About us.
A short history of the beginnings of the Long Beach Area Peace Network
On February 15, 2003, before the beginning of the Iraq War, he Peace Network sponsored a protest march and rally in the City of Long Beach, California. At that time, the US government under George W. Bush went through a period of ultimatums, threats and lies about weapons of mass destruction in preparation for a war against Iraq and the Saddam Hussein administration.
A loose collection of concerned activists got together to form the Long Beach Area Peace Network (LBAPN, pronounced LABOPPIN). A march was held on public streets. The event concluded with a rally in Bixby Park. Several elected officials, inclding a City Council member, Alan Lowenthal, participated in the rally. According to some estimates, between 1000 and 1500 people attended the event.
The first struggle of the fledgling organization was over a permit to march. The city wanted LBAPN to buy insurance and pay city expenses to the tune of about $500-$2000 each time a march was held. On March 20, 2003, the war in Iraq began. In anticipation of the bombing campaign and subsequent invasion, the Peace Network had already organized another march and rally, to be held on March 22nd. The City insisted on permits with insurance. According to the leadership of LBAPN this was a violation of the First Amendment.
It took until 2008 to decide this case. Carol Sobel, our attorney, led the charge in which LBAPN came out as the winner. LBAPN had their first real victory over suppression of dissent and limiting free speech. The United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit held that the city code “in its entirety unconstitutionally restricts the right to free speech” and permanently enjoined the City from enforcing it.
LBAPN went on to fight for equal rights for all marginalized people in Long Beach. Speaking out for minorities, tenants, LGBTQ+ people, the environment and of course working to educate people about the impact of the military industrial complex on our communitites, especially young people.
The principals who formed LBAPN were Dianna Mann, Gene Ruyle, Naida Tushnet, Sharon Cotrell, and there were many more who joined in leadership roles like Pat Alviso, Karen Harper, and Anna Christensen. Please forgive any omissions.
Marshall Blesofsky, Former chair of the steering committee of LBAPN.
