In remembrance of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki we chalked outlines of bodies on the sidewalks in Tempe, Phoenix, and Mesa.

About the Shadow Project:

On 6th August 1945, one atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. An area of thirteen square kilometers was reduced to ashes by the blast and subsequent fire. 200,000 people died, tens of thousands instantly, tens of thousand dying slowly from radiation poisoning. Three days later a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, with similar results. People are still dying from those bombs.

When the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, those near the center of the explosion were instantly vaporized, leaving behind only their 'shadows' etched on pavements or walls. The shadow project uses the images of these innocent victims to provide a solemn memorial to help people understand the destruction of human life through the use if nuclear weapons, and in the hope that these weapons will never again be used.

Tuesday night 5 of us working on the Shadow Project were issued
citations for "graffiti" after stenciling figures on the City
Building sidewalk and stairs in Mesa. For those of us who vigil
regularly at the Mesa Library (WIB) this came as no suprise. We have
known for some time that we have merely been tolerated there.
Without support from Eleanor of ACLU I doubt we would have even
been tolerated. I highly suspect that last night's citations are
politically connected to the Wed. WIB vigil's, but of course that
could never be proven. Mitch was there and did a good job mediating
(and was also given a citation) and the group which included WIB
and/or AAPJ members was cohesive and rock strong.

On August 8, the charges against the five were dropped. According to Steve Stahl with the Mesa Police, and according to Marty Leiberman (the lead attorney who volunteered to represent us) the charges will officially be dropped on Monday and we will all be notified. We won't need to go to court. (Steve Stahl told me that if we have not received notification in writing by Wednesday to call him and he'll see that we get it.)

A small (but significant victory) for civil liberties!

Tempe city had washed off all our figures by yesterday morning, as had the ASU campus groundskeepers... sort of made me sad to see all our work washed away by morning... when it was timed to be seen by many. Saw the chalk figures near the Phoenix Court House and hope others lasted longer than they did in the suburbs (Tempe and Mesa)!!

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