by X331980
Industrial Workers of the World, and a few friends, met up at Peace Arch State/Provincial Park on Sunday April 26 for our second annual Hands Across the Border’ Wobbly potluck. Members came from Victoria, the Lower Mainland, various places in the northwest corner of Washington, and Seattle. We set up a pop-up canopy right on the border line complete with banners and Wob flags , directly across the road from the Peace Arch. We sang songs accompanied by FW Art on his guitar, and ate good food. Fellow Workers could walk in from either side of the border and mingle, undisturbed by immigration officers. Everyone had ID handy ‘just in case’ but we barely even saw any law enforcement. The weather was gorgeous. Loads of cars drove by a few feet away on the way to Canadian immigration, and couldn’t miss the lovely ‘Peace has No Borders’ banner made by Carlos. Families set up picnics on the lawn near us. We were even joined by a young fellow from India who had just come to Canada- he was visiting Peace Arch Provincial Park and was drawn to our music.
We will do it again next year, this time hosted and coordinated by the Vancouver IWW General Membership Branch. It will again be right around International Workers Day, and at the Peace Arch Parks.
Industrial Workers of the World Whatcom-Skagit Branch 