ANTI-WAR PROTEST

International Day of Action
Saturday, March 21, 2009
On the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War

From Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime
We Need Jobs & Education - Not Wars & Occupation

The ANSWER Coalition is joining with other coalitions, organizations, and networks in a March 21 National Coalition to bring people from all walks of life and from cities all across the country to take part in a Mass March on the Pentagon and for joint actions in San Francisco and Los Angeles on the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war: Saturday, March 21.

More than 1,000 organizations and individuals have now endorsed the March 21, 2009, Mass Marches to say “Bring the Troops Home NOW!” on the sixth anniversary of the criminal invasion of Iraq.

The thousands who march will demand “From Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime” and “We Need Jobs and Education, Not Wars and Occupation.” They will insist on an end to the war threats and economic sanctions against Iran. They will say no to the illegal U.S. program of detention and torture.

Members of the March 21 National Coalition and supporters include:
- ANSWER Coalition
- Muslim American Society Freedom
- National Council of Arab Americans
- National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations
- Veterans for Peace
- Ramsey Clark
- Cindy Sheehan
- The World Can't Wait
- Paul Haggis, Academy-Award winning director and screenwriter
- Edward Asner, Actor
- Mimi Kennedy, Actor and Activist
- Elaine Johnson, Gold Star Mother
- Tina Richards, Executive Director, Grassroots America
- Angola 3 Defense Committee
- Herman Wallace, Political Prisoner, Angola Prison, Louisiana
- Albert Woodfox, Political Prisoner, Angola Prison, Louisiana
- Raul Pacheco, guitarist, Ozomatli
- David Swanson, After Downing Street
- Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild*
- Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights*
- Michael Smith, Member of the Board, Center for Constitutional Rights*
- Blase and Theresa Bonpane, Office of the Americas
- Middle East Children's Alliance
& hundreds of others!
*for identification purposes only

While millions of families are losing their homes, jobs and healthcare, the real military budget next year will top one trillion dollars--that's $1,000,000,000,000. If used to meet people’s needs, that amount could create 10 million new jobs at $60,000 per year, provide healthcare for everyone who does not have it now, rebuild New Orleans, and repair much of the damage done in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. The cost for the occupation of Iraq alone is $400 million each day, or about $12 billion each month.

The war in Iraq has killed, wounded or displaced nearly one third of Iraq’s 26 million people. Thousands of U.S. soldiers have been killed, and hundreds of thousands more have suffered severe physical and psychological wounds. The U.S. leaders who have initiated and conducted this criminal war should be tried and jailed for war crimes.

The war in Afghanistan is expanding. Robert Gates, Bush's defense secretary, who was kept at his post by President Obama, has announced that the troop levels in Afghanistan may double in the coming months. Both he and Vice President Biden predicted higher casualties--or what they cavalierly call "an uptick" in casualties--in the coming period.

We must also act to end U.S. support for Israel’s on-going war against the Palestinian people. The Bush Administration also gave the green light and provided the weapons and the money for Israel’s recent war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. More than 5,000 Palestinians were killed or wounded; the majority of casualties were civilians, including hundreds of children, in this high tech massacre. And “We the People” paid the bill, as the U.S. provides $2.5 billion a year for Israel’s massive military machine.

The March 21, 2009, March on the Pentagon will be a critical opportunity to let the new administration in Washington hear the voice of the people demanding an immediate end to wars and occupation, and demanding economic justice. Joint actions will take place in San Francisco, 11am at Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero) and in Los Angeles.




A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism