peace-flag2015

By Courage to Resist. May 15, 2015

Today, on International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, San Francisco Bay Area supporters of Courage to Resist gathered to celebrate the 9th Annual Berkeley C.O. and War Resisters’ Day at the flag poles in front of City Hall.

With Conscientious Objectors and War Resisters from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Bob Meola, Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission, War Resisters League, Courage to Resist. Jeff Paterson, 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; Vic Sadot singing his song, “Courage to Resist”. 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.