turn me around…
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let that killer Kissinger turn me around…
Keep on a-walkin’
Keep on a-talkin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around…
turn me around…
turn me around…
Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around…
Keep on a-swingin’
Keep on a-singin’
Gonna build a brand new world.

Down by the Riverside
by Peter, Paul & Mary

Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more

I ain’t gonna study war no more I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,

Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more

I’m gonna walk with that Prince of Peace,
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna walk with that Prince of Peace,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/DpFU ]

I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more,
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more

I’m gonna lay down that atom bomb
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down that atom bomb,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more

I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more

I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Lyrics: Down by the Riverside, Peter, Paul & Mary [end]