March Pictures

MFSO Steps Off

Good Press Story About the March

The People visit Mr Bush and he leaves town

Diverse Anti-war Protests Largest in DC Since
Vietnam
by Benjamin Dangl (bio)
and Brendan Coyne (bio)

Demonstrators from a variety of backgrounds and representing
numerous causes came together Saturday by the tens of thousands with a unified
message demanding an end to US military involvement in Iraq.

Washington, DC, Sep 25 - Kicking off three days of actions aimed
ultimately at pressuring the US government to pull troops out of Iraq, scores of protesters converged on Washington, DC yesterday for an all-day protest that included an array of speakers, a march past the White House and a concert that lasted well into the early morning hours. Estimates of the demonstration's size ranged from 100,000 to 300,000 protesters.

Participants from across the country spent long hours riding overnight
on buses and in caravans to take part in the largest anti-war event the nation's capitol has seen since the Vietnam War era. Groups began assembling on the Ellipse in front of the White House early yesterday.
In preparation for the event, police blanketed the Ellipse, Federal Triangle and the grounds of the Washington Monument with a confusing maze of orange-plastic and wooden fences, closing many roads to both automobile and pedestrian traffic.

Billed by organizers as a rally and march to end the war on Iraq, a
variety of groups and causes were represented both by speakers on the stage and in the crowd. Orators and demonstrators alike highlighted the interconnectedness of their causes, and it was clear that different issues had spurred people to attend the protest, though the message was overwhelmingly anti-war. Ruiz Santiago, 21, a Bronx, New York native studying politics at City College in New York tied his family's experience in Colombia to the Iraq war.

"Colombia is being used, by companies and Bush's friends, for money,
just like Iraq," he said. "The companies and the private military – they all don't care about the poor people in Colombia, they just let them die. It is, I think, worse in Iraq because nobody is in charge."
Santiago said this was the first time he visited Washington, and the second time he had participated in a protest, the first being the counter-convention during the Republican Party's gathering in New York City last September. The enormity of that crowd and the
variety of events and people participating there had inspired Santiago to become active in political causes, he said.

The march, which was scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., did not step off
until after 1 o'clock, due to the mass of participants. Shortly before 2 p.m., with marchers having made little forward progress, an event organizer told the crowd filling the Ellipse and lining Constitution Avenue that logistical problems at the front, owing to the number of people in attendance, was keeping the march from rolling.

Saturday's demonstrations were spearheaded by a pair of anti-war
coalitions, International ANSWER and United for Peace and Justice, though local groups and unaffiliated activists from around the country pitched in to pull off the massive undertaking.

Some demonstrators carried signs and banners addressing economic
causes, such as advocating for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and tenants rights. A large contingent marched under the banner of US Labor Against War. The idea that the Bush administration's military ventures are draining much-needed resources on the domestic front was well-represented.

Joan from Baltimore, MD, who originally supported the Iraq war, was
attending her first peace demonstration. "This hurricane put me over the edge," she said. "Why are we using the troops in Iraq when we have enough to do in our own country?" She continued: "I thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. I thought they were a threat, but we had bad information."

Angela Kelly, who works with Student Peace Action Network, a DC-based group that organizes around anti-war and human rights issues, said, "A lot of students who are plugging into counter-recruitment efforts realize that it's poor people that are being targeted by recruiters and forced into the military." She added, "Katrina has brought a lot of economic justice and racial issues to the forefront…, and it adds fire to our movement."

Glen Sandberg, a long-time peace activist, organized a group to come
from his home in Gulf Port, Mississippi, where much of the area was destroyed by Katrina. "The way Bush handled the Katrina disaster was another disaster," he said.

Diane Spencer marched with the US Labor Against War contingent. "Seeing all these people today, this is great," she said. "Maybe we'll get somewhere out of this. Maybe all these diverse groups coming together means more than what we see in our own cities and towns," Spencer added, noting that, at the very least, the size of national convergence should encourage local groups to be more active.

Spencer and her cohort Tim Thomas had traveled to Washington on one of two buses from Chicago chartered by three area unions, Service Employees International Union Locals 4 and 20 and United Auto Workers Local 550. Neither protester had previously been very involved in activism outside of union efforts, they said.

"It's great to come out and see the diversity of people, the diversity
of ideas and the goodwill being represented here," Thomas told The NewStandard. "After seeing and being a part of this, we're definitely going to go back and do more anti-war and anti-Bush organizing locally. I think that with labor working with all these other groups to end this war and call the President to account, things can get done."

Kermit Leibensperger, who works two jobs as an electrician and teacher
and has been an activist since 1967, is already looking toward the next protest, one he believes will allow people to participate wherever they live, instead of limiting action only to those who can travel for large protests in faraway cities. He is helping organize a nationwide "Rosa Parks Anniversary Strike" against poverty, racism and war on December 1.

"If everyone came who wanted to come to this protest, there would be
millions here today," Leibensperger said.

"Iraq has slipped onto the backburner and we felt compelled to do
something," said Laurie Sargent, a musician from New Hampshire who was part of "Testy Goyls," a group of mothers, teachers and friends who had banded together for peace vigils and Democratic fundraisers in their home town to protest the Iraq war.

"We had goose bumps all the way down on our trip to DC," said Gail
Erdos Belmon, also a member of the group.

The Matriots, from Western Massachusetts, were dressed up in colorful
wigs, clothing and jewelry. Group member Sarah Acker explained: "We're mothers and feminists and we didn't raise our children to be killed in a war. We want to bring the mother-woman balance to the male-dominated world."

The slogan of group, painted on a large sign they carried, declared,
"We want for the world what mothers want for their kids."

Tatiana Lam is a high-school student and anti-war organizer who does
counter recruitment work in schools. "I hope people learned about things they didn't know about before," she said, "and gain a better sense of awareness and that people go home and do outreach and organizing work."

Along the March route, two members of the National War Tax Resisters
Coordinating Committee stood in front of the Internal Revenue Service calling on people to stop supporting the US war machine.

"Watch your pockets, folks, you're passing the IRS," Daniel Woodham, of Greensboro, North Carolina, called as marchers neared the end of the route. He and a colleague, Rob Randall, both of Brunswick, Georgia, handed out flyers directing people to a website with detailed information on war-tax resistance.

A handful of counter-protesters showed up along the route, but they
were barely noticeable among the throngs of anti-war activists. Jeremiah Baldwin, of the Open Air Gospel Ministry in Jacksonville, Florida said, "We support the war and the troops and freedom in Iraq, freedom for women to vote… we're Christians and we stand up for Jesus, too."

Mobilization for Global Justice, an organization of activists demanding
an end to the World Bank and IMF's economic policies, organized a feeder march from Dupont Circle under the banner, "Another World is Under Construction." The feeder march, scheduled to leave Dupont circle at 12:30, met up with the main anti-war demonstration later in the afternoon.

Participants made the connection between the Iraq war and the policies of the World Bank and the IMF, which are actively involved in transforming modern Iraq. Virginia Setsheti of the Anti-Privatization Forum in South Africa told InterPress Service, "It is not just about war. It is about how many people die around the world because of unfair policies and actions – a large part of which are economic. "

Law enforcement officials declined to provide official crowd estimates
but DC Police Chief Charles Ramsey noted that organizers had probably met their goal of attracting 100,000 people to the event. Organizers put the number at about 300,000. The spread-out nature of the demonstration made a crowd estimate difficult.

Today, organizers planned interfaith services, town hall-style
meetings, workshops and vigils. With politicians scheduled to be working in the nation's capitol Monday, groups are planning non-violent direct action and lobbying.

© 2005 The NewStandard.

link

Casey's banner comes to the Washington Mall

Bring Them Home NOW!

1900+ Crosses to remember those who have died in Iraq

Camp Casey, DC

Camp Casey is now on Constitution Ave at the foot of the Washington Monument. Crosses representing the over 1900 soldiers who have died in Iraq have been erected. Boots lie on the corner....empty sentries watching over the camp. It is very hot...and has been since my arrival. Several people are milling about. There is a large map for visitors to sign. Above are several pictures around the camp.

Shelter from the Storm

I came to Washington concerned for my soldier. He is possibly in the path of Rita and scheduled to leave the area for NY on Sunday. I think he attracks hurricanes - last year it was Charley, Jeanne and Ivan. This year Katrina and Rita.

Anyhow, I guess the Army felt that Rita could be a bigger force than they and therefore changed his travel plans. On Friday evening, I spoke with him -- safely but rather sleepy in Syracuse.

More Candlelight and Prayers

At The Wall Friday Evening.

Friday Vigil

Vigil goers marching from Camp Casey to the Wall

Candlelight and Prayers

September 23 Candlelight Vigil

Demonstrators came by plane, train, automobile, bus and bike....and there were thousands. The DC police estimated the crowd at "over 100,000" for the march and rally. Over the next few days, I will post more pictures and stories from the weekend.

On Friday evening, Military Families and various Veterans groups met on the grounds of Camp Casey to pay our respects and to grieve for our young men and women who had died in the Global War on Terror. Gold Star Families shared shared stories of their loved ones lost. Prayers were offered to seek comfort for those who had lost so much...and those assembled walked from Camp Casey to The Vietnam War Memorial on the Mall to honor those who had served and died with our assembled Vets for Peace. There were about 250 people who participated - primarily from Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Vets for Peace, Iraq Vets Against the War, and Viet Nam Vets Against the War. Virtually every state in the US was represented.

To DC With A Question

A Question for the President

A week from now, Military Families, Gold Star Families and Veterans will be joined by thousands of Americans in Washington DC on the Mall to demand that the troops be brought home now. We expect that those who served our country will be honored. We expect that those wounded in the service of our country will be cared for properly. We expect that the nation will rally around the families of those soldiers who have given their lives.

In the hurricane ravaged areas of this country, there is a need for families to be reunited to begin the process of starting anew. Sadly, many of our first responders remain in Iraq and Afghanistan even as they do not know the condition of their own families and homes.

It is time....NO it is PAST time to stop the bloodshed and begin the process of healing -- our own country and the countries we invaded. It is time to BRING THEM HOME...NOW!

I will see you in DC.

Resolutions

Many have wondered if Camp Casey would carry through to bring meaningful change. The jury is still out on that but signs of progress can be seen.

The tour group left last week. This week the City Counsels of Evanston and Chicago approved resolutions to encourage the President to order the speedy and orderly withdrawl of our troops now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Polls show that the people of the United States no longer see a strategic benefit for our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan particularly following the biggest natural disaster in the history of the nation. With the reports out of the Gulf Coast indicating a rising death toll hundreds of thousands of people displaced, our resources....all of them... are needed at home to help our neighbors. The task of rebuilding will be huge and our people need to be the priority.

Today, the tour was in Philadelphia. The City Council welcomed the group with a resolution that both welcomed them to the City of Brotherly Love AND offered encouragement to the federal government to bring our troops home quickly.

In a week, people from all over the country will gather on the Washington Mall to express to the President that we want the troops home - NOW! Join us. It promises to be a historic event.

Flags, flowers....we will never forget!

Moms respond

Blue Star Mom, Sherry addresses the crowd

Need we say more?

Gold Star Dad, Al addresses the crowd

Shoes representing the Iraqi child victims of war

Louisiana....Wisconsin

Bring Them Home Tour visits Highland Park

Eyes Wide Open in Highland Park

On the final day of the Bring Them Home tour in Chicago, the bus visited the memorial display of Eyes Wide Open in Highland Park. This memorial has been up for several weeks and has sparked conversations in a newly created public forum area in the town. Prior to their visit to the display, Cindy Sheehan and other Gold Star Family members met with the staff of Mark Kirk at his Deerfield office. They issued an invitation for Mr. Kirk to pay them a visit during the upcoming demonstration in Washington DC.

The names of all of the soldiers killed in Iraq are displayed behind the boots and shoes - the boots represent the soldiers who have been killed...and the shoes represent innocent Iraqi victims of the war. Scattered throughout the display are red and purple poppies to symbolize the countless severe injuries that too, are part of the war. The members of the tour read the names of those killed in the last 12 days accompanied by the haunting strains of a bagpipe dirge. After all of the names were read, student from the local high school played Taps.

All members of the bus tour spoke...and then asked me to make an ad hoc speech. (scary!)

After many hugs...we said goodby to the North Bring Them Home tour. I will be meeting up with them in Washington later this month.

More light in the darkness

Iraq Vet, Cody

Gold Star Dad, Juan speaks of shattered dreams and a beloved son.

Gold Star Mom, Karen asks "For What Noble Cause?"

Flickers of light brighten the darkness

Boots that represent the wounded soldiers

The Cost to Illinois

Tuesday Vigil

For What Noble Cause?

The Cost of War

Remembering those honorable soldiers from Illinois who gave their lives

Camp Casey - North

Camp Casey - North

On Sunday, the Bring Them Home Now tour arrived in Chicagoland. To make the travelers comfortable, several peace groups set up Camp Casey North on the grounds of a local church. On Saturday, we made crosses to memorialize the 76 soldiers from Illinois who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Sunday afternoon, several of our guys set them up in front of the church.

We had a pot luck welcome dinner at the home of a local peace friend on Monday evening so our travelers could fuel up for a very busy few days in Chicago. Tuesday, the camp will be "installed" at 06:00. Then the travelers will be off to tell some inner city kids a bit of truth about recruiting. In the afternoon, they will stop by the office of Rahm Emanual to ask if he knows what noble cause our kids are dying for. In the evening, a candlelight vigil will be held at Camp Casey North. Our travelers and a few others will share with us their experiences at Camp Casey. On Wednesday, a visit to Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert is planned to ask him if he knows what noble cause our kids are dying for. Cindy Sheehan will join the tour. There will be another candlelight vigil. On the final day, the travelers will visit Mark Kirk - again to ask that important question. A visit to the Eyes Wide Open display on the North Shore will complete the Chicago Tour...and they will be off - headed toward Washington, DC and the September 24th March and Rally. I will meet up with them there.

More pictures will be posted.

Hurricane Katrina

Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot --- Aaron Broussard - President, Jefferson Parish

A little over a week ago, Katrina roared into the Gulf Coast leveling the city of New Orleans along with several cities, towns and villages on the Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama coast.

The Federal response has been horribly slow, resulting in further death and destruction. As the politicians in Washington scramble to save their political capital - America knows we are no safer despite assurances.

Major components of the MS and LA National Guard watched the unfolding disaster on television - in Iraq. As their friends and neighbors lost everything, including their lives - our first responders were "spreading democracy and protecting our freedoms", thousands of miles away.

In the days and weeks ahead, surely we will learn the price of the hubris of those in Washington. And it will be counted in grave markers.