Quad-Citians rally for peace
Carrying signs with messages such as “Honk for Peace,” “Justice and Peace for Palestine” and “End Israeli Occupation Now,” about 40 demonstrators gathered Saturday afternoon to share their feelings about the war in the Middle East.
The peaceful demonstration took place at the southeast corner of Brady Street and Kimberly Road in Davenport. The hour-long rally, one of several conducted across the nation in support of Palestine and Lebanon, attracted people from small towns as well as the Quad-Cities and included educators, a business owner and an 85-year-old World War II veteran.
John Dabeet, of Muscatine, Iowa, the president of Americans and Palestinians for Peace, said he was pleased with the turnout. “We had 40 people who can spread the word about peace. We hope peace will prevail,” he said.
Dabeet, a Muscatine Community College teacher who came to the United States from his native Palestine 18 years ago, thanked participants for their time and for sharing the message of peace, love and justice for all in the Middle East.
The land has been in turmoil for several weeks because of the fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that calls for an end to the fighting and authorizes the deployment of 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
Since the fighting began last month, more than 800 people have been killed and Lebanon’s infrastructure has been destroyed.
As drivers of passing vehicles honked their horns, the demonstrators held signs, Lebanese and Palestinian flags and peace symbols. The prevailing attitude of many was that peace is paramount to killing, regardless of who is fighting whom.
Pamela Spencer, a Davenport elementary school teacher who rode her bicycle to the rally, said she had not taken sides. “I’m pro not killing. It doesn’t matter who they are,” she said.
John Goldstein, a Jewish-American from Davenport, said he attended the rally to show his support for humanity. “A lack of education breeds ignorance, ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds war,” he said.
Holding a sign that said “Peace Pays” was Dick Fallow, 85, who drove an ambulance for the American Field Service in North Africa during World War II. “There is nothing positive about war. The potential of peace is great if we just give it a chance,” he said.
Peace is possible, he said, through negotiation.”
Others blamed Israel on the war.
Maria Cummings, a retired teacher from Davenport, sheltered herself from the sun with a pink umbrella emblazoned with the logo of the CodePink women for peace organization. She said peace will come to the Middle East when Israel returns the territory it seized during the 1967 war.
“I’m against Israel invading Lebanon,” she said.
Dennis Olson, of Long Grove, Iowa, carried a sign carrying the message “Say No to War.”
“Our leaders in Washington are inflexible,” he said. “They have taken us down the wrong path. Now it is time for the people to lead.”
John Willard can be contacted at (563) 383-2314 or jwillard@qctimes.com.