Here are a few of the latest stories (with accurate reports always the toughest to find). Contribute your news items and views in your comments.
- Thousands protest across Europe
- San Francisco braces for anti-war protest
- On March 19, the World Says No to War (Again), organized by the Troops Out Now! coalition – by NYC IMC (which needs money)
- Check Indymedia sites and Antiwar.com for news.
- Much more below the fold…
Felix Jackson, 11-years-old , lays flowers at the foot of a mock coffin with 100,000 dead written on it, placed by anti-war protesters in front of the US Emabassy who marched through London, Saturday March 19, 2005 to marking the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The 100,000 number is not an official number of the dead killed in Iraq. (The Ledger [CLICK to view larger image] – AP Photo/ Fiona Hanson/Pool)
See also:
- Two years after invasion, few are celebrating, by Colin Freeman in Baghdad, for The Scotsman
- Iraq violence, poverty dampen optimism, at MSNBC
- Anti-war memorial stirs passions among parents of dead [PHOTO RIGHT, Escondido, CA], from MSNBC
And, there’s always room for another view from a powerful voice for the troops, Paul Reichkoff, whosse appearances on Air America, CNN, and more make him familiar to many of you:
NEW YORK — In observation of the second anniversary of the Iraq War, a number of national and local antiwar groups are planning to protest this weekend in Fayetteville, N.C., the home of Fort Bragg. Iraq Veteran and Operation Truth Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff issued the following statement today opposing the protestors’ plans to protest in the Troops’ backyard:
“Demonstrators have every right to protest the Iraq War this weekend. However, their choice of location for one protest — Fort Bragg — is wrong and insensitive. It blames the warriors for the war. The decision makers are not at Fort Bragg, they are in Washington. Rallying against the war by marching at Fort Bragg is like protesting the cows if you don’t like McDonalds.
“The anti-war protesters say they support the Troops. They can say it until they are blue in the face, but that’s a hollow sentiment when they’re protesting the busloads of Troops coming and going from Bragg to Iraq every day. If you support the troops, don’t protest them in their backyards, especially not as they’re sent to war or returning home. … (Full press release)
NOTE: I just ran across this press release by Paul. I haven’t had a chance to think about it and won’t since I’m running out the door to visit relatives who are ill. But I must say that I am a big fan of Operation Truth’s remarkable work for Iraq soldiers and veterans. My brother, my cousin, and my uncle all served in Vietnam, so I hold soldiers dear to my heart. Operation Truth sells dogtags that are one way to support the troops without supporting the war. And, with that controversial note, I bid you a fond adieu until tonight …
Sojourners is holding peace vigils today.
Carnacki. You should consider putting <i> and </i> and the front and back of your sig line, so people don’t keep reading it as part of your post.
Friendly suggestion.
Thanks boo. I got to be honest, I never noticed. My eyes automaticlly skip over my sig
it was driving me crazy and I don’t even wanna know what it was doing to MSO. Although at least it didn’t have a misplaced apostrophe.
it was driving me crazy
not that being a grammar nazi is bad …
/
Thanks for the link Carnacki. I’ll be attending one tomorrow in Seattle.
I’m headed down to Seattle Center to see how it goes with the protest here. I’ll try and report later (going to Rep McDermott’s shindig tonight, so not sure what time I’ll get back).
Howard Martin (blog) sent the link to the Seattle protests.
We just got back from the protest in Port Angeles. The usual suspects were there and many new faces. Probably 50-75 folks. Eventually we led a parade to downtown. Great fun! And good to see so many people still willing to put on a public protest. The pro-war protest had about an equal number of people but they couldn’t resist dispatching a contingent to drive by us. We treated them with as much respect as we could muster. I’m sure our protest won’t be in the Peninsula Daily News tomorrow. Sigh.
A parade! Woohoo! Did your boys join in? (What an influence you’ve been… for good? for ill? We shall see.) We were down in Kitsap Cty seeing relatives. PDN didn’t cover you? At all? I’ve practically stopped buying that rag.
I’ve been noticing the body language of the cops. Look at the London police in the story Susan has included. They’re relaxed, even hands in pockets.
When Bushco did his recent tour in Europe, there was a photo of German (?) or perhaps Danish police like that. They had their riot gear at hand, but they clearly weren’t expecting to use it.
Contrast that with photos of American police at various rallies — in full battle armor, radiating anger and tension. Seems to me they could learn from their European compatriots. If you go to police a rally expecting a battle, that’s what you’re likely to get. If you go expecting that protestors will generally be peaceful, you’re likely to get mostly that.
On the non-reality front, NPR this afternoon had an interview with an Iraqi artist who said how wonderful it was that she could now exhibit her work. The chirpy-voiced announcer noted that the woman is rebuilding her house in Baghdad with an eye toward living there some day. Not a word about the reality we read about every day.
One way to lighten the atmosphere is to start the crowd chanting – “more pay for police”. They can only smile at that one.
We just returned from the march in Eureka. Quite a bit of rain and wind, but lots of good spirits among the marchers. I haven’t neard any official estimates, but I would guess we were about 2,000 stong. Population of the entire large rural county is around 130,000. Lots of families, large range of ages. Many dog participants (although I didn’t see Bob Johnson’s dog Rex) and even a horse — which was walked — participated.
Best sign I saw: a bone-shaped sign on a malamute dog which read BONES NOT BOMBS. Most popular chant was PEACE … NOW … PEACE … NOW … Occasionally someone would shout it with force. I could tell their heart was in the right place and all, but it’s a little weird to hear that particular word shouted angrily. 🙂
Time to get into some dry clothes.
PEACE … NOW
The Kansas City event takes place tomorrow (Sunday) starting at 4:00 p.m. at the usual place – The J.C. Nichols fountain in the park at 47th and Main. I haven’t had to make these preparations in a while – charge the cell phone and camera batteries and select signs. Over the last few years I have amassed a collection of about 50 signs. For this protest I’ll only take a few. Among them: “Stop Mad Cowboy Disease”, “Faux News Channel [in the form of the logo]: fascist groupies”, “one finger for ignorance, two fingers for peace”, and finally “propaganda is not designed to fool the critical thinker, but only to give moral cowards an excuse not to think at all” (a great one for people stopped in traffic).
We’ll make the one hour drive to the event with a few friends. I’ll post a diary or comment here on Sunday night.
who got out there today or will be out protesting. I’ve mentioned I can’t get out that much so I was thinking of all of you today and wishing I could be there in person with any one of you.
The event at Seattle Center started at Noon (there were short parades earlier with the main march scheduled at 1:30). About a 1000 people rallied in the rain. The much needed rain did little to dampen the spirit of defiance, nor the passion of the speakers (hey, it’s Seattle after all, what’s a little rain?). There was only one cardboard tunic (body armor) but lots of homemade signs denouncing the War, W and all the profiteers. Congressman Jim McDermott was there (accompanied by Kossack RonK). I took a moment to thank him and shake his hand.