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Camas Friends Church leads weekly peace protests in Clark County
The Camas Quaker congregation says the protests are open to all peace concerns, from immigration to international conflict.
By Rodric Hurdle-Bradford | For FāVS News
Main Points
CAMAS, Washington — At a time when global military conflict is at its highest level since World War II, a Quaker church in Camas, Washington, is using the time as an opportunity to remind the public of the importance of leading with “peace first” as a strategy, and not defaulting to stacking military operations as the only solution with foreign adversaries or immigration enforcement.
Camas Friends Church has been hosting a weekly protest for peace on Wednesdays since February, with the last one being May 27 before a summer break and resuming on Sept. 2.
“The intention of our peaceful protests we started in February was to create a space for all peace concerns,” said Pastor Matt Boswell of Camas Friends Church. “We have encouraged people to share through signage whatever message feels timely. The focus on immigration has remained steady, it is a problem that has not gone away, even if the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department is not getting as much media attention at the moment due to all the other international crises that are occurring.”
A protest with a purpose
The congregation has widely thrown its support behind the protests, which are hosted by the church’s Peace and Social Concerns committee.
“Some of us have been showing up at the ICE facility in downtown Portland for months with Portland-based Quakers, but we wanted to do something for our local population,” said Boswell. “Our small church does a lot to help the community, particularly through our laundry ministry and our food pantry. We believe in the value of direct care and the need for social and systemic change. This is one way we can participate in that needed widespread change.”
The peaceful protests began in February after the Peace and Social Concerns committee approved the event, and the news of a protest of this type in Camas, brought out 40 to 50 participants during the initial weeks. For the long-term, the protests average between seven to 10 people every week, including a high turnover of participants; which is what excites Boswell.
“The number has obviously dropped from when we first started, but it’s also still very exciting because every week we get new people that come in and participate from all over the Pacific Northwest who want to volunteer their time to help us spread our message for peace and peace first,” said Boswell. “Quakers arose out of an anti-authoritarian, egalitarian and nonviolent spirit in 17th century England, seeking to help grow a community and world where everyone is free, cherished, safe and treated as a full participant, regardless of identity marker.”
A path with the police
Boswell informed the Camas Police Department about his planned weekly protests to help best protect the protestors and the community. There have been no issues, and Boswell believes the early notification eased a lot of tension because he led with the importance of public safety in his communications with the department.
Boswell describes the department’s response as “surprisingly reassuring,” and stated he feels that the Camas Police Department understands that the Camas Church of Friends is all about peace first and foremost.
“I suppose they are less worried about us than how people might respond to us,” said Boswell. “Truthfully, we have found in these recent months that people are a little more gracious in person than they are on social media.”
Jay Johnson, a longtime Camas resident, has seen the protesters during his work commute, and has grown accustomed to seeing the weekly demonstration.
“This place has grown and people are going to have different opinions,” said Johnson. “As long as everything is done peacefully, that is what is the most important aspect in all of this. This place is just going to continue to grow so we need to set the precedent that all protests will be peaceful with a peaceful response.”
Putting a pause on the protests
With the summers of the Portland metropolitan area only getting hotter and hotter, Boswell and the Camas Church of Friends are taking a summer break from the weekly protests. The group will reconvene on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m. for the weekly peaceful protests.
“The health and well-being of our volunteers is always the top priority,” said Boswell. “I am a little surprised people have not been more interested in dialogue, beyond the occasional middle-finger or thumbs-down. That might be a naïve hope, but it is a hope.”
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