History

                 In the fall of 2002 people joined peace vigils, marches and rallies all over the world in fierce opposition to possible preemptive U.S. war on Iraq. In Everett, Amy Strandell, Janis Tullis and Lorna Frey organized an afternoon vigil on Pacific Ave. between Wetmore and Colby. On the first Friday in Oct., some 3 dozen people came out with signs and flags—American flags, the United Nation flags, and the Earth flag. We continued weekly, also gathering at 41st and Rucker and at the Everett Mall.

             We called ourselves Snohomish County residents interested in being a public presence for peace, and standing for the  path of international cooperation and diplomacy rather than war.

             In early December, vigilers Lorna Frey, David Lavra and Mark Nagel attended the Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War (SNOW) regional organizing meeting at Garfield High School in Seattle, meeting with other local peace advocates. We set two immediate goals: organizing Saturday freeway overpass picketing and holding a community peace potluck . We did both.

             In those early Saturdays of 2003, there was a peace presence on I-5 from Olympia to Bellingham. We took care of South Everett to Marysville.

             In January , upwards of 125 people attended our first Community Peace Potluck at the First Congregational Church in Everett. Out of that networking grew additional peace vigils in Monroe and Snohomish.

             In the intervening years, since our founding in 2002. Everett Peace Action has continued to be a voice for peace in Snohomish County,  planning various events and coordinating with other groups such as Bike4Peace, Veterans for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against the War.