Peace march moved

Participants in a demonstration for peace slated for this morning, July 17, should gather at the former Poulsbo Market parking lot in Poulsbo, organizers say.

Organizers had announced that the event would begin at Central Market. But Tom Hall, market manager, said the business was not contacted by organizers for permission to assemble a demonstration there.

Central Market was never a sponsor, both Hall and Town & Country Markets president Larry Nakata said.

“We value all civic and political views in our community,” Nakata said.

Steve Weinstock, a parent assisting local youths organizing the demonstration, said participants should instead meet at the parking lot of the now vacant Poulsbo Market storefront around 9:30 a.m. The march will follow the highway to Chief Sealth’s grave in Suquamish, with lunch at a church there, then proceed to Winslow Green.

“This is a group of people exercising freedom of speech in the tradition of this country, to speak out when we feel our government is not being forthright with us,” Weinstock said. “It’s our patriotic duty, that’s how I feel about it.”

A counter-demonstration in support of American troops is said to be planned for the same time, but more information was not available.

Weinstock said he hoped the divisions between the two groups could be bridged.

“Just to be clear, this is in support of our troops as well,” he said. “We support our troops by saying, let’s work with the international community. In the long run, that should work in their favor as well as everybody else’s.”

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