Protesters head for Washington

Dec. 18, 2002

Protesters head for Washington

Citizens opposed to the pending war in Iraq will voice their opinions at a massive rally in Washington, D.C., on January 18, with a bus scheduled to make the round-trip from Traverse City.
Sponsored by the local Mideast: Just Peace organization, the 54 seat charter bus leaves Traverse City on Friday, January 17 for Washington D.C. returning mid-day on Sunday, January 19. Up to 500,000 people are expected at the demonstration.
Local marchers plan to take a banner to Washington proclaiming: “We the People of Traverse City Michigan Say NO TO WAR ON IRAQ.“ The banner will include the signatures of hundreds of local residents.
Seats are still available on the bus, at a fee of $77. For information, email Carol at as866@tcnet.org, or check out www.nrec.org.
Locally, antiwar marches are still underway every Saturday at 11 a.m. in Traverse City at the canoe sculpture on the Boardman River at the corner of Cass and Grandview Parkway. Weekly marches have been underway in Traverse City for nearly three months.
On Dec. 7, over 150 antiwar activists from across Michigan traveled to Wayne State University in Detroit to organize statewide resistance to the war. The group included five organizers from Northern Michigan.

Congressional hearing possible

Tony Hefner, the Rapid City author of “Between the Fences,“ who was profiled in the Dec. 5 issue of the Express for his efforts to expose corruption at an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) camp on the Mexican border, may get the congressional hearing he‘s been seeking.
Rep. Bart Stupak has requested a hearing with the House Committee on the Judiciary on Hefner‘s behalf. If a hearing can be arranged in the next session of Congress, Hefner hopes to share his information on sexual harassment and other abuses at the INS camp.

Star shines for Leelanau Conservancy

Amy Smart, who starred in the films “Rat Race,“ “Road Trip“ and Varsity Blues,“ will be shooting a public service announcement on behalf of the Leelanau Conservancy in a show of concern for her support of environmental and clean water issues.
Smart, who was featured last year in “Vanity Fair“ as one of Hollywood‘s most promising actresses, vacations in Northern Michigan with her parents. In her home state of California, she is an advocate for clean water issues. Currently, she is also working on a film called “Blind Horizon“ with Val Kilmer and Sam Sheppherd.