""You don't have any right to speak when it's not relevant." So said Judge William Barkley at Charlottesville's City Court the morning of April 25th. Nine individuals were arraigned on charges of trespassing at Rep. Virgil Goode's office last March, the day the US began bombing Baghdad.

"For many months I expressed my opposition to a war against Iraq..." began defendant Michele Mattioli. "Objection ... irrelevant," interrupted the prosecution. "Sustained ... I'm not going to hear why she did this," repeated Judge Barkley.

Which crimes? Last November, 315 prominent American law professors signed a statement condemning a US war against Iraq as "an unlawful act, in defiance of America¹s treaty obligations, and a violation of US and international law."

The judge says, "Irrelevant." So, what is relevant, now that the war is over? It is over, isn't it?

"The war is nowhere near over ... The real war is just beginning," says Charlottesville City Councilman Blake Caravati. "We'll be fighting this war and its aftermath for decades."

Councilman Kevin Lynch adds, "I certainly hope it ends well, but for the President to declare victory at this point is eerily reminiscent of the 'victory' last year in Afghanistan, where the main perpetrators are still at large, there is no government control outside of Kabul, and two US soldiers were killed by the Taliban just last week."

Let's think about this. Saddam was dethroned and the Iraqi people were liberated. Judging from the scores of American flags at Colonial Auto Center, we won. Auto salesman Tom Powell, who helped organize an April support-the-troops rally, says, "I'm glad it's over. I can't imagine living under that kind of totalitarian regime ... Anything would be better." Few would disagree. Now, isn't it time to take down all those anti-war yard signs? Some in Charlottesville insist, no.

The marquee outside Vinegar Hill Theater says "Stand up for peace." Co-owner Ann Porotti explains, "There's no reason to take it down. I think we should always be standing up for peace. Some of the movies we show ... it goes with it. Like the one we're showing right now ('Amandla!'). The sign is going to stay up."

Tuesdays at noon on the corner of Barracks and Emmet, Thursdays at five outside the Federal building, rain or shine, hell or high water, a handful of peace protestors still dutifully gather, waving placards.

"Instead of spending time and energy protesting," says Reverend Kort Greene of Scottsville, "We should use our energy to pray for our troops, our country and our president." Greene spoke at a UVA pro-war rally in March. "The only thing we can do in a time of war is to come together." Indeed, the war has deeply divided the community, the nation and the world.

"Everyone agrees Hussein was a son-of-a-bitch," says Caravati. But to frown on protest, or call it unpatriotic? "Poppycock ... To question is our duty. It's the American thing to do." Caravati, who comes from a marine family, has great admiration for our troops and the professionalism with which they conducted the war. But he condemns the Bush administration's "dismal diplomatic failure" and defends people's right to voice their opposition.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong," wrote Teddy Roosevelt, during the first World War, "is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

So, the protests go on. As does the debate. Were the deaths of 128 US soldiers and a reported 2,800 Iraqi civilians (an ironically equal number to the US civilians killed on 9/11, which is rightfully deemed a human tragedy), the potentially deadly legacy of cluster bombs and depleted uranium, and the looting of 5000 years of human history necessary? Or was Saddam's time simply up?

At the heart of much of the controversy is the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice. The fall petitions and winter protests, the yard signs, Ted Rall in-person and the continuing saga of peace-pushing speakers, salons and street-side objection ­ for these, you can thank or curse CCPJ.

Some call them traitors, cowards or "useful fools," for giving comfort to the enemy. Some tell them to "Get out of America!" Some shout "Cut your hair!" ­ although most CCPJ members aren't hippies. They're not communists, either. And, contrary to conspiracy theories, CCPJ hasn't been infiltrated by Iraqi agents or FBI instigators.

They're Quakers, Jews, pacifists and priests, as well as professors and parents, journalists, students, teachers, and anybody committed to their cause. "CCPJ provides a way for those in our community who care about peace and justice to join with kindred spirits," says CCPJ steering committee chair Bill Anderson.

Anderson says CCPJ's detractors are "People who are themselves misinformed, who do not understand that peace making is everyone's responsibility ... the very thing that makes democracy stronger, and the world safer."

CCPJ member UVA professor Herbert Tucker, who was among the ten arrested at Goode's office, finds opposition all around: "On the right, reactionaries who confuse patriotism with apologetics for the ruling order and defense of the status quo; on the left, radicals who demand solutions at once to problems it will take generations to solve."

Now celebrating their 20th anniversary, CCPJ is used to being "politically incorrect." In the 70's, they promoted nuclear disarmament, hosting a talk by Vitaly Churkin, from the Soviet embassy in Washington. They even asked the City Council to declare Charlottesville a nuclear-free zone, a tactic they had more success with last February, regarding the war.

"Who would have guessed that in the course of three hours 1100 signatures would be placed on petitions asking the City Council to become a 'City for Peace?' And who would have predicted all this in Charlottesville?" says CCPJ's Sue Chase. Only 4,500 people voted in the last city election. A hotly contested 2,014 signatures were eventually presented by CCPJ to the Council, which on February 3rd resolved that Charlottesville, joining 163 cities nationwide, supported continued UN weapons inspections in lieu of an unsanctioned, unilateral, US-led war in Iraq ­ while giving "our unconditional and unyielding support to our courageous young men and women serving in our nation's military, even if we question the policy that sent them there."

"CCPJ's actions are one of the reasons why I'm proud to be Mayor of this city," says Mayor Maurice Cox. "When around the nation we saw little to no debate on foreign policy, (CCPJ) and many groups like them stepped in on a local level and took that debate to the streets. You can't underestimate the benefit of having groups that mobilize citizens to influence their legislators. The supporters of our resolution and the millions of others who supported like resolutions sent an overwhelming message that Americans have a responsibility to question our government."

Reverend Peter Way, who spoke at the UVA pro-war rally, thought the decision was a joke. "The City Council of Charlottesville are pigs ... They'll do anything to promote liberalism."

The standout councilman against the resolution was Rob Schilling, who was recently unavailable for comment, but intimated at the time that local governments had little qualification to vote on federal matters. "It's one of the weakest arguments I have ever heard," says Caravati.

CCPJ's Vicky Supraner adds, "Citizens do not abdicate the responsibility to form or express ethical judgments when they elect officials or accept the appointment of a police force to maintain civil order."

Local Army Recruiting Station Commander, Staff Sergeant Tom Hamilton agrees. "A City of Peace: I wish they would all do that. The local city government was trying to give their points of view to their congressmen and representatives from the city of Charlottesville. That's the right way to do it, in my mind. If each town would do that ... then it might help them form a better solution to represent the people of Virginia."

"That's part of a democracy," says Hamilton. "You're getting more of the actual people back into the government ... That's what I like about this city, they're not afraid to speak their points of view."

Hamilton respects CCPJ, despite their presentations at local high schools about students' Selective Service conscientious-objector options. "Organizations on the other side of the fence, I think it's great they're there. It kind of puts things in check and balance. Without any of them, you have one side running the fence. That's dictatorship."

CCPJ sees itself as such a counterbalance, especially to the corporate influence in politics. They cite protest-target Sperry Marine owner Northrop Grumman, which spent $4 million in PAC money funding the campaigns of legislators like hawkish segregationist former House Republican leader Trent Lott. What CCPJ lacks in funds they make up for in fervor. Members have faced rain, sleet, snow and jailtime, pursuing their beliefs.

Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo actually seems grateful to have CCPJ coordinating demonstrations. "When we look (at what happened) around the country, we had a relatively peaceful, conscientious group here." Longo spoke of having an understanding dialog with CCPJ.

We are all participants in democracy, says Longo. "I believe that it's the responsibility of every American to assure a sense of peace and justice and to carry that out in a way that's peaceful an doesn't jeopardize public safety or property rights."

Congressman Goode, the target of March's civil disobedience, differs. He credits our liberties to the muscle of our massive military. While effusive in praise for troops, he had little to say about CCPJ. "Organizations like CCPJ and anti-war rallies have freedoms and constitutional protections in this nation, unlike in Iraq."

Longo admits that his officers, too, were offended by CCPJ's efforts. "We are a paramilitary organization. Our officers served in foreign conflicts. When you give that much of yourself, you may be upset when others are not in agreement with what you were fighting for."

It's quite a Catch 22. Fighting to protect people's right to protest fighting. Or, protesting a fight that is allegedly protecting people's right to protest. It's all debatable. But that's the point. And the dialog starts on the local level ­ at least that's how peace activists see it. Act local, think global is the CCPJ motto.

Last year, CCPJ hosted a talk by Witness For Peace Dirk Ewers, just back from Colombia. The reports he passed on about Coca-Cola's factory abuses were horrifying. Decapitated union organizers' heads were used as soccer balls by Coca-Cola-funded paramilitaries. Bet you didn't hear that on the Channel 29 News.

CCPJ's Anderson says, "If our world is to survive, the individuals in it must come to some realization that they can and do make a difference ... Just as the seeds of war and violence can spread misery around the world, peace and justice can also come from each of us. "

Member Virginia Hymes recalls manning a CCPJ table, encouraging a "mindful response" to the tragedy of 9/11. "Hearing people say, as many did, that just having us there made them feel they were not alone in questioning what was happening was a continuing source of renewal of purpose for all of us."

Where does the movement go from here? Anderson says, "Continuing commitment to work for peace in justice in our community, state, nation and the world."

Councilman Lynch asks peace activists: "Remind the country that the point of this adventure was long term peace in the middle east, as opposed to say, dollar-twenty a gallon gasoline ... I would encourage anyone who still thinks the Iraq war was about WMD, to check out www.newamericancentury.org and then think long and hard about whether it was a good idea to entrust American blood and treasure to this crew."

And let's not forget there's an election coming up. "I hope that the new peace activists will be more constructively engaged in electoral politics," says Lynch. " Too many activists on the left would rather talk to each other ­ and vote only for "ideologically pure" candidates ­ rather than working to get their ideas into the mainstream of the Democratic party. We need to work together if we don't want American policy in the hands of a bunch of Troglodytes."

CCPJ's Ben Walter is more blunt: "Anti-Bush all the way, 24/7. This guy is looking at Syria and Iran. God knows what he'll do in Iraq."

"It scares me that people like that have those feelings," says Republican Revered Way. Sergeant Hamilton offers a more inclusive observation, "It takes all kinds to make the world go around."

Sidebar: Solutions

"I can't stand whining," says Army Staff Sergeant Hamilton. "What's your solution? Solve the problem."

In terms of "liberation," dictators have been toppled a myriad of ways. Marcos was exiled by popular uprising. Somoza was ousted by revolution, as was the Shah of Iran. Portugal's fascist Salazar-Caetano regime was deposed in a bloodless coup. Pinochet stepped down. Franco died. Apartheid was whittled away by divestment, global disapproval and song.

In terms of terrorism, it has been argued that the global threat can only be fought legitimately by a cooperative, universal coalition. Councilman Caravati sees America's current xenophobia doing great damage to any such possibility ­ as does its disrespect of international conventions and treaties. Respect for international law and human rights obligations are antithetical to terrorism.

Poverty plays a role, too. In a recent UN wire report, South African President Thabo Mbeki claims that millions "co-existing side-by-side with islands of enormous wealth and prosperity ... necessarily breeds a deep sense of injustice, social alienation, despair and a willingness to sacrifice their lives among those who feel they have nothing to loose and everything to gain." One solution: Japan recently pledged $50 million to the UN "Guns to Plows" demobilization initiative in Afghanistan.

CCPJ member Helena Cobban, a member of the prestigious, London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, says any effective solution starts with asking two questions:

"1. How can we work to have our country build the capabilities for serious, effective, nonviolent responses to the crises it might face in the future?"

"2. How can we continue to explore and share information about the facts of Americans' interdependence with the peoples of the rest of the world ­ even in a public climate that is increasingly triumphalist, and in a way that is respectful of and sensitive to the feelings of our neighbors, friends, and legislators?"

War is quick. Answers take time, as do peaceful solutions. If CCPJ keeps it up for another 20 years, maybe they'll find the peace and justice they're working for.

Sidebar 2:

CCPJ perceives peace, creativity and culture as going hand in hand, followed closely by a good deal of introspection. Their means of protest and proactive discord are not limited to banners and bullhorns.

Charlottesville Symphony violist, CCPJ member Betty Gross performs music to protest civil liberty violations perpetrated in the name of "Homeland" security.

Last March, coinciding with 998 readings in 59 countries and all 50 US states, CCPJ co-sponsored a reading of Aristophanes' anti-war Greek comedy Lysistrata. Athenian and Laconian women end the Peloponnesian War by withholding sex from their hawkish husbands. (This tactic is was actually proposed by a Lithuanian MP, who called on women to not have sex with any man who supports war in Iraq.)

For their annual commemoration of Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day, CCPJ taught children to fold paper cranes on the Downtown Mall, while reading the story of Sadako, a Hiroshima girl who died of leukemia. Japanese legend says, if you make one thousand paper cranes you'll be blessed with good fortune. Sadako made six hundred before she died. Her friends completed the thousand cranes. Every day, Japanese children leave piles of paper cranes at Sadako's monument.

Now, CCPJ has added a 9/11 Commemoration to their yearly roster. Hiroshima and 9/11, a controversial juxtaposition, to say the least. Well, CCPJ promotes peace by provoking thought." (Brian Wimer, War and Peace, electronic mail, May 14, 2003)

Editor's Note: This piece originally ran in an edited version in Tuesday, May 13th's edition of C-Ville Weekly.