Diary of a First Time Demonstrator

by Virginia Andreoff Evans

August, 2001

Day 1:
A demonstration was planned for Thursday, August 9, 2001, in Washington, DC, and had been announced at the Ilinden Picnic. I attended a meeting at St. Clements Church in Toronto to find out details. The President of St. Clements was the spokesman who informed us about the plans for the trip. He promptly called the Macedonian media (radio and television programs) to publicize the event. However, at the Ilinden Picnic, it was decided not to take commitments (read "money") for the demonstration. We found out that the bus would accommodate 55 people, cost $4,000 and the return ticket was $75.00. I thought it a small price to pay for voicing our concerns about what was happening in Macedonia, and what was being done to the country by NLA terrorists.

Because of differing opinions as to the wisdom of going to Washington, someone observed that the number of factions at the meeting reflected the same kind of thing that went on in Macedonia. "Everyone pulling every which way, instead of pulling in the same direction." Copies of articles which appeared in the Toronto Sun by columnist, Peter Worthington, Another Balkan Pot Set to Boil Over, as well as one by James Bissett, the former Ambassador to Yugoslavia, We Created a Monster! were circulated at the meeting. Bissett's article was well researched and both Worthington and Bissett are welcome allies.

Opinions were flying back and forth, but money was not, with about 150 people in attendance, expressing their points of view, but only 20 made the necessary pledge. The organizers were hopeful that word-of-mouth would spread the news.
I have never attended a demonstration of this magnitude before. As a Canadian of Macedonian descent, we tend to gather where Canadians gather, and very few first-generation Canadians were in attendance at the meeting. I decided to commit, because it was my way of saying, "enough is enough." We have a little corner of the world that is designated Macedonia. People living there are from diverse ethnic groups - Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Roma, Bulgarian and Serb -- they live in Macedonia, speak Macedonian but are free to speak their own language. Albanians, as the most active minority have achieved language rights in schools, representation in parliament and now their own university. This is a highly significant concession in a country as small and economically fragile as Macedonia.

The line must be drawn in the sand and Macedonians have to stand up and say "no more." Peter Worthington had the right idea when he said we should be concentrating on what is good for Macedonia. I was born in Canada, but I need to know that there is a place in the world that acknowledges my heritage and language and the right to speak it. Perhaps I was making a statement that my parents never had the right to make, as they emigrated from Northern Greece.

I am not particularly political, but just declaring myself of Macedonian descent has become a political statement. I am glad I have that right as a Canadian.

Day 2:
On e-mail, bright and early, I sent off information to all and sundry. I am embarrassed that Australia and other parts of the world where Macedonians reside seem to have reacted more instantly to the situation. The suggestion last night that we should have had more time to prepare; (It is one day off work. The question is: can you make it or not?) or that we should be demonstrating in front the US Embassy in Washington or on University Avenue in Toronto and not going to Washington. My belief has always been, whenever I have complained in the past, to go to the top. And Washington is the top! They don't make decisions on University Avenue, but they do in the White House. A large number of Macedonians in Washington would make a major statement.

The decisions are made at NATO about what happens in Macedonia. Perhaps they don't remember what Macedonia did for the Kosovo refugees, all 400,000 of them. We must remember that an influx of such numbers was a destabilizing event. Just imagine 16% of say 30 million, approximately the population of Canada, suddenly showed up at our borders. That is 4, 800,000 refugees! And Macedonians took them into their country, in spite of their own economic situation. We are there to remind them of what this meant to Macedonia!

(My daughter wants to come along. I am looking forward to it!)

The Bus and Beyond
We arrived before six o'clock in the parking lot of the church, as we were scheduled to leave by 6:30 p.m. After much hemming and hawing, and checking of names and being seated and unseated, we were informed that we would not be leaving until 8:00 p.m. So much for Macedonian promptness! The bus unfortunately was not full. Pity, since the Toronto Diaspora is the home of the largest population of Macedonians in North America. However, we left with spirits high. There were first and second generation Canadians, immigrants from the Republic, as well as descendants of Aegean Macedonians, a priest, and a student activist who had been to Quebec City's anti-globalization demonstration. We all had our own reasons for being there.

As the evening wore on, we were entertained with Macedonian CD's and Father Jovan Boseovski, who thoughtfully brought along a couple of videos for us to view. Although many of us had seen Before the Rain years ago, we decided that it was very prophetic, especially since we were now driving to Washington about the NLA terrorists and what was happening in Macedonia. However, the film also makes the point that terrorists and irrational, crazy people with guns can come in many stripes, both Macedonian and Albanian. There was a lively discussion afterwards that continued into the night.

The Main Event
We finally arrived in Washington, D. C., at 6:00 a.m. and were literally dumped from the bus in front of the State Department Building. We wrongly assumed we would have access to the bus. As a result, we had to carry everything we might need for the day and decide what we might need in two minutes. It was going to be a scorcher, and water would be a grave concern. We found the cafeteria in the Natural Science Building across the street would welcome us and we all trooped in to wash up and refresh ourselves with a good breakfast. When the bus dropped us off, unceremoniously on the street, there was a discussion about the signs that had been prepared, and it was decided not to take them. The people scattered after breakfast, each to their own devices, such as seeing relatives and the sights of Washington.

We returned to be faced with a "massive" gathering, in front of the Department of State on "C" Avenue. The demonstration would begin after the delegation of seven Macedonian Americans, which included Professor Nestor Oginar, ended their meeting with the deputy Secretary of State, Richard L. Armitage at 11:00 a.m. We were to march to the White House afterwards! It was truly a glorious sight, seeing hundreds upon hundreds of people that supported the Macedonian cause. There were kids wearing T-shirts and hats with "Macedonia", signs with slogans, chanting and policemen on motorcycles and on foot, and lots and lots of policemen, who made sure that we kept to our route and did not stray.

Since it was approaching the height of heat at noon, and we had just finished a brisk walk, water was a necessity. We were unable to re-access the Natural Science building, as they no doubt were concerned about an influx of demonstrators using their premises to cool themselves. (Toronto opened up its public buildings for just that purpose in our heat emergency.) They would not allow anyone in under any circumstances. Water was available from street vendors about a couple of blocks away. It was a seller's market We had water on the bus, but it was now lost to us.

We proudly joined the crowd as I spoke to people in the march and discovered there were four buses from Detroit, about ninety folks from New Jersey, and various numbers that arrived via airplane and car from New York, Chicago, Fort Wayne, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Columbus, Washington and Skopje, Macedonia. I took the opportunity, along with the kids, to run through any sprinklers that happened to be watering the plush grasses in front of government buildings.

I spoke to people as to why they were there, especially the young, because therein lies our future, and was very impressed with their commitment, under the most extreme circumstances. When young kids were asked where they were from, they answered "Macedonia", proudly. When I identified myself as Macedonian, they told me the name of the city they were from. Many had traveled as far and even further than we had from Toronto, and many were first, second or third generation Americans and/or Canadians. Others had been former citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, and knew the dangers presented with the terrorist activities of the NLA extremists.

A representative of Lyndon LaRouche, Democrat, who has started his campaign for the Presidency in 2004, had set up a table near the start of the march. LaRouche has been a supporter of finding a solution for the Macedonian situation, according to an article in the magazine handed to me called "'Balkan Wars Precede World Wars,' LaRouche Tells Macedonians." He seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the predicament Macedonia faces and was aware of the ramifications of NATO 's actions.

We had no Canadian flag, unfortunately, to show that there were Canadians of Macedonian descent demonstrating. Our group was dispersed. We were part of the crowd, and there was little opportunity to take collective pictures of their activism. At least someone in our group had the foresight to provide and carry his own Macedonian flag: Angelo is always a popular guy at any Macedonian demonstration.

CNN and other news services were present, in front of the White House. The police were ever vigilant to make sure we didn't get too close, for instance on the sidewalk in front of the White House. We milled around for about 20 minutes or so while Professor Nestor Oginar spoke to CNN and other media. Apparently there was supposed to be an improvised mass conducted for those that have given the ultimate sacrifice, which somehow I must have missed. There were a number of the participants that had black ribbons on to designate that someone in their family had died in Macedonia.

Since President Bush was not in residence, our demonstration became a media event, with Professor Oginar as the designated spokesman. We were very fortunate to have someone of his calibre, as he is articulate in both Macedonian and English. He is living these awful events as his family is from Tetovo and had been specifically targeted by the NLA.

We dispersed to try and find a place to eat and sightsee for the time left before the bus was scheduled to leave, which was about 5:30 p.m. Wonder of wonders, we left at 5:15 p.m. Somehow I thought our trip back to Toronto would be shorter! There was no problem at the border and we arrived at the church parking lot at 5:00 a.m.
The lack of sleep both ways did not make the actual trip fun and enjoyable. What made it for me was the commitment of all the people collectively on the march, and the fact that they had made a considerable effort to attend. You might say that those at the Rally in Washington "put their money where their mouth was". There are some people who just talk, but do not walk the walk. Of course, this is not the only way, and certainly some may argue, may not be the most effective way, but for others it is their way to participate actively, and make "one small step for Macedonia", if I can paraphrase.

All in all, the involvement in Washington and the act of participating was worth it. The greater purpose was achieved, by being part of the event-in whatever total number of attendees one wants to report--on the hottest day of the year. The fact that we didn't all pass out is a compliment to the Macedonian resilience, constitution and ability to survive.

These are merely my personal observations and reflections of what I experienced. Others had different experiences. I was part of a demonstration that went to the top of the food chain!

Would I do this again? It's too soon to ask. But now that I have done it once...

Virginia Andreoff Evans