The News & Observer, Jan. 29, 1991
By RACHEL BUCHANAN
CHAPEL HILL -- Facing a deeply divided, standing-room-only crowd that mirrored the nation's anguish over the Persian Gulf war, the Chapel Hill Town Council on Monday rejected a move to declare the town a haven for military deserters and conscientious objectors.
The council voted down the sanctuary proposal, 6-2, with most members saying it was too radical. But the issues weren't simple and the debate was heated in a university town that became famous for its Vietnam War protests in the 1960s and 1970s. "This asks us to endorse particular behavior that is certainly illegal, is something we could not carry out, and is not supported by a majority of our citizens," said council member Arthur S. Werner, who voted against the plan.
At issue was a petition presented by the Orange County Greens, the local chapter of a worldwide, liberal political action group.
Under the plan, the town would have welcomed military deserters, conscientious objectors, war protesters and people who withheld part of their taxes to protest the war.
The proposal also would have allowed town employees -- including police officers -- to refuse to prosecute or arrest protesters or deserters. But the petition would not have been legally enforceable.
Council members Joyce Brown and Joseph A. Herzenberg voted for the sanctuary petition. But the majority of the council agreed with opponents and took the unusual step of refusing to accept a citizens' petition.
"I don't think {the sanctuary petition} deserves to see the light of day," said council member Alan E. Rimer. "I don't want us to do anything with it."
The split vote was indicative of the divisiveness that has racked the town since the sanctuary plan was proposed last week.
Council members said they had received numerous phone calls about the "safe haven" proposal. Town hall had received more than 50 calls in the previous three days. And security was tight at Monday's meeting, with Police Chief Arnold Gold and at least two undercover officers present.
The crowd was fraught with emotion. Supporters urged the council to meet Chapel Hill's image as a courageously liberal college community.
Many people at the meeting carried signs that typified the intellectual, rebellious streak the town has become famous for. Among them: "Individuals Should Not Abrogate Their Thinking and Moral Judgment to the President," and "Follow Martin Luther King's Dream, Not George Bush's Nightmare."
The Rev. W.W. Olney, who last week declared his church a sanctuary for war resisters, made an impassioned plea.
"Every day I get calls from across the state and out of state from young men and women saying, 'I do not want to kill and I do not want to be killed,'" said Mr. Olney, pastor of the Community Church. "How can we turn our backs on our children who can not bring themselves to kill?"
But others urged the council to reject the proposal, calling it unconstitutional, unenforceable and damaging to the town's reputation. Some waved flags while the council debated the petition.
"Chapel Hill would become the object of maximum derision and vilification in North Carolina and the country, and rightfully so, if this is passed," said Phillip J. Sullivan, a retired businessman and former Navy officer.
"Enticing members of the U.S. Armed Services to go AWOL is illegal, big-time. Most of us in Chapel Hill would consider that an act of treason."
Tuesday, January 29, 1991
Tuesday, January 22, 1991
Town is asked to be haven for deserters
The News & Observer, Jan. 22, 1991
By RACHEL BUCHANAN, Staff writer
CHAPEL HILL -- This university town with a tradition of anti-war protests should become a sanctuary for military deserters and conscientious objectors, say members of the Orange County Greens, a political and environmental group.
The proposal has the support of one town council member and is likely to be presented to the full council tonight.
"Basically we want the town to declare itself a safe haven for individuals who are acting from their moral conscience in matters regarding the war," said Daniel A. Coleman, a spokesman for the group, which has about 200 members in Orange County.
"There is a strong sentiment of opposition to the war in this community, you can see that on Franklin Street every day."
The resolution -- which also will be presented to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen -- would allow city employees to enforce federal and state desertion laws according to their individual convictions.
"Local governments are reluctant to take stands on national policies," said Mr. Coleman. "But this is a case where we are able to bring the national concern back home where they can take local action."
The resolution describes Chapel Hill as having "a long tradition of citizens taking courageous stands to attain great social and political goals" and as a place that "has for many years been in the forefront of the call for social justice and peace."
Chapel Hill council member Joyce Brown, a member of the Greens, said she supported the resolution and thought the town needed to take a stand against the war.
"I think this is an excellent way for local government to acknowledge the grave concern of our citizens about the war," said Ms. Brown. "This would certainly be a strong stand."
But other council members said the resolution might be too strong.
"I am personally against the war," said council member Joseph A. Herzenberg. "And I do believe in taking steps to work toward peace and putting pressure on the government to change its policy. But I'm not sure I want to go this far. I know that sounds cowardly, but I like to think about things."
The Rev. Roosevelt Wilkerson, a major in the Air Force Reserve and a council member, said he would not support the resolution.
"Personally, I don't think this is the proper time for us to be engaged in this type of dialogue," said Mr. Wilkerson. "I feel we need to be supportive of the young men and women engaged in this conflict not by choice but by the resolve of our nation to bring about peace worldwide.
"There may be dialogue about whether or not we are doing the right thing but that holds no place when you have young men and women on the firing line risking their lives."
Members of the Greens said they planed to present the council with the resolution at tonight's public hearing, which begins at 7:30 in town hall. It is unclear whether the council will allow the group to make its petition because the town council usually accepts petitions during its regular council meetings, not at public hearings.
But Mr. Coleman said he would urge the council to consider his plan.
"If they try to sit on it, to me that conveys a sense of a lack of moral fiber on such a critical issue," said Mr. Coleman.
"This is not like most of the things that come before them. This is something that is so much a part of everyone's thoughts and feelings that it behooves them to take this up."
By RACHEL BUCHANAN, Staff writer
CHAPEL HILL -- This university town with a tradition of anti-war protests should become a sanctuary for military deserters and conscientious objectors, say members of the Orange County Greens, a political and environmental group.
The proposal has the support of one town council member and is likely to be presented to the full council tonight.
"Basically we want the town to declare itself a safe haven for individuals who are acting from their moral conscience in matters regarding the war," said Daniel A. Coleman, a spokesman for the group, which has about 200 members in Orange County.
"There is a strong sentiment of opposition to the war in this community, you can see that on Franklin Street every day."
The resolution -- which also will be presented to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen -- would allow city employees to enforce federal and state desertion laws according to their individual convictions.
"Local governments are reluctant to take stands on national policies," said Mr. Coleman. "But this is a case where we are able to bring the national concern back home where they can take local action."
The resolution describes Chapel Hill as having "a long tradition of citizens taking courageous stands to attain great social and political goals" and as a place that "has for many years been in the forefront of the call for social justice and peace."
Chapel Hill council member Joyce Brown, a member of the Greens, said she supported the resolution and thought the town needed to take a stand against the war.
"I think this is an excellent way for local government to acknowledge the grave concern of our citizens about the war," said Ms. Brown. "This would certainly be a strong stand."
But other council members said the resolution might be too strong.
"I am personally against the war," said council member Joseph A. Herzenberg. "And I do believe in taking steps to work toward peace and putting pressure on the government to change its policy. But I'm not sure I want to go this far. I know that sounds cowardly, but I like to think about things."
The Rev. Roosevelt Wilkerson, a major in the Air Force Reserve and a council member, said he would not support the resolution.
"Personally, I don't think this is the proper time for us to be engaged in this type of dialogue," said Mr. Wilkerson. "I feel we need to be supportive of the young men and women engaged in this conflict not by choice but by the resolve of our nation to bring about peace worldwide.
"There may be dialogue about whether or not we are doing the right thing but that holds no place when you have young men and women on the firing line risking their lives."
Members of the Greens said they planed to present the council with the resolution at tonight's public hearing, which begins at 7:30 in town hall. It is unclear whether the council will allow the group to make its petition because the town council usually accepts petitions during its regular council meetings, not at public hearings.
But Mr. Coleman said he would urge the council to consider his plan.
"If they try to sit on it, to me that conveys a sense of a lack of moral fiber on such a critical issue," said Mr. Coleman.
"This is not like most of the things that come before them. This is something that is so much a part of everyone's thoughts and feelings that it behooves them to take this up."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
