In December, 2002, Time Magazine did a feature story on voices against the war. PeaceRoots activist and More Than Warmth founder Judy meeker was one of 5 people that were profiled.

December 16, 2002
The Convert - Judy Meeker, 48
LIKE MANY AMERICANS, Judith Meeker felt her life change as soon as she heard about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But she never guessed that one year later it would lead her to spend two rainy days fasting in front of the White House in protest against the president's threat to attack Iraq. Meeker worries about terrorism, and she thinks anti-American anger will only increase if the U.S. tries to remove Saddam with military force. 'I've been wondering for months now how we went from al-Quaeda to Iraq,' she says. 'I don't disagree that Saddam has done horrible things, but we need to look at the things we've done also.'

For Meeker, the war on terrorism has awakened a dormant activist spirit. She protested against the Vietnam War and marched against apartheid, but in recent years she has devoted her energies to raising her four children and teaching fourth grade in Brentwood, Tenn. After Sept. 11, disturbed by anti-Muslim sentiments voiced by her students, she assigned her class to make a quilt to send to the children of Afghanistan. The idea was so popular that meeker quit her teaching job, and founded More Than Warmth, a nonprofit group that has sent 50 quilts to war zones around the world.

Meekers's new vocation brought her into contact with relief workers in Iraq, who told her of the dismal conditions of Iraqi civilians under the weight of U.N. sanctions. She believes that western policies have exacerbated the suffering. Her opposition to war with Iraq has taken her to Washington, Nashville and Macon, GA. Last month she joined women from across the US in their vigil in Washington's Lafayette Park. For two days they subsisted only on coffee and took cover from the cold and rain under flimsy plastic tarps. Meeker says she intends to return to fast again.

For more information, visit: www.morethanwarmth.org