SF IVAW Stands in Silence for Fallen Soldiers, Civilians in Iraq

Blocking Market Street with a banner in honor of American soldiers and Iraqis killed in the war, San Francisco Iraq Veterans Against the War and their allies stood in silence to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

The gathering asked San Franciscans to give one second of silence for each US soldier killed, hoping the city would respect the 71 minutes in memory of over 4,000 soldiers killed. While crowds gathered along the sidewalk to watch the silent tribute, the San Francisco police gave their notice of arrest, and after 45 minutes handcuffed and arrested five veterans and six supporters.

IVAW organized the protest to bring attention to the continuing occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the over one million Iraqi dead and over 4,000 US soldiers killed in the past six years.