People for Peace rally symbolic of Guam's voice

The mounting anxiety this past week over the North Korean missile threat sparked an emotional rally for peace.  Dozens gathered at the Chief Quipuha statue, while hundreds of passersby signaled their support with honks of their car horns.

The rally was held on the eve of the possible attack. Organized by Independence for Guahan and other groups, it was also meant to draw attention to the people of the land, the Chamorros.  "When you talk about Guam, you're talking about our children, our families and our home," explained Therese Terlaje, vice speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature. "And that's us - so for all of our families, I think everybody should know that, and I'm hoping that the world leaders can have some influence to bring peace for Guam and for all of us."

Terlaje had made an impassioned plea to cut short legislative session on this day so that lawmakers could attend the rally.  University of Guam professor Dr. Michael Bevacqua said, "Our purpose now at a moment like this is when the world turns its attention to us that they don't see us as just a military base, that they don't see us as just sort of victims of circumstance, but that they see us as people who have been asking for a long time for a chance at determining our destiny."

Supporter Rebecca Garretson said she showed up after only recently learning of the struggle for Chamorro self-determination, telling KUAM News, "I feel a certain responsibility to these histories, these lands, these people as a person who's not from here. And so I stand in solidarity with the Chamorro. I stand in solidarity for independence, but also self-determination, generally."

And Sabina Perez, who heads another group, Prutehi Litekyan, which hopes to block a live fire training range at Ritidian Point on Andersen Air Force Base, said their cause is synonymous with the cause for peace. "We believe that the military presence here is actually increasing the visibility as a target, of Guam as a target and I don't see the relocation of US Marines coming here as increasing our security," she said.