DIANA NOMAD: ACTIVIST

DIANA NOMAD

Won the Right to Drum in Lafayette (Peace) Park

In January 1991, Diana Nomad came to Washington DC from Missouri, where she hosted a progressive radio talk show. She brought with her a prayer drum, and prayerfully drummed and chanted "Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo (All life is Sacred) for the duration of the Gulf War, sometimes alone, often with the many others who were drawn to Lafayette Park to drum against the war.

Diana was arrested (as were a number of others), and convicted of exceeding 60-decibels in a national park. This regulation had been written to protect wildlife in National Parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite. She appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, ruling that a 60-decibel sound limitation in Lafayette Park was not what the regulation had been designed for.

This was a very important decision, for it means that drumming is a legitimate form of protest. This is good, because it is also extremely effective.

Diana returned to Missouri, leaving a big hole in the vigilers' lives. Now she has gone even further. On May 13, 1998 Heaven rejoiced to receive her, but her friends miss her still.

City Paper article 2/1/91

Court Case re Drum:
Trial Transcript 4/16/91 -- Judge Royce Lamberth Order 6/18/91
Release to Return Home 6/91
Nomad Appeal Brief 9/91 -- Appeals Court Decision 6/30/92
Published Opinion 968 F2d 86

Police Assault on Diana and Friends:
Witchita Beacon article 3/10/91
Diana Nomad Declaration re 2/24/91 arrest of Brett Hamrick
Declaration of Brett Hamrick -- Declaration of Craig Kravitz

Poetry

We are sorry to tell you that activist Diana Nomad Cloud died in Missouri on May 13, 1998, at 10:10 p.m. from a massive brain tumor, lung and probably liver cancer as well. Her husband Tom Cloud was with her, and it was I understand a moving experience. Services were Friday, May 15, 1998 at the Parker Funeral Home in Columbia, Missouri from 6 to 8 pm with Peter Noce officiating. We all mourn her loss.

Tom Cloud wrote a few weeks before her death, "One of the Great Ones stands at the Threshold. Celebrate her, and pray for her. If you weep, weep for we who are left, for she is at peace with the process."

Regrets to Tom Cloud