Momentum builds, Global Peace action March 20 (Iraq invasion anniversary)

[G_j]

www.unitedforpeace.org

MOMENTUM BUILDS
Momentum is building across the globe for the Global Day of Action against War and Occupation on March 20, 2004—the one-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. On that day people all around the globe will take to the streets to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. Joining with growing numbers of military families and soldiers, we will call for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bush's militaristic foreign policies. March 20 will be the first time the world's "other superpower" will take center stage since Feb. 15.


-----------
Here is some of what is being discussed here in NC:

On January 24th, 2004, over seventy people from around the state of North Carolina met in Greensboro to plan statewide participation in the March 20th Global Day of Action against the war and occupation and for peace and social justice.


>International, national and local organizations building the March 20 day of action include: the World Social Forum, the European Social Forum, United for Peace and Justice, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Black Solidarity Against War, U.S. Labor Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, NC Council of Churches, Veterans for Peace, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, People of Color Against the War, International Socialist Organization, Bring the Troops Home Now, American Friends Service Committee, Black Solidarity Against War, Hip Hop Against the War, Western NC Peace Coalition, Campaign to End the Cycle of Violence and the Campaign to end the Israeli Occupation. Many other organizations and prominent spokespersons have joined the call.

>Here locally in North Carolina, folks from around the state met including Greensboro, Asheville, New Bern, Silk Hope, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Fayetteville, and Asheville. We discussed issues including location, themes, points of unity, logistics, community outreach (including communities of color, labor, religious and students), fundraising and media and publicity.

>Discussion going into the planning meeting included a proposal from Fayetteville Veterans for Peace and Bring the Troops Home Now coalition to hold a statewide demonstration and march in Fayetteville, the home of US
>Special Forces, Delta Company, and probably the most important military base in the country. Lou Plummer, from Fayetteville Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out, shared with the group upcoming press conferences and interviews with Jim Lerer and newspapers internationally reporting on the group's local and national activities.

>The general consensus was an overwhelming Yes! >to join together in building a statewide event >in Fayetteville, and to reach out to other >states in the region to build the second >largest anti-war demonstration at a US >military facility since the war in Vietnam. >Peace groups in Asheville will join in >building a sister event for the Western region >of the state, with continued statewide >collaboration and coordination among other >statewide planned localities.
<snip>

[opihimoimoi]

1. The Quest for Peace has started?? Good Grief, what took so long?

Lets Roll.

[truthspeaker]

2. I really want to support this (and take part) but

So far I haven't heard of any veterans groups or political leaders being invited to take part. I really want to see a broad-based protest, not just a bunch of fringe liberals (no offense to fringe liberals).

Basically, I don't want to fly all the way to NYC just to take part in a tiny march.

[G_j]

3. Veterans

are some of the key organizers here in NC.
Stan Goff of "Bring Them Home Now" is on the steering committee. Veterans for Peace & Military Families Speak Out are also involved.

I just quickly gleaned these names from the United For Peace endorsement list, there are many other Veterans/military groups on the list besides these. (hope this helps)

Veterans for Peace Chapter 72
Portland, OR

Veterans for Peace, Chapter 69
Berkeley, CA

Veterans for Peace, Cpl. Joseph E. Powers - Chicago Area Chapter 26
Lake Zurich, IL

Vietnam Veterans Against the War - Michigan
Stockbridge, MI

Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc.
Chicago, IL
---
P.S. It's not really a matter of being "invited" it's a matter of joining with others.

peace, G_j

[truthspeaker]

4. great! thanks for the info

Originally I planned to fly to DC but it sounds like the NYC demonstration is expected to be one of the big ones.

[G_j]

5. I will be

helping to organize for the two local actions here in NC. It's looking like there is signifigant interest.

If somehow you can't make it to NYC, check to see if there is something in the works in your home state.

[G_j]

6. kick

:kick:

[anarchy1999]

7. Join us in Crawford, TX

http://www.marchcrawford.org/

http://www.northtexaspeace.org/



Sponsoring Orgs

Friends Of Peace, Waco

Texans For Peace

Houston Coalition For Justice Not War

Austin Against War

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee - Austin Chapter


GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION on the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of the U.S. BOMBING and INVASION of IRAQ Bring the troops home now! End colonial occupation from Iraq to Palestine and everywhere! Money for jobs, education, healthcare and housing - Not war! Stop the attacks on civil rights and civil liberties!

12 - 1 PM
GATHER AT PARK

1 - 2 PM
SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINMENT

2 - 3:30PM
MARCH THROUGH CRAWFORD

3:30 TO 5:00PM
SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SPEAKERS

Charlie Jackson of Texans for Peace
Lon Burnham, Texas State Representativel
Dalia Hashad of the ACLU


ENTERTAINMENT
David Rovics
Spoonfed Tribe
Kerrol Harrod

[G_j]

10. Crawford, alright!

that should be great. thanks for posting!

[corporatewhore]

18. Allready got my ride are you in austin too?

looking forward to going back there

[G_j]

8. kick

[Terwilliger]

9. SF kick!

:bounce:

[anarchy1999]

11. Feb 15th, let's do it again!

Around the WORLD!!!

Each and every township in the nation. The time is now!

[Terwilliger]

16. this is about M20

I haven't heard anything about Feb 15

[fabius]

12. Any marches in Oregon or Washington?

kick. Anybody?

Let's get a lot of participation!

[G_j]

13. some info

Astoria, OR

Peace and Justice March (March 20 Mobilization)
Saturday, March 20th 2004
A march and rally with our large Mother Nature puppet, etc.

Portland, OR

3-20 Mobilization (March 20 Mobilization)
Saturday, March 20th 2004
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 72, Portland, Oregon has mobilized and will march in the
UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
MARCH 20 MOBILIZATION

Olympia, WA

We Still Say NO to War on Iraq! (March 20 Mobilization)
Saturday, March 20th 2004 12:00 pm
Rally, March, and Music: a family friendly demonstration against the continuing US war and occupation of Iraq will coincide with demonstrations around the world today.


keep checking: your local peace groups and www.unitedforpeace.org

[anarchy1999]

14. Keep this up front and center

:bounce:

:kick:

[G_j]

15. Why is March 20 so important?

WHY IS MARCH 20 SO IMPORTANT?
Every day, the Bush Administration grows more vulnerable around the issue of its illegal and unjustified invasion of Iraq. Just today, CIA Chief George Tenet revealed that his agency's analysts had never characterized Saddam Hussein's regime as an imminent threat.

We in the global anti-war movement, who knew that the Bush Administration was lying all along, need to intensify the public pressure around the invasion and occupation of Iraq. A massive mobilization on March 20 will keep the issue in the public eye in this election year, demonstrating to all the candidates that there is a groundswell of opposition from the grassroots to the policies of empire-building, permanent warfare, and pre-emptive war.

Those policies are directly linked to many of the other most destructive aspects of the Bush agenda: the ongoing brutal occupation of Palestinian lands, sustained by U.S. tax dollars; the racist attacks on Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and other immigrants in the name of "homeland security"; the erosion of our most basic rights through the USA PATRIOT Act; the undermining of our schools, health care system, and economy to pay for bloated military budgets and tax cuts for the rich.

Given that the current Democratic frontrunner is someone who voted for the Iraq War, the PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security law, and the Bush tax cuts, a powerful showing on March 20 from the grassroots peace and justice movement is more important than ever. We need to keep our issues in the public eye, to show the breadth of public support for a politics based on justice, fairness, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

Please donate what you can today to the March 20 mobilization and help ensure that we have the largest, loudest, broadest turnout in the streets on the one-year anniversary of the Iraq War.

FOR A DONATION OF $100 OR MORE, you will receive a video of United for Peace and Justice's historic National Teach-In on Iraq, Preemptive War and Democracy. This inspiring event, held on March 31, 2003 with upwards of 2,000 people in attendance, brought together many of the most prominent and articulate voices of our day, including: Arundhati Roy, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Howard Zinn, Damu Smith, Phyllis Bennis, Hussein Ibish, Kathy Kelly, Rania Masri, Ralph Nader, Rev. Graylan Hagler, and, in one of his last public appearances, Edward Said. The three-hour video of the teach-in includes all of the presentations made at this remarkable gathering.

DONATIONS OF $100 OR MORE can be considered tax deductible. Just make a check out to A.J. Muste Memorial Institute and specify "UFPJ" in the memo. Mail it to UFPJ at P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108.
=========================================
MARCH 20: The World STILL Says No to War! Global Day of Protest on the One-Year Anniversary of the Iraq War Visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/mar20 to endorse, download leaflets, find a list of local protests, and more
===========================================
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 To subscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email

[The_Gopher]

17. can we keep A.N.S.W.E.R. out of any of this?

[Terwilliger]

19. why? because you want to bring 6 million other people?

:shrug:

[G_j]

20. kick?

[G_j]

21. kick

[Valerie5555]

22. Found out there is even a "Shock And Awe" anniversary antiwar demo in

CALGARY, ALBERTA, knew the date and time is March 20 at 1 in the afternoon, but found that the details as to place are still TBA.

[G_j]

23. that's a good sign

I really hope this materializes globally

[G_j]

24. kick

[Kanary]

25. So far, not much in Colorado....

What's up with this? THere are many peace groups here....

Guess they're all out skiing...

Dang.....

Kanary

Kucinich 2004!

[G_j]

26. check with your local peace groups

there may be plans in the works.
They may have neglected to post the information at www.unitedforpeace.org
or have not finalised their plans. Or perhaps they need help in organizing something.

You probably saw this, but this is what has been posted so far:

Durango, CO

March 20th Rally & Peace Walk (March 20 Mobilization - Recurring)
Saturday, March 20th 2004
Rally and Peace Walk, downtown Durango, CO

[Kanary]

27. Yeah, I saw Durango

While I'm really glad Durango is organized, that's not possible for me.

At this point, I don't know the peace groups here anymore. And, with my health problems, I can't take on responsibility. I just want to join on the day, and spread the word to othes.

Thanks for the info.

Kanary

Kucinich 2004!