An Epic Protest

                While in Washington DC, a visit to the Pennsylvania Avenue is a must on ever tourist’s itinerary.  Here one can click a photograph with the North Front of the majestic White House as the backdrop and seize one of those ‘I have been there moments’.

                As a delegate on the International Student Leaders Programme in 2007 I did the same. But as I posed, I saw a strange spectacle.

                Bang across the White House and within its proverbial stone’s throw distance was a small and ungainly tarpaulin makeshift structure. An elderly man with a pony tail and bushy beard sat there with placards, photographs, boxes, blankets etc cluttered around him.

                Bizarre that it was, I couldn’t resist the temptation of interacting with him. I walked across the street to know why and how this man was staying in such a high security zone.

 “Good morning”, I greeted him. “Good Morning Sir” he replied energetically. After exchanging some pleasantries and introducing myself I asked him the obvious question. William Thomas explained that he was an anti-nuclear activist protesting against the nuclear weapons since 1981 along with co-activist Concepcion Piccioto. Called the ‘White House Peace Vigil’, it is the longest uninterrupted war protest in US history.

I was amazed as to how the famed Secret Service that protects the President and Law Enforcement Authorities of DC allowed a round the clock protest so close to the White House. As per the laws, Thomas said, he could vigil in the Lafayatte Square but not camp i.e. he couldn’t sleep there and hence he wasn’t violating any law. Nonetheless he was arrested many times, had to face trials but was eventually let off.

By now I was in awe for the resolve of this man. He had endured extremes of weather, pollution, threats, abuses, arrests and court cases for 26 years to usher in a change he believed in. I asked him as to what kept him going for two and a half decades. He said the threat of a nuclear war and its fallouts for humanity motivated him to continue his mission. At this point he recollected his interactions with the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As we chatted on varied topics such as the Start Treaty, the Indo-US Nuclear deal, Iraq war, nuclear arsenal with Israel, nuclear Iran etc.  I noticed the statue of Marquis de Lafayette behind Thomas. Mounted on a war horse with its forelegs in the air, he had his hat raised. For a moment I felt as if the gesture alluded respect from the fighter for liberty to the ‘iron willed’ Thomas.

                                            Statue of Marquis de Lafayette

Thomas passed away in 2009 but the vigil has been continued by fellow activist Concepcion Piccioto and others. Before leaving, I had jokingly asked Thomas if any of the Presidents had invited his ‘closest neighbor’ for dinner. He broke into guffaws and replied “None has and none will.”

As Barack Obama assumes office on 20^th January this year he will not be pressed with the agenda of a re-election. It would be interesting to see if the man who espouses ‘change’ takes note of this epic protest in his backyard and alters the nuclear policy of USA and nuclear states.