City Beat: A peace tree in Santa Monica gets a group hug and song
The Children’s Tree of Life in Santa Monica’s Palisades Park got off to a rough start after it was planted 30 years ago.
In its first years of life just north of the Santa Monica Pier, it was twice destroyed by vandals and once accidentally hit by a city maintenance vehicle.
The fourth New Zealand Christmas Tree to be planted in front of the small plaque now stands tall and strong. This week, on Earth Day, people gathered around it to drum and sing and commune. The event was organized by activist Jerry Rubin, who married his wife, Marissa, in June 1983.
It ended in a group tree hug.
Read my latest City Beat about Jerry Rubin and the peace tree here.
And keep reading to check out the visual reporter’s notebook -- in photos and video -- that I sent out on Twitter:
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Email ideas for future City Beats to nita.lelyveld@latimes.com
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