765 ANTI-WAR ACTIONS AROUND THE U.S.

ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
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AT LEAST 765 ANTI-WAR ACTIONS AROUND THE U.S.
MARK TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ INVASION

In at least 765 towns and cities around the United States, people gathered for peace last
weekend on the two-year anniversary of invasion of Iraq. Thousands marched, rallied,
participated in religious services, and solemnly read the names of those who have been killed in
this unjustified and futile war.

The extraordinary breadth of the weekend's anti-war activities reflect the vitality of
grassroots peace activism. Anti-war events were held in all 50 states, and in more than twice as
many communities as during last year's anniversary of the war.

Bad weather throughout the country didn't deter people from taking to the streets for peace.
Sister Bay, Wisconsin, saw a doubling in the number of local residents willing to protest
publicly against the war, as six people braved a snowstorm to display peace signs to passing
cars. Despite pouring rain, more than 300 people took part in a two-mile anti-war march in
Tucson, Arizona.

There were courageous acts of civil resistance: Thirty-five people occupied the office today of
Congressman Tom Allen in Portland, Maine, to protest his recent vote in favor of the $82 billion
war appropriation. Seventy people shut down a military recruiting center in Eugene, Oregon, for
an entire day. In New York City, thirty people were arrested at simultaneous civil disobedience
actions at military recruiting centers in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Many events featured family members of active-duty soldiers, veterans of this and previous wars,
and relatives of slain servicepeople, all speaking out against the continued U.S. military
occupation of Iraq. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, the home of Ft. Bragg, more than 4000
people joined military families and vets to say real support for the troops means bringing them
home. It was the largest protest there since Vietnam.

We've now received reportbacks from more than 175 different communities where anti-war events
took place. (If you haven't sent yours in yet, please write to reportback [at] unitedforpeace.org)
The reports we received from smaller towns and cities are particularly inspiring, reflecting a
real growth in anti-war sentiment and organizing in many conservative areas of the country.

Some examples:

In Sandpoint, Idaho -- a town with a population of about 7000, in a county that voted almost 2-1
for Bush over Kerry -- a lively crowd of 195 people took part in a peace march through town, and
120 attended a community forum on war and peace. "The energy was great. Democracy is
burgeoning!" wrote Evan Martin, one of the organizers.

In Barre, Vermont, a group of 70-100 people held a vigil in front of the Barre Army Recruitment
Center. "Though Barre is typically a conservative town many cars and SUVs on this very busy main
road were honking in favor of the vigil," wrote Debra Stoleroff. "We felt surprised and
hopeful."

In Terre Haute, Indiana, organizer Cathy McGuire reports, "Our fear was that it would only be
our core group of ten who would come [to our demonstration], and when it turned into 40 we were
thrilled…. It looks like we are back in the demonstration business again."

In Providence, Rhode Island, the Community Coalition for Peace held a peace march with about 450
participants. "As a result of the event," organizer Mark Stahl reports, "we doubled the size of
our listserv membership and experienced a resurgence of enthusiasm and initiative in building
for the future."

Glade Church in Blacksburg, VA, hosted a candlelight peace vigil with about 20 participants --
the first directly anti-war event held at the church in recent years.

A vigil, march, and town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, drew more than 500
participants -- making it, in the words of organizer Matthew Smucker, "the largest anti-war
event in Lancaster at least in the past three decades, possibly ever."

Finally, from Emporia, Kansas, Ellen Hansen writes, "e were a small group of only 6 people.
Nevertheless we lit candles, hiding them from the wind blowing across the Kansas plains. … We
discussed the importance of participating even in a small gathering such as we held, in order to
make the statement that we are against the war in Iraq and that it is not being conducting with
our support or in our names. We live in a very RED state, in a small city where no Democrats won
at the local level last November.…We're small, but we'll keep making a noise for change."

UFPJ's strategy for this year's anniversary of the war was to emphasize local protests and local
movement-building, rather than to focus on a handful of large mobilizations in major cities.
Judging from the reports we've received, it was an extremely successful approach, helping to
deepen and broaden anti-war sentiment all across the nation.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this such an important weekend in our struggle to
end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home!

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MAY 1: END THE WAR! ABOLISH NUKES!
NYC March and Rally for Peace in Iraq and Disarmament Worldwide
Visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org for leaflets and more information
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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
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