Mary A. Castillo Since last spring, four...

Mary A. Castillo

Since last spring, four women have become fixtures at Main Beach.

No, they’re not perfecting their tans or showing off their

basketball prowess. These are women with a mission to protest a

possible war with Iraq, and every Saturday at 11 a.m., they take up

their signs and greet passersby with a simple hello or shalom to

promote peace.

“I was part of a group that used to stand on the corner where the

library now is,” Elizabeth Erger said of her protest days during the

Vietnam War. “We decided last March we would start it again. I think

people need to wake up and I think they are waking up.”

Motorists and residents have taken notice of Erger, Jeanne

Bernstein, Irene Bland and Eleanor Henry. Last Saturday, more than

100 hundred persons -- elementary school children with their parents,

toddlers in carriages, professionals on their day off and seniors --

joined them in their weekly peace vigil.

“I was just so pleased,” Bernstein said. “I think of how the three

of us started in March and there were 50 the weekend before and 100

last weekend.”

Although they were approached by a few who respectfully disagreed

with their views, and even those who outright resented their vigil,

Erger has seen an almost overwhelming support from motorists and

beachgoers. Complete strangers have brought them cookies and coffee.

She even pointed out that police Officer Tom Wall often stops by

during his patrol of the beach to say hello and make sure everyone is

doing fine.

“It destroys the myth that police are there to bat us in the head

or disperse us in some violent way,” she said.

“I just think there’s a huge revolution in this country, but it’s

passive. It’s not like the 60s with Vietnam,” Henry added.

Bernstein said that their sentiments do not propose that the

United States return to its pre-World War I isolationist position.

Rather, the president should focus on routing out terrorists rather

than confronting Iraq.

“We think that war is not the answer. That it is not going to

eradicate terror,” she said. “We feel that the billions of dollars

invested in the military would be far better invested in education

and health care reform and to alleviate poverty and try to address

the economic situation at home.”

Bernstein said she felt that, rather than taking a stance of

aggression, the United States should reach out and balance its

support between Israel and Palestine.

“One of the reasons why we have terrorists aiming at the U.S. is

that forever and ever we have been supporting Israel, not giving

enough support to the Palestinians, who want a country of their own,”

she said.

Through letters addressed to representatives, senators and the

president, Bernstein hopes that the message will get through. Until

then, she and her compatriots will continue their vigilance for peace

and recruit others to do the same.

“I think we are doing the American thing,” Erger said. “I’m trying

to get my children to understand what I do and I tell my daughter

that she’s the only one of my friend’s daughters who hasn’t shown up

down here.”

* MARY A. CASTILLO covers education, public safety and City Hall.

She can be reached at [email protected].