Above photo: Philipos Melaku-Bello holds documents granting him a legal right to remain at the Peace Vigil site near the White House. John Zangas / DCMediaGroup.
Washington DC—On Sunday afternoon, the Peace Vigil manager, Philipos Melaku-Bello reclined in the sun under a big red umbrella at the William Thomas Memorial Peace Vigil, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that occurred over the last three days.
Just hours earlier, the 44-year-old Peace Vigil was raided by U.S. National Park Police, who tore down and confiscated the blue tarp tent, its frame, and cinder block anchors. As word spread of the raid, scores of longtime DC activists, residents, and supporters sprang into action. They rolled in throughout the day, like an anonymous army of loyal supernumeraries, to sit with and support Philipos and the other activists who staff the Peace Vigil. Among them were attorneys, activists, friends, supporters, and former Vigil staff members.
The takedown incident was triggered on Friday during a White House press conference as a result of a question posed to President Trump from right-wing media personality Brian Glenn. In his question, which was more like a loaded screed, he implied the Peace Vigil stored weapons and posed a “national security risk” in Lafayette Park. He further alleged the Vigilers were radical leftists standing against American values, using drugs, and creating a rat-infested space. Melaku-Bello said that none of this is true.
Upon hearing Glenn’s screed, Trump’s response to his staff was to “Take it down. Take it down today, right now.” Later on Friday, after Melaku-Bello learned of the press conference, he extended his shift at the Peace Vigil through Friday night past his scheduled quitting time. He remained there all through Saturday, Saturday night, and he did not leave until early Sunday morning. Melaku-Bello anticipated police would arrive at any minute, and he wanted to be there if they did. By Sunday morning, it seemed that the threat had passed as no police forces had come. Will Roosien, the relief watch, joined him and took over at about 6 am right as Melaku-Bello was leaving.
Minutes after Melaku-Bello left—after sitting for nearly 2 days straight—U.S. Park Police swept into Lafayette Square and confiscated the blue tarp tent, its frame, and cinder block anchors. Roosien called Melaku-Bello, who immediately returned to join the relief activist, and he continued seated at the Peace Vigil for the third day. He remained at the Vigil as of Sunday night at 6 pm.
National Park Service police left behind some of the cardboard signs and the two giant pallet signs. They gave no explanation as to why they took the tent and issued no citation or ticket explaining what Federal code or regulation the Vigilers had violated. Melaku-Bello maintained that the Peace Vigilers had not done anything to justify the police raid and had not gone astray of any of the court-ordered requirements they obey in order to remain on the red bricks. He said the raid was politically motivated.
As Melaku-Bello spoke, another activist, Steve-O, a much more silent activist at the Peace Vigil staff, cleaned up the area behind where the original blue tarp tent stood. Dirt runoff from Lafayette Park from recent rains had accumulated between the curb and the tent, which rested against it.
Peace Vigil Sanctioned By Court Order
The Peace Vigil itself has been sanctioned by the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia since its main founding activist, William Thomas, agreed with the Judge’s order not to sleep or encamp in the park. He was permitted two large permanent signs provided they did not exceed the dimension limits of 6’ height and 4’ width. Two other requirements were that he and the Vigilers not encamp or sleep at the Park and that an activist of the Peace Vigil be continuously present for it to remain permitted.
Thomas, who died in 2009, had even purchased a house on 12th Street from a tax sale in the early 1990s, which he named the Peace House. The house was to provide Vigilers a place to rest, eat, and shower between their shifts. The Peace House remained open until about 2016. A group of squatters took over the Peace Vigil after they took refuge there following the OccupyDC movement, but they failed to pay rent to its owner, and failed to keep up with the utility costs and taxes. The utilities were shut off due to non-payment. Helen Thomas, widow of William Thomas and part owner of the property, eventually came to a settlement agreement with the squatters, that they leave after an undisclosed payout was given to them. The Peace House was eventually vacated and pending final disposition at that time, but other activists had by then assumed duties of staffing the Peace Vigil and had to provide their own support and accommodations.
Thomas built the original Peace Vigil signs with reinforced wood and painted with warnings against war, nuclear war, and human rights abuses worldwide—the same messages it has carried since its original founders proscribed in 1981. “Live By The Bomb, Die By The Bomb,” read one of them, “Wanted: Honesty and Truth,” read another.
Melaku-Bello said that the signs were rebuilt several times due to weathering and decay. They were destroyed several times when opponents to the Peace Vigil attacked and destroyed them. Melaku-Bello said the signage present now was specifically rebuilt 1/4” short of the dimensions limit in order to comply with the court order. When asked if drugs were ever used there he said no but admitted that long past several activists were cited for public intoxication. They were asked not to return.
The signage message has been little changed over the Peace Vigil 44 years and since its beginning, has effectively remained anti-war, anti-nuclear, and pro-human rights.
Peace Vigil Refuses To Go Even After Raid
As Melaku-Bello sat under a large red umbrella, contemplating the future of the Peace Vigil, dozens of activists and admirers streamed in to ask what had happened. The severely fatigued sage answered each question patiently, explaining the importance of having a voice of opposition to what is wrong about America, and describing the legal injustice of the raid itself. His message: voices of opposition are necessary and must be allowed to be heard.
Melaku-Bello carries a copy of the court order in a water-proof zipper black container and pulls it out like a testimonial to the Peace Vigil’s existence whenever anyone asks him what he’s going to do about the raid. He holds it up and moment then folds it back and returns it to the container.
An international press corps also descended on the Peace Vigil, intervening Melaku-Bello. Dozens of stories about the Peace Vigil began popping up all across the web. More supporters came. By Sunday afternoon, there was a torrent of visitors and press, activists and attorneys, offering their support and bringing food and drinks to Melaku-Bello. He accepted each graciously. Some simply came and hugged him and left without saying anything. One young woman stood before him, tears in her eyes, said nothing and left. She returned later and sat silently facing the White House.
Removing the tent is likely not going to end the Peace Vigil outright or in the near future but it will make sustaining it much more difficult over the long term. Weather will worsen and Winter storms will bring ice and snow. Without a tent covering to retreat from the elements, its unlikely anyone without hearty outdoors experience will endure.
The Peace Vigil has been through difficult times before, hurricanes, assaults, and hundreds of storms, and time. It has endured the wims of changing political power, surviving beyond the lives of many of its founders, and is half way through its fifth decade. It is the longest continuously running Vigil for Peace in North America and perhaps one of the longest running Vigils for Peace globally.
If anything remains through the coming days, it will be the will of activists to sustain the Peace Vigil.
You may donate to the support the activists and their legal fund here.
