Peace Fresno's 2009 Rally In The Valley History

Roberto was passionate in discussing how the scales of justice habitually tip against brown people and alluded to the profit motivations in having prisons that are operated for profit by corporate entities. This perpetuates the marginalization of brown people.		If you look at this panorama of Roberto addressing the crowd versus the sparse crowd at the start of the Rally, you can see that Roberto really brought the crowd in close. I wish he could have talked longer!
MC Les Marsden introduced the Raging Grannies. He also announced that he will be a candidate for Congress in the 19th district, running against incumbent George Radanovich.		The Grannies, a perennial favorite at the Rally, encouraged everyone to sing along and provided copies of the lyrics to help us all out.
I don't think Elfie missed a good shot all day. I got a lot of pictures of him!		Since the day of the Rally, March 22nd, was also World Water Day, the Grannies made water the theme of their musical entertainment, singing for conservation, against bottled water, etc.
Les Marsden then introduced Peace Fresno Vice-President for Membership, Dan Yaseen who introduced Cindy Sheehan.		Cindy's speech was welcomed by the sunniest moments of the day.
Cindy encouraged those in the peace movement to remember that we live in a nation of robbers and rob-ees and not to assume that President Obama will end the war, but instead to keep pressing forward with the message that WE DO NOT WANT WAR.		Cindy's oratory was warm, personable and down to earth. She had no trouble getting and keeping the crowd's attention.
The final act was Los Traviesos Musical, who play Cumbia, a Mexican regional music style. They were very exciting to watch and to hear.		I made a montage of the artists in Los Traviesos Musical.
Oscar Vasquez of Los Traviesos Musical closedd out the rally and their performance by thanking the crowd for their support.