• All Out for Anti-War Actions!
• Vigorously Oppose U.S. War Hysteria
• Anti-war Forces Call for National and Local Actions
• Local Actions Across the Country
• Jam Up the War Machine
• End the Occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine! Stop the Government’s War on Immigrants!
• Chicago Activists Score Win Against Daley Administration Over Right to March
• Bring All Our Troops Home From Iraq Now!
• Veterans Say Leaving 50,000 Troops in Iraq is No “Withdrawal”
• I Am the Anti-war Movement
•
G20 Actions Against War
• Protest at London G20 Summit
Sixth Anniversary of Iraq Invasion
All Out for Anti-War Actions!
Local and national actions are being organized all across the country to mark the sixth anniversary of opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Everywhere the demands of the people are clear and firm: End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Now! Occupation is a Crime! The many and varied actions are emphasizing that Now Means Now! In city after city, in small towns and on campuses, from the south, north, west and east, workers, women, youth, veterans and military families, religious and pacifist organizations, political and rights organizations, all are standing as one to condemn U.S. occupations and aggression and demand All U.S. Troops Home Now.
The internationalist spirit growing in the anti-war movement can be seen in the demands for the U.S. to pay reparations for its crimes worldwide, first of all to Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Korea, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico — wherever U.S. aggression and occupations have harmed the peoples.
Defending Palestine is a key part of many of the actions. People are also alert to the effort by the U.S. to now use -“humanitarian aid” in Palestine as a means to strengthen the occupation and deny Palestinians their rights. So people are organizing to deliver aid themselves while demanding that the U.S. government pay for its crimes now, with no strings attached.
Many are also demanding that the U.S. contribute to a sustainable and peaceful economy worldwide. The war budget and war economy are wrecking havoc, in the world and at home, or as one action emphasizes, “It’s the war economy, honey.” Demanding an end to the war economy and refusing to accept a war budget are part of the peoples’ anti-war alternative. The stands being taken show that Americans want an anti-war government that contributes to peace and progress in the world and are fighting to bring it about, through these many actions, running anti-war candidates, and organizing to defend the rights of all. The U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization salutes the many organizations, coalitions, campus groups and families taking their stand and urges all to step up the efforts to bring All U.S. Troops Home Now!
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Vigorously Oppose U.S. War Hysteria
The war drive of U.S. imperialism is increasingly showing itself in stepped up war hysteria. In just the past few weeks the U.S. has targeted the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with brutal war games with unprecedented numbers of troops, planes and ships in and around the Korean peninsula. Every indication is that a pre-emptive attack is being prepared, with the U.S. saying the games are for “combat readiness.” At the same time, the U.S. threatened China with its spy ships. The bombings against Pakistan are increasing as are efforts to destabilize the country. The U.S. is also gathering more troops along the border with Mexico in preparation for a possible invasion there, in the name of the “drug war.” Adding to the hysteria, the military claims Mexico and Pakistan are the world’s “two most critical states in danger of failing.” Like the drug war, this is a justification for open U.S. military intervention.
Everywhere, the stand of the U.S. is for use of force to address any problem, and to use hysteria and “shock and awe” displays of military might to try and intimidate the peoples and force them to submit. We say NO! Oppose this war hysteria!
The war hysteria, which is increasing and broadening in scope, indicates that the U.S. war drive is increasing and drawing dangerously close to triggering a much broader war, whether in the Middle East or Asia. As war preparations and war funding increase, people are seeing the hope of change from the Barack Obama administration coming face to face with the empire -building of the U.S. rulers, and the war required for it. The “peace” candidate is now the war president. His budget has increased funding for the war machine, he has refused to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now, despite widespread popular demand for such actions, and indeed he supports the troop build up on the Korean peninsula and the border with Mexico. According to military officials, Obama is “exploring U.S. military capabilities” to “help Mexican forces.” Already, the U.S. provides drones capable of blowing up cars and assassinating their occupants, intelligence sharing and equipment of various kinds. Much like Colombia, the U.S. is instigating and organizing the drug wars, then using this as justification for military intervention.
The demands of the peoples and the requirements of modern society today are the end of use of force in solving problems. It is to enforce the verdict of the defeat of fascism that propaganda for war, including fomenting war hysteria is a crime against the peoples and must not stand.
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All U.S. Troops Home Now
Anti-war Forces Call for National and Local Actions
Anti-war organizations and coalitions on a local and national level are calling for numerous actions on the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Many denounced plans announced by President Barack Obama to keep an occupation force of up to 50,000 troops — plus countless civilian mercenaries — in Iraq indefinitely as well as immediately send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. Demonstrations, petitions, and demands to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring U.S. Troops Home now have already taken place and many more actions are planned for the period around the anniversary of the invasion, March 19.
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out are among the organizations of veterans and their families that are demanding the wars end now. The IVAW called Obama’s announcement “a plan for almost three more years of an unjustified military occupation that continues to claim the lives and livelihoods of our troops and innocent Iraqis.” It “does not include a timeline for removing the more than 150,000 private defense contractors and mercenaries still in Iraq, nor does [it] address the question of disallowing permanent military bases.” IVAW noted that President Barack Obama “says he understands service members have ‘the heaviest burden,’ but how is he alleviating that burden by removing troops from Iraq only to ask them to fight in an escalating occupation in Afghanistan? We must ensure that U.S. control of Iraq, which today is accomplished primarily through military force, is not maintained over the longer term through the use of more subtle legal, financial, economic or political means.” They affirmed that “The Iraqi people deserve the dignity of full sovereignty and control of their own nation” and that this requires “the immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq. This means withdrawing all military personnel, troops and defense contractors, closing all military bases, ceasing air operations, and removing American interests intent on controlling Iraqi oil resources.”
Veterans For Peace, (VFP) President Mike Ferner said that “Barack Obama became president in part because millions of voters were sick of these wars and wanted them stopped, period. Saying that only ‘non-combat’ troops will be left after 19 months is just sleight of hand so we can keep tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq and send thousands more to Afghanistan.” They are among the many anti-war organizations organizing local demonstrations across the country on March 19 (see p.10 for VFP actions). Cindy Sheehan, of Gold Star Mothers for Peace and anti-war candidate in the 2008 elections called on people to “Jam Up the War Machine!” She said, “The situation in the Middle East is worsening as is the U.S. economy. The wars and the downward spiral of the economy are inexorably linked.” She emphasized “The anti-war movement must not wait a minute longer or waver in our resolve for peace! We must end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!” She also expressed the spirit of the people for unity in action, calling on all to participate in the various actions called.
The World Can’t Wait Coalition has called on people to “Leave work and school to protest the sixth anniversary of the Iraq War on March 19. They are rallying people with the demands: U.S. Out of Iraq & Afghanistan! No Wars on Iran, Pakistan, Gaza! The world can’t wait!
United for Peace and Justice has also called for actions March 19, stating: “On March 19, 2003, the United States launched an illegal and immoral war against the people of Iraq. For six long years, our government lied, all the while human rights and the rule of law have been disregarded, the death toll has mounted, and massive destruction has left Iraq in ruins. The war has drained our national treasury while the profits of oil companies and war profiteers have soared.United For Peace and Justice calls on groups large and small in cities, towns and rural communities all across the country to take public action on the sixth anniversary of the war. We call for the war and occupation to end now and for all the troops and contractors to be brought home!”
Major national demonstrations against both wars have also been called for March 21 in Washington and on April 3-4 at Wall Street in New York City. Regional demonstrations on the West Coast and in the South are also planned for both weekends. Both involve broad coalitions and dozens of participating organizations. International Answer reports that under the banner the “Occupation is a Crime,” the March 21 action will march on the Pentagon and then will march to the nearby giant corporate offices of Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics and KBR (the former subsidiary of Halliburton). They report “There are 64 departure locations in 20 states bringing thousands of activists to Washington, D.C. Large numbers of students from across the country are mobilizing to join the demonstration. We will be carrying hundreds of coffins representing the victims of war from Iraq to Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Lebanon, Somalia, Yemen, and the U.S. GIs who have been killed.”
The demands of the March 21 march on the Pentagon and of the April 3-4 march on Wall Street include:
Bring All U.S. Troops Home Now!
End War and Occupation — In Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine!
Money For Human Needs, NOT War!
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Local Actions Across the Country
Below is a small sampling of some of the many local actions taking place to demand an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Now! The local actions are in addition to two main national rallies, March 21 at the Pentagon in DC, and April 4 on Wall Street, New York City. Listing is geographically, beginning in the south.
March 19: End the War and Occupations Now!
Tulsa, Oklahoma
On March 19, 2003, the United States launched an illegal and immoral war against the people of Iraq. For six long years, our government lied, all the while human rights and the rule of law have been disregarded, the death toll has mounted, and massive destruction has left Iraq in ruins. The war has drained our national treasury while the profits of oil companies and war profiteers have soared. We call for the war and occupation to end now and for all the troops and contractors to be brought home! Join us as we demonstrate for Healthcare not Warfare, and It’s the War Economy, honey!
Sponsored by: Tulsa Peace Fellowship • www.tulsapeacefellowship.org
March 21: Rally for a Peaceful, Nonviolent World
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Women’s Action for a New Direction (WAND) and the Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice (ACPJ) are organizing a rally to mark the 6th anniversary of the Iraq war. We will rally by the seawall at the site of the Beacon of Peace and Hope that WAND is sponsoring at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, by the river in North Little Rock.
March 19: Augusta Says Bring Troops Home Now! Rally at Democratic Party HQ
Augusta, Georgia
The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Peace Alliance will hold a vigil at the Jaguar Student Activities Center (outdoors to the west side of the building). Residents from the area are invited to join in publicly demanding a rapid withdrawal of military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. Literature with information about local peace activities, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and alternatives to military enlistment will be available.
Sponsored by: Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Peace Alliance • csrapeace.org
March 18: Six Years Too Many
Teaneck, New Jersey
Join the Bergen Peace and Justice Coalition, Military Families Speak Out - Bergen County, Veterans for Peace Chapter 21, and Teaneck Peace and Justice Coalition for a special vigil — part of a Local Week of Action on the Sixth Anniversary of the War in Iraq — at the National Guard Armory.
www.bergenjustice.net
March 19: Yes We Can End War
Rutland, Vermont
Vigil to mark the beginning of the 7th year of opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq and to express our commitment to a peaceful diplomatic strategy in Afghanistan, not an escalation of troops and war.
March 17: Poetry Speaks to Power
Farmington, Maine
A reading to invoke the great poetic tradition of witness, dissent, and transformation. Come together to hear the voices of politically engaged poets from a range of times and cultures.
Sponsored By: Beloit Poetry Journal University of Maine at Farmington Writers’ Guild
March 19: Creating a City for Peace: The Cost of War, the Price of Healing the Wounds
Columbus, Ohio
March to the Columbus City Hall. A Creating a City for Peace event will be held. Music, tabling, and panels on Health Care, Economic Justice, and Peace/Education will round out the evening.
Sponsored By: Central Ohio Peace Network Faith Communities United for Peace www.columbuspeacenetwork.org
March 19: 6 Years Too Many
Fort Wayne, Indiana
A rally and march calling for ending the occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine - No war with Iran!
Sponsored By: Fort Wayne for Peace, Fort Wayne Peace Action, Unitarians for Peace • www.fwagitator.org/march19
March 19: Stand for Peace in Iraq & Afghanistan: Yes We Can End the War!
East Lansing, Michigan
Stand For Peace in Iraq & Afghanistan — Invest in Diplomacy, Education, Health, & Green Jobs, Not War! Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors.
Sponsored By: Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) • www.glnawi.org
March 21: Yes We Can! End the Wars!
Columbia, Missouri
Stand for Peace! End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan! Mark the 6-year anniversary of the U.S. 2003 invasion of Iraq with a call to the Barack Obama administration to end Bush’s illegal, misguided wars. Hundreds of thousands have been killed. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent. Today we need real Change, and that means ending the wars, seeking peace and reconciliation and building real security through investing in our people and our economy, while supporting sustainable development and reconstruction around the world. Make your voice heard! Let President Obama and congress know you want peace now! Yes We Can! End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan! Yes We Can! Demand economic and social justice!
Sponsored By: Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, Instead of War • www.midmopeaceworks.org
March 21: Regional March and Rally to Bring the Troops Home NOW
Duluth, Minnesota
Protest in solidarity with the March 21 March on the Pentagon. On the 6th Anniversary of the criminal invasion of Iraq, the U.S. war machine continues its adventures in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan, and continues to funnel massive military aid to Israel for the slaughter of Palestinians. We say NO to timetables and other gimmicks that are false substitutes for real troop withdrawal. The time for change is NOW, the time to bring the troops home is NOW, the time to end U.S. imperialism is NOW.
Sponsored By: Northland Anti-War Coalition; UMD Students for Peace; Lake Superior Greens; Veterans for Peace Chapter 80; Grandmothers for Peace; Women in Black; Every Church a Peace Church; Socialist Action Duluth; Fathering Project Duluth; Free Speech Corner; Northstar Republic www.northlandantiwar.blogspot.com
March 21: Show ‘Em We Know It’s Not Over
Evergreen, Colorado
Walk with Evergreen Peace from the north side of The Lake at 11:00 or gather on the bridge at Hwy 73 & Hwy 74 at about 11:15. Bring your messages for ending the war and bringing our troops home.
Sponsored by: Evergreen Peace • www.evergreenpeace.org
March 21: 6th Anniversary Demonstration Against the War
Tacoma, Washington
March 19, 2009 will mark the sixth year of war in Iraq. The U.S. government has ignored public opinion and its democratic obligation to listen to the voice of its people. The U.S. government has refused to pull its military troops and contractors out of Iraq. The war has gone on six years too long. If you oppose the war and want US troops out of Iraq and back home in the States, if you want freedom from occupation and a chance at self-determination for the Iraqi people, you owe it to them to march in solidarity on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 12 noon in Tacoma, Washington.
Sponsored by: Progressive Organizations in Washington
March 15: March and Rally to Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad
Salem, Oregon
Across Oregon, peace and social justice groups are mobilizing to mark the 6th anniversary of the Iraq war and push state legislators to keep the Oregon National Guard home. Dozens of peace and social justice organizations across the state are gearing up for a big action in Salem to call for an end to the U.S. war in Iraq and to stop the spring deployment of the National Guard to Iraq.
Sponsored By: many organizations; for more information contact Peace & Justice Works • www.pjw.info
March 19: End the War! Vigil & Leafleting
Palo Alto, California
On the Sixth Anniversary of the Iraq War: Peace Vigil • Speakers • Action Leafleting. Our demands are:
Bring All the Troops Home Now
“Out of Iraq” Does Not Mean “Into Afghanistan”
Money for Human Needs, Not War
Sponsored by: Peninsula Peace and Justice Center • www.PeaceandJustice.org
March 21: End the Occupation Now
San Jose, California
Books Not Bombs! End the War and Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine! End the War on Immigrants Now!Join us at the Peace Crossroads —Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevards in San Jose.
Sponsored by: South Bay Mobilization, One Voice Students for Justice - DeAnza College Maiz www.southbaymobilization.org
March 19: Stop the War Event; March 21: Protest at Recruiting Center
Honolulu, Hawai’i
Event features live music, displays and tables, followed by a film showing of “FTA” (“FTA” was a popular saying during the Vietnam war meaning “F--- the Army”). The FTA tour played to more than 5,000 people in Honolulu in 1972. The person who introduced the show in 1972 is now a WCW activist. We have the poster for that show, along with some of the underground GI newspapers produced in Hawai`i in that period. These will be on display.
Saturday, March 21: Stop the War March from Atkinson/Ala Moana to the Kapiolani Blvd. Recruiting Station, where there will be a protest.
Sponsored by: World Can’t Wait, Hawai’i
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The situation in the Middle East is worsening, as is the U.S. economy. The wars and the downward spiral of the economy are inexorably linked and to save our jobs and homes, we must end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan! The anti-war movement must not wait a minute longer or waver in our resolve for peace!
Actions that you can do!
Let’s Jam up the War Machine!
Join legendary anti-war Musician, Country Joe McDonald, legendary Pentagon whistle-blower, Daniel Ellsberg: music acts, Joey Racano and Cool Hand Uke, with Cindy Sheehan on Thursday, March 19 (6th Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq) from 7-10pm at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland.
Voters for Peace
Take the Voters for Peace pledge and read timely information about U.S. foreign “policy” in the Middle East...pressure your Congressional representatives to blockade any additional troops to Afghanistan and for a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq. http://votersforpeace.us/index2.php
IVAW Winter Soldier At UC Berkeley On March 11
Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan features testimony from U.S. veterans who served in these occupations, giving an accurate account of what is happening day in and day out, on the ground and why they oppose the wars. http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier
World Can’t Wait
Join World Can’t Wait on Thursday, March 19 for nationwide protests. http://www.worldcantwait.net/
ANSWER Coalition
Join the ANSWER Coalition, Saturday, March 21 for nationwide protests. http://internationalanswer.org
Florida Mass March for Peace, Saturday, March 28
On Saturday, March 28 Patriots for Peace and Humanists for Peace will lead a mass march in Melbourne, Florida, calling for a transformation of America’s pro-war foreign policy away from militarism. The statewide mass march, endorsed by many Florida groups, is being held in solidarity with national protests on March 21 in Washington DC (ANSWER Coalition) and April 4 in New York City (United for Peace and Justice). www.humanistsforpeace.com
Listen to Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox. Every show is archived for free and on Sunday, March 15th, Cindy will chat with former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Country Joe McDonald. http://cindysheehanssoapbox.blogspot.com
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Chicago, March 14, 2009
End the Occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine! Stop the Government’s War on Immigrants!
While we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, our government is handing cash to bankers at home and pouring our tax dollars — a trillion-plus and counting — into foreign wars that murder, maim and violate peoples’ right to decide their own future.
The reality is that there is no “good” war – in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Our arms to Israel make their war our war, as well.
Decades of U.S. policies have imposed unequal trade agreements on the home countries of immigrants that destroy local economies — forcing people to move here to seek the living wages they can no longer earn at home. The new administration has continued the Bush regime’s policy toward immigrant workers, and is using the economic meltdown as a tool to recruit more immigrant, minority, and poor youth to fight rich men’s wars for oil and power.
Please join us for a united Chicagoland protest to oppose continuing U.S. wars abroad and war on immigrants at home:
• Saturday, March 14, 2009
• 12 noon SHARP: Assemble for a short rally, Marshall Boulevard & Cermak Road (2 blocks from the “California” stop on the Pink Line “el”)
•March through Chicago immigrant neighborhoods, down Cermak, Damen and 18th Street to 18th/Blue Island/Loomis for a closing rally.
And join us again the following weekend, March 21, in Washington, DC to march on the Pentagon!
CAIRC consists of more than 50 community organizations working for peace and immigrant rights.
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Chicago Activists Score Win Against Daley Administration Over Right to March
Anti-war and immigration rights activists recently won a court decision to demonstrate March 14, on a route through Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, home to many immigrants. Activists in Chicago have often had to go to court to defend their right to protest and this year’s anti-war actions were no different. After organizers of the march, the Chicago Anti-war and Immigrant Rights Coalition (CAIRC) won a lower court ruling to secure a permit for the rally and march, the City of Chicago filed an emergency motion to put the permit for the rally on hold.
The circuit court again ruled in favor of demonstrators, effectively rejecting the latest ploy by the City of Chicago to block anti-war actions. Activists documented the permit denials and other legal entanglements used by the city, which has rejected parade permit applications for every march marking the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. For example:
• During an earlier Administrative Law hearing, Department of Transportation (DOT) Assistant Director Mike Simon noted that over his 9-year career at the DOT, he had processed approximately 18,000+ permit applications, and rejected only 20 to 25. Of those 20 to 25 rejections, he testified that six or more were applications submitted by anti-war organizers involved in the current effort to win a permit;
• On the night the war started, Chicago police illegally surrounded and arrested more than 800 protesters and passersby in the single largest mass arrest in Chicago history. All of the charges were later disposed of in a manner indicating innocence of the accused, and the whole incident, including injuries and deliberate destruction of protesters’ property by the police, is the subject of a class action lawsuit that will be going to trial soon;
• Arrests of anti-war organizers on bogus misdemeanor or wildly inflated felony charges, apparently aimed at intimidating people from exercising their First Amendment rights.
For the March 14 action, activists applied to hold a march in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood. When the Daley administration did not respond within the time required by its own parade permit ordinance, the activists assumed that they would automatically get the permit, as required under the ordinance. Instead the City tried to block the action and activists had to win a permit twice, lose it twice and now secure it.
CAIRC was first forced in mid-January to appeal to the City’s administrative law courts, a forum where plaintiffs rarely prevail. But prevail they did, and on January 28, Administrator Law Officer Jerome Prosser ruled that “the parade permit at issue must be granted.”
But on February 1, the city fought back again, suing the activists to overturn the Administrative Law Court’s decision. On February 4 they served the activists with the suit and with an emergency motion demanding that the activists appear in court the next day. If granted, the emergency motion would have prevented CAIRC from going ahead with publicizing their March 14 protest, effectively gutting the victory they had won in the lower court and thwarting their first amendment rights of speech and assembly.
While most of the activist defendants did appear in court the next day, they did not have time to secure legal representation. At the hearing the city pressed to have their emergency motion heard and adjudicated — despite the activists lacking any professional legal representation — but was rejected by Circuit Court Judge Sconza. When the hearing was held, the city again lost.
Chicago peace and immigrant rights activists are moving full speed ahead to organize the March 14 action.
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Bring All Our Troops Home From Iraq Now!
As President Obama prepares to announce plans for a partial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, members of Military Families Speaking Out are calling for an immediate and complete end to the U.S. military occupation of that country.
According to published reports, President Obama will announce this week that he plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq over the course of nineteen months and leave up to 50,000 troops in Iraq indefinitely.
April Medlin, a Military Families Speak Out chapter leader from Las Vegas, Nevada said:
“My brother began his third deployment to Iraq in December 2008. He is a U.S. Army Tank Commander. While it is encouraging to hear that some of the troops will be returning home, I cannot help but feel concern for the soldiers, and for the families of those who will not be returning. It is an outrage for even one service member to remain! True change only occurs when it happens to all of us — military families and our loved ones. True change only happens when a war that should never have happened is ended. People have got to stop dying in Iraq, before I will feel like ‘Change’ has come.”
Larry Syverson of Richmond, Virginia serves on the Board of Directors of Military Families Speak Out and is the father of three sons who have served in Iraq — one that is scheduled to return there later this year with an Army Stryker brigade. Syverson said:
“President Obama knew that the war in Iraq was wrong to begin with — and it is still wrong today. It is unconscionable to continue subjecting the Iraqi people to a military occupation in a war based on lies and continue risking the lives of our brave young men and women like my son. The American people and the Iraqi people want this war to end. If President Obama is not willing to end it once and for all, then Congress will have to force him to by refusing to fund its continuation.”
Members of Military Families Speak Out and Gold Star Families Speak Out are available for interview including those whose loved ones are now serving in Iraq or will soon be sent there, those whose loved ones suffered physical and psychological injuries in Iraq, and those whose loved ones died as a result of the war in Iraq. For more information contact: Sean Donahue, 617-983-0710, 978-809-8054, press@mfso.org
Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) is an organization of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones who are currently in the military or who have served in the military since the buildup to the Iraq war in the fall of 2002. Formed by two families in November of 2002, we have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world. Our membership currently includes more than 3,400 military families, with new families joining daily.
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Veterans Say Leaving 50,000 Troops in Iraq is No “Withdrawal”
A national veterans’ organization objected to calling President Barack Obama’s announcement on Iraq a “withdrawal,” adding that keeping troops there and in Afghanistan will “put the nail in the coffin of America’s economy.” Veterans For Peace, (VFP) President Mike Ferner said, “Barack Obama became president in part because millions of voters were sick of these wars and wanted them stopped, period. Saying that only ‘non-combat’ troops will be left after 19 months is just sleight of hand so we can keep tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq and send thousands more to Afghanistan.”
VFP brought out that the Obama plan will leave 50,000 or more troops in Iraq, and pointed to the buildup already underway in Afghanistan, warning that such policies will have the same effect on the new President as the Vietnam War did on Lyndon Johnson’s plans for the Great Society. “I really believe President Obama wants to do good things for the country,” said VFP president, Mike Ferner, “but if he continues on this course he’s charted, his hopes are guaranteed to founder on the shoals of war. This way lies disaster. For all our sakes, I hope he reconsiders.”
The 58 year-old former Navy Hospital Corpsman added that the U.S. war policies prolong suffering and death. He said their purpose “is to control an entire region of the world and its resources. If you look at history, it is clear the longterm outlook for empires is not very pleasant.”
Veterans For Peace will be taking actions locally across the country marking the sixth year of the occupation of Iraq. Join Veterans For Peace in these cities as we take action against the war on Iraq!
Among the actions being organized are:
March 19: Six Years, Time To Get Out Of There!
Pueblo, Colorado: We will meet with Senator Michael Bennet’s staff and Representative John T. Salazar’s staff at 4:30pm and then hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Pueblo Union Depot on B Street.
March 19 Demonstration at Federal Building to End Occupation Of Iraq
Allentown, Pennsylvania: A demonstration in front of the Federal building to remind our federal officials that we want an end to the occupation of Iraq and demand All Troops Home Now! We are calling on the Lehigh County Council of Churches and all houses of worship to ring bells/chimes for peace for a period of 6 minutes from noon until 12:06pm (one minute for each year of the occupation).
March 19 “Yellow Zone Visibility Project”
Southwest, Pennsylvania: Participants will pay a visit to the personal residences, that’s right, the homes of our local representatives to find out which of them and their family members are Playing Safe in the Yellow Zone while asking other people to send their sons and daughters to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
March 19, Central Florida Demonstration
Daytona Beach, Florida: Veterans For Peace Central Florida Chapter 136 will co-sponsor a demonstration with Military Families Speak Out, Florida and the East Central Florida Chapter of CodePink at 4:30pm at the corner of Nova Rd. and International Speedway Blvd.
March 20, Operation Iraq Liberation 6th Anniversary Candle Light Vigil
Tallahassee, Florida: Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, National Organization for Women, Military Families Speak Out, Pax Christi, Tallahassee Network for Justice and Peace, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War members and friends will join again to mourn the tortured, the hundreds of thousands of war dead, the destruction of Iraq society and humankind’s historical legacy. Candles will be provided.
March 20, Iraq Moratorium Vigil
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, at Water St. and Wisconsin Ave., with flags, banners, signs, leafleting.
March 21: Peace Gathering
Traverse City, Michigan: Six Years, Time to Get OUT of There! Troops out Now — Iraq & Afghanistan. Rally, March, and Program with Reading of the Names
Meeting at Horizon Books with a march down Front Street with a stop at offices of Senator Carl Levin and Representative David Camps office and then demonstration on the corner of Union and Grand View Parkway.
March 21: Troops Out Now - Iraq & Afghanistan
St. Paul, Minnesota: Rally Martin Luther King Park and March to Minnesota State Capital
March 21, Rally and March on 6th Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion
San Diego, California: Mark 6th year of Iraq invasion/occupation by opposing Iraq and Afghan wars, support peace and justice for all peoples.
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Dustin Alan Parks, Iraq Veterans Against the War
You call those who refuse to fight absent
Those who have the courage to resist are not absent
They’re knocking on your door right now
Begging to be heard and exercise their rights
But you refuse to allow entry to opposition
Which is fine because I have this message:
I found a back door...
I opened my mind and used it as a key
So now I am here and you can’t ignore me
I am not a number or figure
I have dismissed your rank system
I will not succumb to pressure or propaganda
My fingers weren’t made to pull a trigger
I don’t have big business interest at heart
But rather that of my brothers and sisters
It isn’t my duty to follow unconstitutional orders
I will not tolerate anything less then equality
My mind is too strong for your indoctrination
And soon your lies will be exposed
I will not stumble or fail in my efforts
I am the voice of the voiceless
I am a part of a group that is growing
I am an Iraq Veteran Against The War
I am the anti-war movement!
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On April 1, we will show the G20 what meltdown means.
Lost your home? Lost your job? Lost your savings? Lost your pension? This party is for you!
Capitalism has been heating up our world for years, melting the icecaps, burning up the rainforests, pushing the planet to tipping point. Now we are going to put the heat on them. At the London Summit , the G20 ministers are trying to get away with the biggest April Fools trick of all time. Their tax-dodging, bonus-guzzling, pension-pinching, unregulated free market world is in meltdown, and those fools think we are going to bail them out. They have got to be joking!
We cannot pay, we will not pay and we are taking to the streets.
Many, imaginative actions will be taking place across London on April 1. One major focus will be four separate carnival parades culminating in direct action against carbon trading and other financial crimes in the City of London.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse will lead themed processions starting at 11am from the following rail stations:
Moorgate: Red horse against War;
Liverpool St: Green horse against Climate chaos
London Bridge: Silver horse against Financial crimes
Cannon Street: Black horse against land enclosures and borders in honor of the 360th full circle anniversary of the Diggers
At 12 noon, April 1, we are going to reclaim the City, thrusting into the very belly of the beast: the Bank of England. Early on April 2, we are going to bang on their hotel doors, at the Excel Center, to deliver our message of a world beyond capitalism.
Our Manifesto is:
Can we oust the bankers from power?
Can we get rid of the corrupt politicians in their pay?
Can we guarantee everyone a job, a home, a future?
Can we establish government by the people, for the people, of the people?
Can we abolish all borders and be patriots for our planet?
Can we all live sustainably and stop climate chaos?
Can we make capitalism history?
Yes We Can!
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April 1 & 2
The leaders of the world’s most powerful nations will meet at the G20 summit in London on April 2. It will be Barack Obama’s first visit to Britain. It is a chance for us to demand a change from Bush’s war policies.
The Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, The British Muslim Initiative, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have called two protests at the G20:
April 1 (afternoon): Protest March and rally in central London
April 2: Protest March to G20 conference
Our message will be ‘Yes We Can.’ Yes we can end the siege of Gaza and free Palestine, yes we can get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, yes we can make jobs not bombs, yes we can abolish nukes, yes we can stop arming Israel.
On Saturday February 28 the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called a Put People First demonstration with the support of many non-governmental organization (NGO’s) demanding jobs, public services and an end to global inequality.
When the G20 leaders arrive there will be more protests, demanding an end of the siege of Gaza, troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq, jobs not bombs and more. The first anti war event will be a central London march on April 1, the afternoon before the G20 and the day Barack Obama visits parliament. The second will be a protest at the G20 itself. These protests have been called by the Stop the War Coalition, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the British Muslim Initiative and (CND).
People are already mobilizing across the country for the protests. At the recent Stop to the War student conference, delegates from 29 colleges and universities committed to organizing a turnout. Stop the War groups in Scotland and Manchester and Liverpool are already organizing their transport.
Many groups are coming down to London and traveling on to the NATO protests in Strasbourg leading up to a mass demonstration and counter conference on April 4 and 5. The first week of April could be a week of protests the world leaders will never forget.
The G20 will meet at a time of world slump but they are spending more and more on war. Despite the disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. and Britain are sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan. They are spending more and more in Iraq. The total cost of the war will be around six trillion dollars. The US spends $54 billion and Britain nearly £2 billion every year on nuclear weapons.
Most G20 leaders support Israel and refused to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza or the continuing blockade. The U.S., Britain and others are still selling arms to Israel. Israel receives more aid from the U.S. than any other country in world.
On April 1 and 2 we will be marching to demand a different set of priorities from the world’s leaders.
The leaders of the most powerful nations will meet in London in April against the backdrop of world slump and war and rising anger at the nightmare world they have created. […]
There are no signs of any serious initiatives on Palestine. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has gone out of her way to express support for Israel, and the main point of argument over the war is likely to be the need to escalate the action in Afghanistan. Last weekend British Defense Secretary John Hutton attacked NATO for not being warlike enough on Afghanistan and denounced other NATO members for ‘looking to the Americans to do all the heavy lifting.’
Given the massive demonstrations over Gaza and the strength of anti war feeling, given the rage people feel as jobs go and banks are bailed out, there will be big protests at the G20.
(Note: According to the G-20 website: “The G-20 is made up of the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, south Korea, Turkey, Britain and the United States of America and the European Union (EU) who is represented by the rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank. The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and President of the World Bank also participate in G-20 meetings on an ex-officio basis. Together, member countries represent around 90 per cent of global gross national product, 80 per cent of world trade (including EU intra-trade) as well as two-thirds of the world’s population.”)