Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Blood
By Mike Rhodes

December 20, 2007 - Peace activists held a demonstration against military recruitment at a shopping center on west Shaw avenue in Fresno yesterday. The event began with the Raging Grannies singing songs of peace and a delegation going into the military recruiting center to hand out peace cranes and cookies.

Santa joined the protesters as they demonstrated in front of the recruitment station and later marched peacefully through the shopping center. Surprised shoppers were greeted with smiles, holiday cheer, and given cookies by the protestors.

As the group of about 30 protestors stood in front of Costco, Fresno police officers started to arrive. At about the same time the protestors were leaving, two police cars pulled up to the entrance of the store. Peace Fresno president Scott Key talked to the officers who reminded him that the group should not block the entrance to the store or hit anyone with a sign. Key said that was not a problem and the officers left.

For more information about the Central Valley Counter-Recruitment Coalition contact Dan Yaseen at danyaseen [at] comcast.net or 251-3361. For more information about Peace Fresno, contact Scott Key at president [at] peacefresno.org or see http://www.peacefresno.org .

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