Coalition for Peace

The Nebraska Coalition for Peace unites people seeking to promote peace and oppose the war in Iraq.

Weekly Peace Vigil

Coalition for Peace holds a weekly Peace Vigil every Wednesday, rain or shine, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Federal Building, 16th and O Streets.

All are welcome to participate in this witness for peace which receives strong support from those passing by. Bring a sign or use one provided by the Coalition.

View Lisa Janssen's black and white vigil photographs.

One hour to say her peace

    A year ago, in April of 2007, I learned that my son, Ryan, was going to be deployed to Iraq. It was this mother’s worst nightmare, and it has been a very long and difficult year.
    If I am not expecting anyone and my doorbell rings, I have a moment of panic. Each time I come around the corner of my block, I have anxiety and dread. What if there is a military car sitting in front of my house with the news that the families of every soldier dread? When I read the paper about U.S. soldiers who have died, I rush through the article to see where they were and compare it with my map of Iraq and where I think Ryan is currently stationed.
    About six months into Ryan’s deployment I learned that Nebraskans for Peace sponsors a peace vigil each Wednesday evening at 16th and O streets.
    I had come to the conclusion that my government did not care about my opinion or the opinions of more than 65 percent of the citizens of our country in regard to the war in Iraq.
    We had gone into this war for reasons that many of us didn’t understand. Weapons of mass destruction? Not true. To overthrow a dictator?  Who knows? Revenge? Probably. Oil? Absolutely. But whatever the real reasons may be, the majority of Americans do not support this war. And Washington is not listening.
    So I found one hour each week when I wasn’t pleading with God. One hour on Wednesday evenings when I could stand in front of the Federal Building with a picture of my son, Ryan, and a “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home” sign and could just let other mothers, other citizens, other voters see one of the many reasons we should end this war.
    In some respects the surge may have helped with the violence in Iraq. But what has the cost been to the United States in lives lost (52 U.S. soldiers died just in April), family stress and pain and money spent, taking us deeper and deeper into debt?
    If I can’t do anything else to bring this war to an end, at least I can spend one hour each week letting those driving down O Street know how I feel. Maybe if we keep at it, someone in Washington will listen. -   Carol Finn, Lincoln

Keep in Touch

The Coalition for Peace has two e-mail listservs:

CFP List is for announcements and discussions directly related to the organization of the group's work. It focuses on action. To subscribe email:

CFP Discussion is for general discussions and broader topics relating to the aims of the Coalition and perspectives of individual Coalition activists. To subscribe email: