Queens Takes Part In Global Vigil

 
Daniel Parrish thinks our country is on the wrong path. He and wife Carol and their childrendaughters Katie, 6, Maggie,4, and 1-year-old son Jackwere among a group of about 90 demonstrators on Sunday evening at Alley Pond Park. They had gathered as part of a Global Candlelight vigil organized by www.moveon.com.
Parrish said he and his family came out because they had to do something. "We are going to kill thousands of people. Alienate our allies. This is anti-democratic and its going to cause more terrorism, not less. The government is unresponsive to the people. This is some way of expressing what we feel."
Katie Parrish eagerly echoed her dads sentiments. "Its not fair. Its like George Bush is a two-year-old and cant stop a fight without hitting. Somebody in Iraq is not safe," the six-year-old stated. "They [US] want oil and thats not much of a reason [to go to war]."
The vigil, held in the field next to the Alley Pond Tennis Center, was organized on the local level by Little Neck resident Abby Farber-Robinson. "This whole thing took about an hour of my life to put together. Id like a world thats safe for the children and for all of us. It wont be that way if this continues."
Farber-Robinson said she got the group together simply by logging on to the moveon.org website. "The folks who put that together are really amazing."
On Sunday evening, all around the world, individual vigils were held at exactly the same time. Visitors of the website can sign on and see photos of other nations around the world participating in the candle lightings.
Alexis White of Great Neck told The Queens Courier that she had friends at Washington Square Park and Los Angeles and a cousin in Paris who were participating. "This is what we have to do if our voices are to be heard. I hope someone is listening." White spoke with others about a billboard she had seen recently "Support our military…bring them home."
The crowd assembled peacefully at about 6:50 p.m. Group leader Farber-Robinson explained that due to time constraints she had not filed for a police permit that is required for any peaceful demonstration of 20 or more and told the group that if the police asked them to leave they should do so immediately and quietly.
Steve and Nilda Katz of Bayside brought their two daughters, Amanda, 13, and Alexa, 8, along with them. Alexa spoke for her family about why they had come to the park. "We have to protect the children of Iraq and make sure they dont get killed." Her sister Amanda was happy that her family came to this event because "We have to show everybody that we are standing up for the children and people of Iraq who are going to be killed."
WW II veteran Will Weisel and wife Phyllis came from New Hyde Park to show their support. "George Bush is acting like a madman. He needs to listen to the people," said the vet who wore his original Army jacket to the park. "We dont want this war and we dont want our soldiers killed."
Carol Crawford, a Forest Hills resident for over 30 years, came to light a candle with family and friends. "Its very important that we make a statement. There are generations out there who really dont realize what this war means. This is just dreadful. There are different tones to this war. People are very depressed over it. Its a terrible thing when people have to be ashamed of their government."