Ten years on the Lake Street Bridge

For ten years, Brigid McDonald has been part of the Lake Street Bridge vigil. “We are out there every Wednesday whether it’s the dead of winter or a humid summer afternoon,” she said. “We will not be silent in our protests of the government’s continued policy promoting war and all that comes with it. I believe that is outright sinful to kill civilians. Losing soldiers is hard enough. It’s an incomprehensible effect of war.”

McDonald said that the bridge vigil is a means to educate people about many issues such as human rights abuses, torture, the U.S. support of the occupation of Palestine, and the developing conflict with Iran. She acknowledges some negative reactions to the vigil. “I always say that the middle finger is halfway to a peace sign,” she said. “It’s a joke that all of us can appreciate.”

June 17 marked the ten-year anniversary of peaceful protest on the bridge. The vigil began in response to the U.S. bombing of Yugoslavia, when a coalition of citizens began meeting each Wednesday in silent protest.

“Our presence is a reminder that significant change in U.S. foreign policy is necessary,” said Marie Braun of Women Against Military Madness, who with her husband John Braun has acted as an organizer and participant throughout the years.

Betty McKenzie has been involved with the bridge vigil since its birth and also participates in various vigils around the Twin Cities, which promote peace and an end to U.S. foreign policy as we know it.

“We have an opportunity to educate others on different tactics to a more peaceful existence. Negotiation is essential so that wars don’t start,” she said.

“So many {people} are unaware of the fact that munition-makers are in our backyards in the form of the old Honeywell, which was headquartered in Minneapolis, and Alliant Techsystems, Inc.,” she said. “I think now more than ever before people generally want the war in Iraq to end.”

More than 100 people attended the hour-long anniversary vigil on June 17, which was followed by a potluck dinner attended by more than 200 people at St. Albert the Great Church in south Minneapolis. Protesters of past and present shared stories, laughter and music. “It’s sort of like a family of peace advocates,” said Braun.

McDonald said that many lasting friendships have began through attending the bridge vigil. “One couple spoke at the potluck and said they met years ago on the bridge.”

Braun said that until U.S. foreign policy of violent engagement is drastically changed, the vigil will continue to gather on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge.

“When we started this vigil, people weren’t used to a group of protesters rallying for change,” she said. “Over the years, things have grown and now, we hear more honking than we see negative {responses}.”

The vigil meets at 5 p.m. each Wednesday on the bridge, and welcomes anyone to join.

Anissa Stocks is an intern at the TC Daily Planet.