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 On this day 5 years ago, the U.S. Senate voted to give George W. Bush the authorization to go to war in Iraq. The president was, of course, pleased with this vote and said, "America speaks with one voice."
Today, an amazing and powerful story is unfolding in this country. We've all known for some time that most people want the war and occupation in Iraq to end. Now, for the first time, people from all walks of life will have an opportunity to be counted as part of a national, public protest without having to travel to Washington, DC, or New York City. People are responding, looking forward to "speak[ing] with one voice" to demand an end to this outrageous war. Momentum is building for the 11 regional demonstrations that will be held on Saturday, October 27th. At the same time, there is still a lot of work to do. We need to make sure people throughout the country know they are welcome, and that there is most likely an activity close enough for them to attend. We need your help to do this. - Be sure to get up-to-date information about what's happening in your region: Check the October 27th website at www.oct27.org. And join the hundreds who have already registered to become part of the Oct 27th online community, where you can post ride and housing offers/requests, participate in forums, plug into local organizing, watch and share Oct 27th videos, and download flyers, web buttons and more.
- Friday, October 19th, is the second of the monthly Iraq Moratorium Days. We are organizing a national day of outreach for the regional mobilizations on that day and urge you to join us. Download the leaflet for your region at www.oct27.org, make copies, and go out into public places next Friday to help get the word out.
- Please share the highlights about each regional demonstration below with your friends and family across the country and encourage them to attend an action in their region! (Specifics about each event can be found at www.oct27.org.)
And take a moment right now to make the largest donation you can to help ensure the success of the October 27th national day of action against the war. Your financial support is greatly needed; if you can't travel to one of the regional mobilizations, you can still contribute in a concrete way by supporting the mobilization in your area financially. Remember, no donation is neither too large, nor too small! OVERVIEW OF OCTOBER 27th REGIONAL ACTIONS...
Endorsed by 95 organizations throughout New England, including the AFL-CIO state federations in Vermont and Connecticut, the demonstration will feature noted historian Howard Zinn, John Olsen (President, Connecticut AFL-CIO), Son of Nun (political hip-hop), David Rovics (topical folk) and representatives from veterans and military families organizations.
More than 130 groups and three members of Congress are already endorsing the midwest action. Peace trains and buses are coming from Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and at least 30 African-American churches on Chicago's South Side are bringing busloads of people to the march and rally.
Jonesborough is home to Aerojet Ordnance Tennessee, one of the largest producers of Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons. That fact, and its central location, led regional organizers to decide this was an ideal location for an October 27th demonstration in the southeast. The day will begin with a rally at the Courthouse steps where the mayor of Jonesborough will welcome the peacemakers.
Following a march to the Federal Building, participants will be asked to be part of a die-in to represent the more than 1 million Iraqis and almost 4,000 US servicepeople killed in the war.
After a rally in Washington Square, the march will proceed through the French Quarter. People from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana are joining this event. In addition to calling for an end to the war in Iraq, this march and rally will address the racial injustice on the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans and Jena, Louisiana.
The labor movement, college and high school students, and community groups from around New York State and northern New Jersey are mobilizing for a massive march and rally to end the war. The march will end at a Peace and Justice Fair, where there will be opportunities for people to find out how they can become more involved in the ongoing work of many organizations.
| Endorsements are pouring in, and people are coming from South Carolina, Georgia, parts of Alabama, and from all over Florida. Since national marches are usually so far away and such a major trip for people in Florida, folks are responding with a lot of excitement to this call to Orlando.
A caravan led by Iraq Veterans Against the War will make its way from Arlington Cemetery to Philadelphia, with stops in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Delaware. At each stop, a "coffin," bearing the count of U.S. military deaths from that state, and an estimate of the Iraqi casualties from a particular province, will be loaded on a vehicle to join the caravan. In Camden, NJ, participants in a morning rally will march across the Ben Franklin Bridge to Philadelphia, and on to Independence Mall. In Philadelphia, a Human Chain for Peace will extend 36 blocks, followed by a march to the rally at Independence Mall.
People from Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and around Utah will come together in a major march and rally in Salt Lake City. An Iraq War veteran will give an opening address before the march. The event culminates at Washington Square, where nationally recognized speakers will address the gathering. The Mayor of Salt Lake City, Rocky Anderson, is supporting this effort.
Several feeder marches from various parts of the city will join people from throughout northern California at the Civic Center for a pre-march rally. The main march will proceed to Dolores Park, where there will be another rally and a Peace and Justice Convergence. The convergence will feature activities designed to help educate people about a number of critical issues and bring them into greater involvement. A massive number of groups in the Bay Area and around the region have endorsed the demonstration and more are expected.
Throughout Washington and Oregon, organizing is underway to bring people to Seattle. People will gather in Judkins Park for a rally and then march to Occidental Park. The march is planned to go through communities in Seattle so the antiwar message gets out far and wide. | VISIT WWW.OCT27.ORG FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
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