Photo Essay and poem from Protest in St Paul Minnesota

(“…poor priorities are killing

infrastructure and civilians.”
– promoted by exmearden)

Around 2000 persons met at the St Paul Cathedral on Saturday afternoon (September 15) to hear anti-war speeches from veterans and others before heading as a group to the Excel Energy Center, the site of the upcoming Republican National Convention. After reaching the Excel Energy Center, we walked to the State Capitol grounds where speakers continued the rally.

We had a message for anyone who continues funding the unjust war in Iraq and from the sign below you can see that we had a special message for Republicans.

I took pictures of the event, but rather than write a diary that summarizes the content of the speeches, I prefer to present the words to a poem that Katrina Plotz, its author, read at the Cathedral before the march. I will also provide some captions for a few of my images.

The mother in the image above has her daughter by her side and her son is in Iraq. The mother’s sign says “My son is not a small price to pay.”


The Time Magazine cover is from prior to the last presidential election. The teaser on the cover asks the question “Does the president that led us into Iraq know how to lead us out? George W Bush’s reelection hinges on the answer.” We know what the answer is….


Veterans, young and old, protested against the Bush administration policies.

Below is the poem:

Break Away

vehicles slowed by endless construction
on the surface of a highway
raised above a river
under weight and neglect
the foundation starts to shiver…
and shake
brake lights came too late
no escape in the wake of a man-made earthquake

Now a frantic search and rescue
for anyone alive
witnesses disbelieve
the scene before their eyes
victims whisper their goodbyes
camera flashes light the sky
sighs of relief
still beg the question
Why?

Same day, far away
near the Tigris and Euphrates
explosions detonate
among panic-stricken faces
sidewalks crack
bridges collapse
lungs trapped beneath concrete
heave and breathe their last

No one rushes to the rescue
on the streets plagued with danger
no savior for a people
occupied by strangers
no relief for their sighs
just grief in their eyes
no surprise
just anger
as they fight for their lives

Back in the states
leaders struggle to explain
shake heads and shrug shoulders
but refuse to blame
“Bridges in America
aren’t supposed to fall,”
were the words of lawmaker
laced with shock and awe.

For war and occupation
they allocate billions
poor priorities are killing
infrastructure and civilians.

After four years of war
what lessons have we learned?
can we salvage any pieces
of the bridges we have burned?

In the aftermath of tragedy
we can’t reverse the damage
but the bandage of denial
doesn’t serve any advantage

We can’t
force our will
with perpetual war
we can’t fix
what is broken
by breaking it more
we can’t claim
to be humane
while delaying an end
to a brutal occupation
can we honestly pretend
to value security
with overpasses crumbling
to celebrate democracy
with apathy abundant?

“Wait and see”
is not the strategy we need
procrastination
won’t change the nation
we need money for human needs
not for guns
we can’t afford to fund wars
for corporate thugs
we can’t cross this bridge
when the time comes

The time is NOW
To make each other proud
From the streets yell it loud
Bring the troops home now!