Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and now Joe Biden have come and gone, each in their turn, but this peace vigil in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House has been their permanent neighbor.
In earlier days… (flickr)
In its earliest years, William Thomas, the man who maintained it for its 27 years until his death, was repeatedly arrested on various charges from illegal camping to disorderly conduct, but over time Thomas and a few who joined them became an accepted part of the scenery.
Originally it was a call for nuclear disarmament, but over the years other causes have joined the original. Volunteers keep the protest staffed around the clock. They need to: Park Police rules allow them to remove any unoccupied protest site.
