Honoring veterans of the campaign for peace
Montclair officials commend local activists for their perseverance
By Philip Read
The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)
Gerald Caprio, wearing a camouflage shirt and "Veterans for Peace" cap, rolled up his sign-filled cart about 4:30 p.m. Friday and starting positioning the homemade messages for all to see at what's come to be known as the Montclair Peace Vigil.
The former U.S. Marine, a veteran in more ways than one, is among the peace activists who have been "embedded" on a Montclair street corner for a seven-year run about to get some official recognition.
Montclair's governing body -- a majority of whom ran this year on Mayor Jerry Fried's "progressive" ticket -- tonight is to honor the perseverance of those who have stood their ground amid horn honks of support and even counter-demonstrators.
In a proclamation, Montclair's counselors are to "commend these dedicated individuals" for their "courageous stance for peace" by holding vigils at either Watchung Plaza or, more frequently, where Church Street intersects with busy Bloomfield Avenue.
"It's been a source of pride to me seeing them there every Friday afternoon," said Fried, who noted that war spending has a deep im pact on the ability of municipalities to deliver services.
The proclamation was suggested by Madelyn Hoffman, who as director of New Jersey Peace Action, wrote the mayor in August.
"They don't necessarily get all the limelight," she said yesterday.
She, too, noted the financial impact of a multibillion-dollar war effort that diverts money from human services in American communities.
"There's a little bumper sticker, 'It's the war economy, stupid,'" said Hoffman, noting the takeoff on a phrase widely used during Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.
On Friday, Caprio, who lives in Verona, pulled one sign after another out of his cart.
One carried the quotation "We cannot kill our way to victory," attributed to Adm. Michael Muller of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"I love that one. You can tell he's in the Navy," Caprio said.
With him and a handful of the peace faithful was John Kaniecki of Montclair, who puts his peace-corner tenure at nearly four years.
"I'm a Christian who doesn't believe in war," he said. "The Bible says to turn the other cheek and love your enemies. ... Here's the sign here, 'Blessed are the peace makers.'"
Before long on Friday, a passing van with a large "Obama" sign honks its approval of the peace activists.
"Oh, that's Roger. That's the Obama mobile," Caprio said.
But the Democratic presidential nominee apparently doesn't have the backing of Kaniecki, who at one point repeated "Moore, Moore," for Brian Moore, the Socialist Party USA candidate for president.
"He's not really for peace," Kaniecki said of Barack Obama. "He's really for shifting the focus of the war (to Afghanistan) instead of ending the war."
As for the proclamation, Caprio said it is welcome.
"It's a very great gesture by the council," Caprio said. "There's some fresh blood up there."
By Philip Read
The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)
Gerald Caprio, wearing a camouflage shirt and "Veterans for Peace" cap, rolled up his sign-filled cart about 4:30 p.m. Friday and starting positioning the homemade messages for all to see at what's come to be known as the Montclair Peace Vigil.
The former U.S. Marine, a veteran in more ways than one, is among the peace activists who have been "embedded" on a Montclair street corner for a seven-year run about to get some official recognition.
Montclair's governing body -- a majority of whom ran this year on Mayor Jerry Fried's "progressive" ticket -- tonight is to honor the perseverance of those who have stood their ground amid horn honks of support and even counter-demonstrators.
In a proclamation, Montclair's counselors are to "commend these dedicated individuals" for their "courageous stance for peace" by holding vigils at either Watchung Plaza or, more frequently, where Church Street intersects with busy Bloomfield Avenue.
"It's been a source of pride to me seeing them there every Friday afternoon," said Fried, who noted that war spending has a deep im pact on the ability of municipalities to deliver services.
The proclamation was suggested by Madelyn Hoffman, who as director of New Jersey Peace Action, wrote the mayor in August.
"They don't necessarily get all the limelight," she said yesterday.
She, too, noted the financial impact of a multibillion-dollar war effort that diverts money from human services in American communities.
"There's a little bumper sticker, 'It's the war economy, stupid,'" said Hoffman, noting the takeoff on a phrase widely used during Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.
On Friday, Caprio, who lives in Verona, pulled one sign after another out of his cart.
One carried the quotation "We cannot kill our way to victory," attributed to Adm. Michael Muller of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"I love that one. You can tell he's in the Navy," Caprio said.
With him and a handful of the peace faithful was John Kaniecki of Montclair, who puts his peace-corner tenure at nearly four years.
"I'm a Christian who doesn't believe in war," he said. "The Bible says to turn the other cheek and love your enemies. ... Here's the sign here, 'Blessed are the peace makers.'"
Before long on Friday, a passing van with a large "Obama" sign honks its approval of the peace activists.
"Oh, that's Roger. That's the Obama mobile," Caprio said.
But the Democratic presidential nominee apparently doesn't have the backing of Kaniecki, who at one point repeated "Moore, Moore," for Brian Moore, the Socialist Party USA candidate for president.
"He's not really for peace," Kaniecki said of Barack Obama. "He's really for shifting the focus of the war (to Afghanistan) instead of ending the war."
As for the proclamation, Caprio said it is welcome.
"It's a very great gesture by the council," Caprio said. "There's some fresh blood up there."
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