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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2003)
r »'in ni; ivi 4-1 mews may 16.2003» Designer Rocks T hink G lobally , A c t L ocally Any Image etched in stone We produce high quality laser Photograph images on granite tiles The war might be over, but three Northeast Portland lesbians are ensuring that the peace protests persist by Patricia L. MacAodha L uring the past few months, l\ ’$iijncr Rocks he war has hit close to home for Marty Hoy, whose 19-year-old son, Edward, recently was shipped out with his National Guard unit. Although the major fighting has ended, the dangers are still significant: T he 180 days he has to serve before coming home are more than enough time for this mothers only son to encounter harm. "He and I are both against this war,” Hoy says. “He signed up to defend this country after 9/11, not to attack other countries without provocation." Hoy has always been opposed to war. “1 start ed working for peace when 1 was in high school by protesting the Vietnam War and getting involved in community organizations,” she says. Hoy and her partner, Lyn Synclair, attend as many of the Northeast rallies as they can. " I’m getting to know more of my neighbors better,” Hoy says, "and they are a great group of people.” Sh e believes this brand o f neighborhood activism becomes "a more focused group when we get acquainted with one another personally.” Synclair’s strong opposition to war comes partially from being raised by an enlisted parent. "I was raised on military bases during the V iet nam War,” she says. Her father retired when Synclair was 10 and moved his family to Eugene, where “1 was active in protests around T 360 - 699-1810 503 . 335.7173 I large peace d e m o n s tr a tions have drawn thousands of people downtown to protest the war on Iraq. A smaller and subtler approach is taking place every Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood District. Each week, a recently formed group called North east Neighbors for Peace rallies on the corner o f Northeast Sandy Boulevard and 42nd Avenue, display ing signs that demand an end to U.S. military pres ence in the Mideast. Standing on both sides o f the street from 4 to 5 p.m., protesters talk qui etly with each other and flash peace signs to drivers. Some of them chant and M arty Hoy (left) and Lyn Synclair (kneeling) take a stand for dnim, hut generally it is a peace every Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood D istrict sedate rally. Response to the demon migrant workers, the amnesty of 1983 and strators has been consistent addressing South African apartheid.” ly positive in this progres Synclair enjoys both large and small protests sive neighborhood. Most people honk, smile and hut finds comfort in the neighborhood group wave in solidarity. There are more thumbs up than because “we live close together and we live on thumbs down, and some passersby actually have walking-friendly streets. I know my neighbors. stopped and joined the picket line. We care about the livability of our community. Three o f the regular participants in this group That entails caring for the connections we have are members of the Portland lesbian community. with each other.” She adds, “It’s not a great intel They live in the neighborhood and have been lectual leap to see that from a global perspective.” participating in the larger marches, but there is Frodo Okulam has lived in the Hollywood something different about this weekly picket that District for more than 20 years. She, text began draws its participants together, something that working for peace as a high school student. creates a stronger bond between these lesbians “It is a long-term commitment,” she says. “1 and their largely heterosexual fellow activists. have been marching against wars since the Viet nam moratoriums in the ’60s.” Okulam has attended almost every one of the large demonstrations, connecting with the Northeast Portland group a few weeks ago. She echoes Hoy and Synclair’s sentiments about the friendly nature of the area. “We introduce ourselves to one another and become real neighbors in the prtxess. As we con nect with each other on a personal level and come together for peace work, we create net works of support that bring about community building, one of the building blocks toward a peaceful society. Caring about your neighbor,” she emphasizes, “is the opposite of war and terrorism.” Okulam sees the connection between her peace activism and her sexual orientation. “All the justices are related. It’s not justice over here and peace over there, and that’s one thing we learned in the gay and lesbian rights arena. We made coali tions with other people and learned that the same global interests oppress all of us. When you’re fight ing for justice in one area,” she adds, “it’s related to seeking justice in other areas." JT1 P atricia L. M ac A odha is a Portland free-lance writer. E-m ail her at patm ac3l@ jttn o.com . Lesbian Owned & Operated Vancouver, WA. J i Unique Gifts Special Occasion Custom Entry Ways Mantel Designs Award Plaques Memorial Markers Create Vour Own Vision In Granite A BALANCED approach to fitness A unique strength training program. 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