On March 19, 2010 the local mock Teen Cemetery began @ 10 am @ SBCC on the West campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The event consisted of 341 "Tombstones" of 18 & 19 year old U.S. casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan Conflicts. The set-up, take down and interaction of passerbys to place the placards of photos & info of the teenagers on the "Tombstones" was done by several volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace Chapter 54 and SBCC students.
In the afternoon 2 large classes of Philosophy & Communications students and their instructors came by and participated in the interactive memorial by placing placards of the fallen teenagers on the "tombstones" reading the information and many pausing on the sunny lawnscape to pray & reflect on the potential loss of these youth.
Throughout the day many students also helped themselves to free information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & afghanistan as well as free copies of the popular book "Addicted to War". Many students took the SBCC form for students to be taken off of the military's recruitment list in opposition to the Solomon Amendment dictates. Students, staff & visitors also signed the 2 available petitions: 1) To stop the Military use of Depleted Uranium & 2) To withdraw our Military immediately from Iraq & Afghanistan. Both to be sent to the President & Congress.
After this event many VFP members, SBCC Students & Staff convened with many others from the Peace Community @ 5-6pm in downtown Santa Barbara, @ the corners of Chapala & Carrillo Streets on the sidewalk to display signs & banners to remind home ward traffic that the Iraq War was in its 7th year and that it was time to END THIS ILLEGAL WAR AND BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!!! Our Peaceful Demonstration was met with enthusiastic Honks, thumbs up and peace signs.
