DC Poets Against the War.

January 14th, 2004

by Afrika M.A.Abney

    DC Poets Against the War is an informal group of Washington area writers and activists who came together during the winter of 2003 to protest the planned U.S. invasion of Iraq. Following Laura Bush's cancellation of a Day of Poetry at the White House, and the creation of Poets Against the War by Sam Hamill, DC poets organized their own protest readings. On February 12th, close to 200 people attended an open reading at the All Souls Unitarian Church, where poets shared their own work and classic anti-war poetry. A March reading at the DC Center for Activism and the Arts also drew many participants, and received coverage in the Washington Post.

    With the escalation of US military forces in Iraq, DC Poets Against the War held informal readings throughout the capitol. Meeting in groups of three to six, poets gathered in public spaces, the Mall, the U.S. Department of Labor and McPherson Square, to express dissent by reading poetry on the theme of peace. They will continue to hold readings throughout the fall and winter and are exploring additional ways to support engaged poetry and creative activism in Washington.

    DC Poets Against the War have released their anthology in June 2003. it is an anthology that consists of poems by such authors as Naomi Ayala, Luis Alberto Ambroggio, Rei Berroa, David Brescia-Weiler, Richard Blanco, Sarah Browning, Kenneth Carroll, Grace Cavalieri, Jahayra Corrales, Charlie Cray, Katy Didden, Scott J. Ecksel, Zein El-Amine, Michele Elliott, Wade Fletcher, Yael Flusberg, Martin Galvin, David Gewanter, Jomo K. Graham ,Patricia Gray, Leah Harris, Roberto (Bert) Ifill, Esther Iverem, Peter Klappert, Ann B. Knox, Dan Logan, Carmen Lupton, Mike Maggio, Chelsie Miller, E. Ethelbert Miller, Samuel Miranda, Michael Willett Newheart, Gregory Orfalea, Patric Pepper, Kim Roberts, Danny Rose, Joseph Ross, Kaia Sand, Elizabeth Sullam, Dan Vera, and Rebecca Villarreal.

    DC Poets Against the War have been featured at such venues as Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, Fleming Center, Provisions Library, Dar Es Salaam, National Mall, and All Souls Unitarian Church. They also appeared on WPFW 89.3 FM, WAMU 88.5 FM, and DC Indymedia.

    DC Poets Against the War have been featured in such publications as DC North and Washington Post Newspaper.

    Currently, DC Poets Against the War will be featured at the Martin Luther King Library, Reston Used Bookstore and at other venues in the Metropolitan region.