Justice and Peace Commission still waiting for both 


As Acting Director of the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, I am
called to forward our principal values "justice and peace" and now,
because of recent misleading Gazette articles, I need to add a third:
truth. 
The truth is that our peace walkers in the St. Patrick's Day Parade never
had any intention to cause disruption. We were not "parade crashers," as
The Gazette's March 20 Our View claimed. 
In the spirit of the day we wore green T-shirts, assembled well ahead of
time with our permit-bearing parade unit (The Bookman entry), and walked
out into the street when the parade marshal directed us. We were parents
with children, people with pets (green-vested), teenagers, Iraq war
veterans, teachers, students, Catholic sisters, Protestant clergy,
blacks, whites and many retired seniors. We walked along, smiling and
waving to appreciative onlookers. We carried signs saying "Peace" and
"Kids not Bombs," but nothing inflammatory. It was all done happily,
peaceably, "decently and in order." 
The truth is that we were suddenly being told, without explanation, to
leave the parade. Thirty-five of us obliged. Those who did not understand
asked, "Why must we leave? We have a paid permit to be here. What is
different this year than when we walked in 2006?" 
We were not given a reason but, instead, were treated by the police in an
unnecessarily harsh physical manner. People were yelled at and shoved to
the side. One retiree was grabbed by the throat and pulled to the curb.
Our PPJPC president and parade permit-holder was jerked from his van, put
on the ground, kneed in his back, handcuffed and left in the street, his
children crying. A handicapped older woman was pulled down and dragged
across the pavement, causing severe lacerations (hardly "a rugburn," as
the editorial said). 
One 75-year-old woman, concerned for her friend on the ground, was
handcuffed roughly, causing forearm bruises. Another 65-year old woman
had her arm so twisted she had to have it X-rayed. Our guest speaker of
the weekend was put in a wrenching choke hold. A Taser gun was fired. And
it’s all documented on camera. 
All we wanted to do was say, "Give Peace a Chance," but the parade
officials and police responded to such a message aggressively. 
So now there are questions about violations of constitutional rights and
questions about excessive police behavior. Sadly, it is quite reminiscent
of the tear gassing by the police four years ago. There is loss of trust
in officials of our city. 
Two thousand years ago this day, Palm Sunday, Jesus wept over his city
and cried, "O, Jerusalem, would that you knew the things that make for
peace, but now they are hid from your eyes." 
The truth is, he still weeps, "O, Colorado Springs, would that . . . ." 
Rev. James W. White 
Acting director 
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission 
Colorado Springs