Vigil at the Canadian Consulate July 9th, 12-1pm Resisters.

[annm4peace]

Vigil at the Canadian Consulate
(701 4th Ave S, Minneapolis)
Wednesday, July 9
Noon to 1 pm

Hundreds of US military servicemembers & their families have fled to Canada to resist the Iraq war. They have the support of most Canadians, and Parliament passed a motion on June 3 to officially welcome them. But the ruling Conservative Party plans to deport these brave women & men in spite of the people's will.

25-year-old Sgt. Corey Glass, an Iraq combat veteran with the Indiana National Guard, is scheduled for deportation on July 10. He moved to Canada as a refugee in 2005 after the military denied his conscientious objector claim. If he is returned to the US and jailed for desertion, Amnesty International will consider him a prisoner of conscience.

Please join us at the consulate to urge the Canadian government to respect the democratic process and let Corey Glass and all US war resisters stay!

For more information, visit www.couragetoresist.org

Sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War-Minnesota, Veterans for Peace Chapter 80 and the Duluth Sanctuary Project

[annm4peace]

1. The resisters need your help

I can't tell you how much it hurts those active military and their family members who risk a great deal by speaking out, and of course those who choose to resist and only a very small group shows up to these vigils. Some give up hope. But when there is a small crowd, they get encourage and it might just be the thing the makes them go on and not end their life.

They need us to be visible, to show our support. They don't know millions of us have been writing letters, calling our congress people, marching even before the attack on Iraq.

They need to see us, and they need us to shake their hands.

You never know when a returning troop might see the vigil, and it just might be the courage he/she needs to resist going back to Iraq or Afganistan

I did this last year and I definately had more thumbs up and thanks than anything negative.

[Randomthought]

2. not much of a window

I would love to come to the vigil and I work downtown but not everyone goes to lunch between 12 and 1.
When these events are planned why don't the planners realize that most of us have to work for a living and our time is not our own.

[annm4peace]

3. Just like a dr's or dentist appt.

some of us take 1 hour time off or try to come in 1hour early or later.

They had to have these vigils when the Canadian Consulate is open and they can go inside and ask them to let the resisters stay.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Unfortunately, I was booked up today

Such is the life of a free-lancer. :-(

[Randomthought]

5. i don't get that much paid time

my sick leave goes for being sick of for doctors and dentist appointments - what kind of job do you have that allows you that kind of freedom?

[annm4peace]

6. Not getting sick..

I have PTO.. I can use it as sick or vacation.. In these past 5 years I haven't taken a "vacation"..
I have used most of it for protests, vigils and helping at a couple conferences, getting out the vote.. etc.

[Randomthought]

7. you are fortunate to be so healthy

and if doing political work is a vacation for you then by all means you should do so but not everyone gets REcreation in that way. Those that don't should not be treated harshly as all of us need to recharge our batteries in the way that works for them.

[annm4peace]

8. there are 100 other things i would like to do with PTO

I am lucky I don't get sick too often. who is treating who harshly ?
I don't recall saying it was recreation.. That sounds like something my Republican uncle would say: It is something I personally feel I need to do, especially when I think of those who have lost a loved one to this war, who is personally emotionally or physically suffering because of this war. they don't time off from it, so I think of that and I do what I can until I can't do it anymore. Some months I just can't go to another vigil.. but then when the Iraq Vets ask, I feel compelled because I know they are seeking support.

I'm just letting as many progressives know as I can of events so they can get support. It both emotionally and physically hard work to put these things together and it helps when people show up and support in anyway they can. If a person can only drive buy and honk, or ride a bike by and ring a bell that helps. If they can call the office of where we are protesting that helps. If they can call a news room and ask they to cover the event; or ask why aren't the covering it; or complain why they didn't cover it. And, if you are very fortunate if a person could donate a little money do the group that is sponsering it that is great help also. It cost money printing up flyers, poster making supplies.. it would be incredible to have enough money to put an ad in a paper or on the radio. Just for one ad on 950am is 1000.00 dollars. it is over 1000.00 for one little tiny ad in Star Tribune.

As far as going to a vigil or rally during time off. There are vigils every single day and can always use support. I have a list below. Even if a person just comes 1x a month or even less.. that one time gives hope and encouragement to those who do it weekly. I'm sure they would love to have more people. I can't tell you how much it can lift your spirt to have one more person join.

There are more vigils than this, but this is a start:
VIGILS

Every Sunday, 9:30 to 10:45 am, vigil to Close Guantanamo-End Torture, 40th
St pedestrian overpass over 35W, Mpls. 952-465-2866.

Every Sunday, noon to 1 pm, peace vigil at Summit and Snelling, St Paul.


Every Sunday, 1 to 2 pm, St Crook Valley Peacemakers sponsors peace vigil at
the Stillwater bridge, Stillwater. www.stcroixvalleypeacemakers.com or


Every Sunday (weather permitting), 3:30 to 4:30 pm, peace vigil on the I-94
footbridge just west of Snelling, St Paul. Mike Madden,

Every Monday, 4:15 to 5:15 pm, Vigil in downtown White Bear Lake at
intersection of Highway 61 and 4th Street. FFI: www.worldwidewamm.org

Every Tuesday, 4 to 5 pm, Peace walk, carrying signs in both directions from
the corner of Hwy 241 and Co Rd 19 (across from St. Michael's Church), St.
Michael. FFI: [e-mail]

Every Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:30 pm, Peace vigil at 98th St. and Lyndale,
Bloomington.

Every Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:30 pm, peace vigil outside John Kline's office at
intersection of Burnsville Parkway and Nicollet, Burnsville.
[e-mail]

Every Tuesday, 5 to 6 pm (all year), east end of Franklin bridge over the
Mississippi River, Mpls.

Every Tuesday, 5 to 6 pm (back to summer hours), Penn Ave just north of 394,
Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Mpls.

Every Wednesday, 7 to 8 a.m., Vigil at Alliant Tech, 7430 Flying Cloud
Dr,Eden Prairie. FFI: www.circlevision.org/alliantaction.html

Every Wednesday, noon to 1, peace vigil across from the post office,
Mankato.

Every Wednesday, 4:30 to 5:30 pm (winter hours), Grandmothers for Peace
vigil, 50th and Halifax, Edina (just west of France). www.worldwidewamm.org

Every Wednesday, 5 to 6 pm (back to summer hours), Vigil to end the
occupation of Iraq, Lake/Marshall bridge over the Mississippi.
www.worldwidewamm.org

Every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 pm, Peace vigil over footbridge at 85th Ave N and
Hwy 252, Brooklyn Park FFI

Every Wednesday, 6 pm, peace vigil at signal light on Hwy 169, Belle Plaine.


Every Thursday, 7:30 to 9:30 am, peace banners on pedestrian bridge over
Cedar Ave just south of MOA, Bloomington. (Take Old Shakopee Rd exit and
curl around.)

Every Thursday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Vigil in front of Lockheed Martin, NW
corner of Pilot Knob Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. FFI:


Every Thursday, 4:30 to 6, vigil at 42nd (County Rd 9) and Winnetka Ave N,
New Hope.

Every Thursday, 5 to 6 pm, Chisago City gathering for peace, Moberg Park on
Hwy 8, Chisago City.

Every Thursday, 5 to 6 pm, Peace vigil at intersection of Bridge and
Fountain Streets, Albert Lea.

Every Friday, noon to 1 pm, Anti-Recruitment vigil ³Our Children Are Not
Cannon Fodder,² off Oak St and Washington Ave, East Bank of U, Minneapolis,


Every Friday, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., Vigil to end the occupation of Palestine,
Snelling and Summit, St. Paul.

Every Friday, 4:30, Red Wing Alliance for Peace sponsors a vigil at John
Rick park, Red Wing, followed by potluck and discussion on alternate weeks.
[e-mail]

Every Friday, 5 to 6 pm, peace vigil at Lagoon and Hennepin, Uptown Mpls.
FFI: WAMM.

Every Saturday, 9 am, Peace walk, Fern and Hwy. 95, Cambridge. (8 block
walk)

Every Saturday, 11 am to noon, peace vigil at corner of Bridge and River St,
Chippewa Falls, WI. FFI:

Every Saturday, 11 to noon, Minnetonka weekly peace demonstration, at Hwy 7
and 101. Park in Target Greatland lot; meet near entrance fountain.


Every Saturday, 10:15 to noon, peace bannering on 40th St footbridge over
35W, Mpls.

Every Saturday, noon to 12:15, Vigil at Bridge Square (Division and 4th),
Northfield.

Every Saturday, 2 to 3 pm, Mounds View peace vigil, SE corner of Hwy 10 and
University Ave NE in Blaine.

Every Saturday, 2 to 3 pm, Peace vigil at NE corner Co Hwy 10 & Univ Ave NE,
Blaine.

[lakeguy]

9. wow, thanks for that list!

[HopeFor2006]

10. Thank you for posting such a thorough list.

I admire you for your commitment to such a worthy cause. My job also does not permit me the time off for such events but I will certainly try to make it more of a priority during my non-working hours.

[Randomthought]

11. thanks for the list

I am neither Republican nor your uncle but still what you do is your choice and strictly yours.

The reason I have been calling you out is that I feel that the general tone of most of your posts has been a little on the "holier than thou" side.
Most people work Monday through Friday during the day. When I see a post that is critical of others for not being exactly where the poster thinks they should be I get a little steamed.
All I'm asking is that the rhetoric get toned down a little. You may do lots of great things but if your words alienate then a lot of good work gets negated.
It's frustrating not to have bigger crowds show up at events I'm sure but time after time I see organizers plan things during the week and during business hours. It's frustrating for me to know that there is support for peace and progressive causes and people are unable to attend because of their responsibilities.
In the list you posted there is only one event on a weekend in Minneapolis all the others are in the suburbs. That could be part of the attendance problem.