Protesters rally on the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Rose Avenue during Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution's (CRAAP) Santa Monica Airport Peace and Quiet Vigil on Monday, September 20, 2010
The public vigil is being held to coincide with the temporary closure of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) for runway maintenance, when all aircraft operations will cease for four full days starting 9:00 PM, Sunday, September 19 through 7:00 AM, Friday, September 23.
The event is being sponsored by Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP).
CRAAP Cofounder and Director, Martin Rubin says, “We want to give residents in the neighborhoods surrounding Santa Monica Airport the opportunity to celebrate the peace that is possible when we’re free of airport pollution and noise. We want residents to imagine a future for the Westside where peace, quiet and cleaner air is possible, not just for a few days, but permanently.”
Rubin says that SMO has impacted the lives of Westside residents for decades, and that residents surrounding the airport have for years complained about noise the airport generates, and more recently about safety hazards, toxic jet pollution and lead pollution from piston aircraft.
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