ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
| 212-868-5545
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SATURDAY, MARCH 19:
GLOBAL DAY OF PROTEST ON THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR
* End the War * Bring the Troops Home Now * Rebuild Our Communities *
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March 19-20 marks the two-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and
invasion of Iraq. After all of the death and destruction, and with the
Bush administration claiming a mandate to continue their war, there’s a
new urgency and a stronger determination within the global antiwar
movement to bring the troops home now.
LOCAL ACTIONS NATIONWIDE
UFPJ calls on supporters of peace and justice in every corner of the
country, in communities large and small, to organize local protests
against the war on Saturday, March 19. These can take many forms:
vigils, rallies, marches, nonviolent civil disobedience. We especially
encourage creative efforts to put the spotlight on the institutions of
militarism at home by organizing actions outside military bases or
military recruitment offices. List your activities on the UFPJ website
calendar at
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/events
(select “March 19” under Event Type).
On the first anniversary of the war, at least 319 cities and towns
across the United States organized protests. This year there is the
potential to organize even more demonstrations, and to bring more
people than ever out into the streets. The Bush Administration will
soon ask Congress to pump as much as $100 billion more into the war;
March 19 is an opportunity to call for an end to this disaster, and to
demand that the billions be allocated instead for rebuilding our
communities at home and paying for the damage in Iraq.
MAJOR REGIONAL PROTEST IN FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
UFPJ is also supporting a major regional demonstration in Fayetteville,
North Carolina. We hope those of you within driving distance of
Fayetteville will make this action your priority. Fayetteville is home
to Fort Bragg ground zero for the 82nd Airborne Division and many
of the Army’s elite units. Beyond Fort Bragg, North Carolina hosts four
other of the nation’s largest military bases, making the state one of
the friendliest to the military-industrial complex.
Less well-known is the fact that Fayetteville is also home to a growing
base of anti-war activists and organizations. They are military folks,
veterans, families of active-duty soldiers and veterans, students,
workers, housewives, clergy, educators, and all are part of a vibrant,
and growing, statewide network. They stand firm in the knowledge that
organizing in Fayetteville is a key to bringing the troops home from
Iraq.
Military Families Speak Out (
http://www.mfso.org/), Bring Them Home
Now (
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org),
Iraq Veterans Against the War (
http://www.ivaw.net), Veterans For
Peace (
http://www.veteransforpeace.org),
Quaker House, Fayetteville Peace with Justice, the North Carolina Peace
and Justice Coalition (
http://www.ncpeacejustice.org),
and the North Carolina Council of Churches (
http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org)
are spearheading the Fayetteville action. Please do all you can to be
in Fayetteville this year; by actively building and participating in
this demonstration, we have the opportunity to support the efforts of
Southern organizers to build a Southern network, and a Southern
movement, to replace war and occupation with justice and
self-determination.
BE PART OF A GLOBAL ANTIWAR MOVEMENT
In addition to the many protests already being planned in the United
States, people all around the world will be taking action on March 19
as well. Responding to a call from the European Social Forum’s Assembly
of Social Movements, European activists are organizing national
mobilizations across Europe. Brussels will be the site of a central
demonstration on the eve of a meeting of the European Council, where
demonstrators will march against war, racism, and a corporate-dominated
Europe. India’s national Anti-War Assembly recently committed to major
protests on the second anniversary of the war. And we anticipate that
the World Social Forum will join this call when it meets later this
month in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
GET OUT THE WORD
Circulate this email wide and far. UFPJ will soon have flyers,
stickers, and other resources available to help you get out the word.
BEGIN PLANNING LOCAL MARCH 19th ACTIONS
Bring together local groups to plan March 19th actions in your
community. Post your plans at
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/events
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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
| 212-868-5545