August 13, 2008
By CHRIS HUBBUCH
La Crosse Tribune
Eleven weary war protesters ambled off the La Crosse River Trail on Tuesday, 371 miles from their starting point and still more than 100 miles from their destination.
They aren’t walking for exercise, or because they can’t all fit on the blue, green and yellow 1979 school bus that serves as their support vehicle.
Witness Against War - LaCrosse: A group of protesters walk the bike trail from Bangor,Wi. to West Salem Tuesday morning as part of their walk acrosse Wisconsin to protest the war in Iraq. Dick Riniker photoTheir goal is to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bring troops home and press the country to fund reconstruction of Iraq.
They left Chicago on July 21 and plan to arrive in St. Paul, Minn., on Aug. 31, the day before the Republican National Convention begins.
A group of protesters walk the bike trail from Bangor,Wi. to West Salem Tuesday morning as part of their walk acrosse Wisconsin to protest the war in Iraq. Dick Riniker photo
After walking the rest of the way into La Crosse today, the protesters plan to visit U.S. Rep. Ron Kind’s district office. They will make a presentation Thursday at the La Crosse Public Library before heading Sunday to Winona, Minn.
About half a dozen have made the entire walk, though others join for a day or a week.
Along the way, they’ve enjoyed the hospitality of friends and strangers. In three weeks on the road, they’ve only had to camp five nights, said Dan Pearson, one of the walk’s coordinators.
Tuesday, they ate sandwiches loaded with spinach, pickles and hummus made by their last host family.
Leah Patriarco has filled five pages in her notebook with the names of people she’s met. They’ve gotten moral support, too, from motorists.
But not everyone has been so welcoming.
Thirteen protesters were arrested Sunday at Fort McCoy in a peaceful attempt to enter the Army installation.
“It was one of the gentlest arrests I’ve experienced,” said Brian Terrell, a 52-year-old director of Catholic Peace Ministry in Des Moines, Iowa, who has lost track of how many times he’s been arrested in 30 years of peace activism.
All were ticketed for trespassing and released, except for Kathy Kelly, who was held in the Monroe County Jail on a warrant stemming from a protest a decade ago. The group wasn’t sure when she would be able to rejoin the walk.
Several have been to Iraq.
Gene Stoltzfus went in 2003 and 2004 as the director of Christian Peacemaker teams. The 68-year-old, now retired and living in Canada, joined the walk a few days ago and plans to go to Winona.
Paul Melling went in 2003-04 with his Army unit. He said he didn’t see any reason for U.S. troops to be there.
“I never really understood (the war) in the first place,” said the 27-year-old from Melrose, Minn.
He later met with Iraq Veterans Against War and got involved in peace activism.
Melling, who has made the entire walk from Chicago, said opposing the war has been easier since he was discharged from the Army in 2006.
“The vast majority of guys I know think the war is a bunch of crap,” he said. “Speaking out against it. … It’s really tough.”
MEET THE WALKERS
What: Witness Against War, a walk from Chicago to St. Paul to protest the war in Iraq
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St.
Join: Learn more at www.vcnv.org or call (312) 286-8535
Chris Hubbuch can be reached at or (608) 791-8217.
