Antiwar Movement Marks 3rd Anniversary of War

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Antiwar Movement Marks 3rd Anniversary of War

Over this past week, tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S., and
thousands more around the world, turned out to mark the 3rd anniversary of
the war in Iraq. In town squares and parks, on street corners and bridges,
in front of legislators' offices and military recruiting stations all over
the country, people stood up for peace -- and to make the war's third
anniversary its last anniversary. There were more than 600 events, held in
all 50 states.

Many communities held several educational and action-oriented events
throughout the week, often culminating in a march, demonstration or vigil.
While some organizers reported smaller turnouts than in years past, many
groups also reported seeing a lot of new faces and recruiting new members.
Coverage by local and national media was generally better than in the past.

The breadth and variety of the local events is a tremendous achievement,
and bodes well for building grassroots momentum as we head toward the
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=5&url=http://www.april29.org/>April
29 mass mobilization in NYC and the November Congressional elections. Here
are a few of the many highlights
(<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=6&url=http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3215>you
can find more reports on 3rd anniversary events on our website):

<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=7&url=http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/>More
than 200 veterans and survivors of Hurricane Katrina marched from Mobile to
New Orleans to make the connection between the destruction in Iraq and the
neglect and need at home. Thousands gathered in New Orleans' Armstrong Park
to welcome the marchers; afterward, participants helped repair a veteran's
home that had been damaged by the storm.
The 541-mile
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=8&url=http://guerreroazteca.org/>Peregrinacion
por La Paz (March for Peace), led by Iraq vet Camilo Mejia, Fernando Suarez
Del Solar, the father of one of the first U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, and
Iraq war resisters Pablo Paredes and Aidan Delgado, is still underway,
spreading the word about the realities of war from Tijuana to San
Francisco. The journey will culminate in San Francisco on March 27 with a
mass blood drive for civilians and coalition forces in Iraq.
In Washington, DC, an organizer of the
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=9&url=http://globalcalliraq.org/en/call>National
Coalition for Nonviolent Resistance event reports, "Some 200 antiwar
activists gathered near the Lincoln Memorial. ... [W]e conducted a solemn
and somber march across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the LBJ Grove.
There four speakers condemned the war: Cindy Sheehan; Mike Ferner, fasting
since February 15; Laura Costas, Military Families Speak Out; and Michael
Berg, whose civilian son Nick was killed in Iraq. We then marched with a
commemorative coffin towards the Pentagon, until we encountered a
five-foot-high steel barrier. Since we intended to deliver the coffin to
Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld, fifty-one of us climbed over or went
under the barrier. We were taken into custody and charged with 'failure to
obey a lawful order.' ... At a post-arrest gathering, the activists
reflected on the powerful emotional tone of the March on the Pentagon and
started strategizing about future actions. Many of the actions will take
place in local communities, but there was also a sense of urgency to
continue coming together for mass resistance."
Chicago, IL: More than 100 religious, community and labor organizations
built
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=10&url=http://www.chicagoactions.org/>adiverse
coalition, which drew 7,000-10,000 protestors from neighborhoods all over
the city and surrounding suburbs, culminating in a rally and a triumphant
march down Michigan Avenue.
One other note from Illinois: After a five-month campaign by AWARE
(Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort) of Urbana/Champaign, the Urbana City Council
passed a resolution on March 20 to bring the US military home from Iraq and
to end US occupation.
New York, NY: Nineteen people were arrested on March 19 for blocking
traffic when they attempted to read the names of Iraqi civilians killed
during the war outside the Times Square military recruiting station. The
demonstration was part of the
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=11&url=http://www.warresisters.org/>War
Resisters League march, which drew approximately 400 protestors who walked
in silence, accompanied by a gong and drums, carrying signs, cardboard
coffins and pictures of war victims.
The Idaho Peace Coalition handed out 500
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=12&url=http://www.unitedforpeace.org/receipts>'receipts'
from the Department of Defense for the $225.6 billion taxpayers have been
forced to spend on the war: "Beautiful sunshine warmed the day for over 500
folks who participated in the Idaho Peace Coalition's War Buck Brigade on
Sunday. A human line was formed between the offices of the two Idaho
congressmen and the Idaho Statehouse. Uncle Sam doled out $743 million
dollars (Idaho's share of the cost) outside the offices and the
participants handed the money down the line to the Iraq War trash can at
the Idaho Statehouse."
From a report from Las Cruces, New Mexico: “Around 100 diverse people
gathered to be a presence for peace and for an end to the Iraq War. One
family had made gorgeous signs and had their poodle adorned with a ‘poodles
for peace’ sign, along with others that had signs like ‘Kids Want Peace’
and ‘Who would Jesus bomb?’ and ‘End the War Begin the Peace.’
Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Moms, Dads, kids, babies, drummers, musicians,
teachers, a Buddhist Priest and others were together in thought and prayer
and presence. The majority of people driving by the busy intersection by
the local post office and City Hall honked in agreement and waved peace
signs and gave friendly nods. Some did disagree, but there was no incident.”
The war and occupation in Iraq is now in its 4th year. Hard to imagine, but
true. Even in the face of the horror of this war, the actions around the
country this past week give us grounds for hope.

It's now year four -- time to end the war! Bring all our troops home now!


UFPJ Needs Your Financial Support!
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<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=13&url=http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate>http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate
today.

APRIL 29
New York City
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=97164225&url_num=14&url=http://www.april29.org/>March
for Peace, Justice, and Democracy
End the war in Iraq -- bring the troops home!
Unite for change -- let's turn our country around!


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