I started protesting in 2002. I was involved with an organization who supported a women’s group in Afghanistan called the Revolutionary Association for the Women of Afghanistan. I did not believe that was was the answer in Afghanistan and also in Iraq. I had gone up to San Francisco for a march in 2002 and after that had attended every single one that I could get to In LA.
To stand with 100,000 on the streets of Hollywood will be a day I will never forget. A couple friends had met me at my apartment which was a couple blocks away from Hollywood Blvd. As we left my apartment, with water, signs and the burqa I was going to wear all you could see was sea’s of people. It was one of the most powerful images. It represented true community – a diversity of people in race, gender, religion, activists – seasoned and new, musicians, to folks who were just interested in what was going on. The energy and passion of belief were unlike anything that I had ever experienced. This day has helped me to continue my activism and keep my energy up. We may not have stopped it, but movements DO make a difference.