March 19 update:
Click here to read hundreds of reports on this past weekend’s antiwar events.
Monday marks the fourth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. The carnage and waste of the war are obvious to all. As Stephen F. Cohen writes in The Nation, “complete and immediate withdrawal is the only way to redeem our nation for its role the catastrophe.” This is what antiwar groups are demanding in a series of protests, demonstrations, rallies and concerts this weekend.
There’s a national March on the Pentagon in Washington March 17 and lots and lots of small, local actions taking place nationwide.
An understandable march fatigue has set in among many progressives, but it still seems important to me to mark this terrible anniversary with as much noise as possible. Yes, we’ve done it before and the war still rages on. And I’m personally glad that the entire antiwar movement, such as it is, hasn’t put its energy into bringing as many people as possible to DC this month. Seems better to me at this moment to invest the resources in other forms of opposition and outreach. But I’m also pleased to see that there are at least 1,000 antiwar events planned for this weekend across the US.
In Fayetteville, NC, the home of Fort Bragg, a peace fair with live music from Holly Near and others will start at 10:00am on Saturday.
In Tulsa, there’ll be a peace rally and vigil for Oklahoma’s war dead starting at 1 pm on Sunday, featuring short speeches, a performance from the All Souls’ Unitarian choir and an address by Marlin Lavanhar, All Souls’ senior pastor.
In Nashville, musicians, speakers and marchers will gather on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Owen Bradley Park at 16th and Division for a rally and march to the Federal Building at Broadway and 9th Avenue.
Across the state of Maine, more than 100 rural towns will participate in a campaign called “From Every Village Green.”
In New York City, marchers will assemble on Sunday at 1:00 pm at 35th Street east of Sixth Avenue for a walk along 42nd St. to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
The weather is expected to be bright and sunny across America this weekend. Click here to see what’s going on near you.
