Despite very chilly weather, an enthusiastic group of twenty six people were at the corner of Oakland Avenue and Eden Terrace in Rock Hill today from Noon to 1 PM. Several, about half, were returning participants. Two women from South Africa were there, as were four women from the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Four students from South Pointe High School were there. Signs included “Thespians for Peace”…”High School Students for Peace” and others created on the spot.

For the first time we included chants. “Exxon, Mobile, BP, Shell…Take this war and go to hell.” Ok, it isn’t “LBJ, LBJ…How many kids did you kill today?” but you work with what you have. The standby “What do we want?…Peace!…When do we want it?…NOW!” was pretty well organized on the spur of the moment.

Hundreds of cars drove by. A healthy minority drove by honking. This time we got one “Be a patriot” comment. Frankly, I think we are patriots. Two tractor-trailers drove by honking for all they were worth.

At one o’clock we broke up, agreeing to continue next Saturday. It;’s looking like a core group of us are willing to be there every week, and there is enough interest out there to get students to drive from Asheville and writers to drive from Greenville, so why not students from Davidson or Warren Wilson? Why not from Fort Mill High School, and highschools all across the area? No one can fairly be expected to do this forever, but if everyone kicks in when they can, we can keep the pressure on.