Impeachment at the Pride Parade

Raucous sounds of applause and shouting greeted members of Impeach for Peace, the Minneapolis chapter of World Can’t Wait, as they marched in the Gay Pride parade. Dressed in orange and wearing black hoods, representing prisoners at Guantanamo, six individuals (as well as one of the organizer’s son) walked the parade route. Audience members could be seen jumping up and down in energetic response to the message. They received what can only be described as a “Rock Star” reception. They passed out leaflets and carried a banner promoting Impeachforpeace.org, the local website. Two of the marchers were shackled with a chain, reminding parade viewers of the conditions of the prison in Cuba.

Following the parade, Impeach for Peace members set up a table and distributed information regarding the “Do-It-Yourself Impeachments” that individuals can download and mail to Congress. Organizers exlpained how the GLBT community is especially in danger by this administration in light of a recently uncovered Pentagon document classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder! Names and e-mail addresses were gathered for people who wish to be informed about the group’s meetings and events.

Many of the individuals who stopped by the festival table shook the marchers’ hands and thanked them for being in the parade and for standing up to the Bush regime. They – more than once – described the marchers as the “highlight of the parade.” One such individual even got down on his knee and presented a ring to the hand of one of the marchers. He did so in jest, saying that he “loved what the marcher did so much he wanted to marry him.”

Participating in festivals and parades this summer appears to be a very successful method for reaching people and getting out the message about the World Can’t Wait.