Coalition for Peace and Justice protests war, unites political parties in Hillsdale County

Sarah DeRose-Wilson, 17, sits on the curb near the Hillsdale County Courthouse. She throws up her peace sign as another car goes by. With another Saturday comes another vigil, conducted by the Hillsdale County Coalition for Peace and Justice, protesting the war in Iraq.

The coalition began in 2002, the same week the U.S. invaded Iraq, when Bob and Carol Ball organized a protest at the courthouse.

"A group of us got together that thought the war was wrong. We were of various backgrounds and were against the war, that's sort of how we came together," Carol Ball said. "Even though we have different views on a lot of different things we still come together under one umbrella."

In the early days, sometimes as many as 20 people would attend the vigil.

Though attendance numbers have since declined, coalition members still stand outside near the courthouse every Saturday, holding signs that protest President George W. Bush and the Iraq War.

"We all have one cause that unifies us, and it's this stupid war," Doug Barker said, as passing cars honked at him.

Barker, a local window factory worker and coalition member, doesn't consider himself a radical. He simply wants an end to the war in Iraq.

"I personally don't think it was justified going in there," said Barker. "Men and women are dying over there for nothing. So a few people can make a few extra bucks, a few select people; a few corporations, oil companies, defense contractors, banks."

When the vigil first began coalition members were met with hostilities. Barker said most angry motorists just wave their middle fingers, but in one instance a pickup driver threw a pop can at a child who was at the vigil.

But as the war in Iraq dragged on the public's opinion toward the coalition changed.

"Well, people don't throw bottles at you anymore," said Isaiah DeRose-Wilson, a small-business owner and Sarah's brother.

"We've also had people stop and bring us hot chocolate in the winter when it's really cold," said Katja Szarafinski a small business owner and German national.

While the coalition's primary purpose is still protesting the war in Iraq, it has evolved into a social and political discussion group as well. It occasionally holds movie nights in the Hillsdale Public Library, at which it has featured such films as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Persepolis."

But the coalition's gem is its yearly event: the Peacefest.

It started in October 2002 in the Hillsdale County Courthouse parking lot; they've since moved it to the Carl Fast Park in Jonesville and switched the date to early August.

Richard Wunsch, owner of Volume One Books, said it features a mix of speakers and local musicians every year.

"It's fun," said Peter Cromwell, a 1978 Hillsdale College alumnus and the Peacefest organizer. "Because we get different folks every year and you never know who will show up."

For several years the festival has hosted groups like the Republicans for peace, Moratorium on Foreclosures, and recently, the Michigan Libertarian candidate for Senate, Scotty Bowman.

The group meets on the last Thursday of every month at Volume One Books. About 15 active members usually attend, though family members, friends and newcomers are always welcome, Wunsch said.