Dear Seeds of Peace Family
This is a love letter 33 years in the making to the Seeds of Peace (SOP) Collective. I believe that all who have been, and continue to be, a part of Seeds remain among the many unsung heroes of the nonviolent direct action movement. With very little resources, and no self-enrichment, SOP contributed to and supported (and continue to do so) “communities working on a direct, grassroots level to end homelessness, stem nuclear proliferation, promote indigenous self-determination, advocate for the rights of the undocumented, resist capitalism and neoliberal globalization, and demand environmental and climate justice.” (Quote from the Seeds of Peace website https://seedsofpeacecollective.org/about/)
I was never a “member” of the SOP Collective but some of you were very close friends and organizing partners and I am honored to be included in the wider circle of the Seeds Family. You have all been an inspiration to me and provided much needed support as my activism evolved and I begin organizing with American Peace Test and then Shundahai Network. As a young man SOP showed me that there was an alternative way to live and to be of service to the earth and people. SOP was with me, in one way or another, every step I took as I searched for role in life.
My life as an activist began in 1986 when I was 23 and I left my culinary and restaurant management career and moved to D.C. to live and work as a volunteer with the Community for Creative Nonviolence providing shelter, food and care for the city’s homeless living within a ½ mile of the Capitol and White House. In the spring of 87 I went to my first political event, an Impeach Reagan and Bush rally, in front of the Whitehouse. There I first met Guin, who organized the rally, and witnessed his brutal arrest as he challenged the absurd new Secret Service policy that any signs or banners near the White House could only be 3X3 feet.
Guin, fearless as always with his long fiery red hair waving in the breeze, unfurled a banner that was 5 feet long and holding it out as best as he could began walking around chanting. Within moments the S.S. confronted him and when he refused to drop his banner, six of them knocked him to the ground with batons and beat him until they felt he was complying enough to carry him off. I was shaking with anger, outraged that this could happen in the nations capitol. Little did I know that Guin would play such an influential role in my life for the next few decades.
That summer while hitchhiking in New Hampshire with nowhere to go, and only $200 in my pocket, I heard about the New England Walk For Nuclear Disarmament, that being Organized and supported by Seeds of Peace, was going to begin the following week. Immediately I knew that was where I was supposed to be. The first person I met at the registration table was Sarah Seeds. (That’s a whole other story) At the end of the Walk, Sarah asked me to consider joining Seeds and attending the planning session for the next phase, but I was not ready for that commitment yet. Many people that I met, and grew to love, on that walk including the Seeds Family continue to be an important part of my life.
1987 was a pivotal year for me. Working with the homeless, the 30-day peace walk, learning about the dangers of nuclear weapons, the community building, my first two arrests for a nonviolent direct action and the preparation for my first trial defending myself, all were a turning point for me. I knew I could never go back to my life in the “real world” where I did not know very many truly happy or satisfied people and most of my friends were lost in a revolving world of one kind of addiction or another.
Since then every meaningful event and campaign through 2003 that I participated in or organized was supported by Seeds of Peace. Sarah, Guin, Alex and Grumbles all became close organizing allies, and of course as a young person I had wild crushes on many of the Seeds family.
The opening paragraph on the Seeds of Peace website (https://seedsofpeacecollective.org/about/) truthfully sums up what you do: “Since 1986, the Seeds of Peace Collective has provided logistical support and trainings to activists struggling on the front lines for social, environmental, and economic justice. We are a small but motivated group of individuals dedicated to furnishing the basics–namely, food, water, and skill sets–essential to the success of direct action campaigns and mass mobilizations.”
Seeds of Peace were often truly miracle workers and I am grateful for everything you have done as an organization, community, and circle of friends. I want to particularly recognize my brother Grumbles who has continued on the path while some of us were settling down and having children and becoming comfortable. Grumbles has steadfastly maintained his selfless service, training a new generation of Seeds and providing critical support to the Direct Action movement. I know it has been a difficult life for him, and as we get older it becomes more difficult especially with not much monetary support, but he is still out there doing the Seeds Work as best as he can. We all should be proud and help support him as we are able to do so.
Below is the list of events that I can remember being a part of and working on with Seeds of Peace. I am sure I am missing some and I know that beyond this list, Seeds was involved in so many other events and campaigns, even after I moved on to another life. I am humbled and inspired by the scope of what you accomplished and I hope we can find a way to tell your story appropriately for the future generations.
I am deeply grateful to you all and wish you love, peace and success in your lives. I honor the Seeds members who have passed or disappeared, Guin, Alex, Sarah, & Wally.
My Activist / Seeds of Peace Timeline:
1987 I first met Guin and witnessed his brutal arrest at my first political protest to Impeach Reagan in front of the white house
New England Walk for Nuclear Disarmament
1989 Reclaim the Test Site II (My first time to Peace Camp)
Housing Now Walk for the Homeless from NYC – DC (Seeds of Peace saved this walk with 450 homeless folks from disaster
1990 January Greenpeace/American Peace Test Action at the Test Site
APT Spring Gathering
Redwood Summer in Humboldt County
The horrible bombing of Judi and Daryl and the aftermath. (I was waiting in Arcata with a group of organizers waiting for them to arrive when we heard the news.)
1991 APT Spring Gathering & Action at NTS.
Block, Chock, & Lock - Bus Action
Peace Camp Veterans Day
1992 Hundredth Monkey Concert, Walk & Action
Walk Across America for Mother Earth (I was on the LV-PC part)
Healing Global Wounds!
1994 Cove Mallard Base Camp (I stayed for a few weeks and participated in some trainings and scouting parties.
Big Mountain Sundance prep camp
1995 Healing Global Wounds Spring Gathering
1996 Nuclear Abolition Summit, Healing Global Wounds Spring Gathering & Action for Nuclear Abolition
Don’t Waste America West Coast Nuclear Waste Education Tour (Seeds was also at the Chicago Democratic National Convention with my Shundahai family an the Don’t Waste America – East Tour)
1997 Action for Nuclear Abolition Training Camp on the Atomic Vets Land,
Healing Global Wounds Spring Gathering
Action for Nuclear Abolition, Highway 95 Blockade,
HGW Fall Gathering
1998 Mothers Day Gathering & Occupation of the Test Site
Save Ward Valley Occupation
Arizona Earth First Rendezvous
Seeds of Peace Action Training Tour
1999 Honor the Mother Spring Gathering & Occupation of the test site
2000 “Breaking the Bank” IMF/World Bank DC Protests
Spring Gathering at the Test Site
Los Angeles Democratic National Convention
2001 Healing Global Wounds
Nuclear Free Great Basin Gathering
2002 Action for Nuclear Abolition planning
2002 Spring Gathering to Celebrate Life at Peace Camp.
Nuclear Abolition Summit, Family Spirit Walk to Peace Camp, Action for Nuclear Abolition
2004 Nuclear Free Great Basin Gathering II