REPORT ON CHRISTCHURCH PROTEST MARCH 20,
2004
BY LARRY ROSS APRIL 14,
2004
About 300 people assembled
at the Christchurch Museum at 2.00 pm, March 20/04 with an array of
banners and posters protesting about the US war on Iraq, such as 'STOP
MAD COWBOY DISEASE'
We then walked to the Christchurch Square and had speakers address us
in front of the Cathedral. All called for the US and NZ to remove troops
from Iraq. One 15 year old Iraqi student from Villa Maria School, had
just returned from a 3 month visit to Baghdad, and told the crowd about
the terrible conditions in Iraq, brought about by the war. The Dean
of Christchurch , Peter Beck and Dr Bob Leonard of Lincoln University
were among the speakers. The peaceful crowd dispersed about 3.30 pm
Larry Ross, Secretary,
NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking
Continuing
Protest about US War on Iraq -
Comment by Larry Ross April 14, 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christchurch:- Saturday, March 20th, 2pm
Gather outside Cathedral, march to Square
*** PLEASE FORWARD FAR & WIDE ***
* ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
MARCH 20th: The World Still Says No to War!
MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION
Momentum
is building across the globe for the Global Day of Action against War
and Occupation on March 20, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing
and invasion of Iraq.
On that day millions around the globe will take to the streets
to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. Joining
with growing numbers of military families and soldiers, we will call
for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bush's militaristic foreign
policies. March 20th will be the first time the world's "other
superpower," as the New York Times described us, will take center
stage since February 15th, when more than ten million people across
the globe expressed their opposition to Bush's
looming war on Iraq.
The US protests will also take on the war at home. We will express
the growing opposition to the so-called PATRIOT Act, authorizing political
arrests, indefinite detentions, domestic spying, and religious and racial
profiling. We will call for an end to the mass detentions and deportations
of innocent immigrants in the name of fighting terrorism. We will say
no to massive military spending amidst vast cuts in vital domestic social
and economic programs.
In September representatives of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
took a proposal for a global day of action on March 20th against pre-emptive
war and the occupation of Iraq to the preparatory meeting of the European
Social Forum (ESF), the body that put out the call for February 15th.
UFPJ was critical in moving delegates from Italy, the UK, Greece, Turkey,
and elsewhere to back global demonstrations on March 20th.
With strong support from much of the European anti-war movement,
UFPJ's Steering Committee decided in October to formally call for a
Global Day of Action on March 20th. We immediately promoted it on our
website and in emails to our national listserves. At the October 25th
protest in Washington, DC, UFPJ volunteers distributed thousands of
leaflets that included a \"Save the Date\" notice for March
20th. Before thousands of demonstrators and on C-SPAN, UFPJ announced
our call for actions on March 20th from the rally podium.
We anticipate the European Social Forum will formally approve
this proposal later this week. UFPJ, the ESF, and other anti-war activists
will then build support for March 20th at the January, 2004 meeting
of the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India.
UFPJ is pleased to have played a vital role in initiating and
building momentum for a broad-based, global day of action against war
and occupation on March 20th. We envision regional demonstrations in
key cities across the US and look forward to working with member groups
and allies to build them.
Many member groups on UFPJ's Steering Committee are already actively
building March 20th. Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace,
US Labor Against the War, Racial Justice 911: People of Color Against
the War, Not In Our Name, and other anti-war forces have expressed strong
interest in joining this call. A.N.S.W.E.R. recently announced they
will participate in March 20th activities.
For March 20th to be a success here in the US, the broadest range
of forces for peace and justice must be at the decision-making table
and actively involved in building this day. UFPJ looks forward to contributing
to that process.
It's not too early to begin building March 20th. Below are ideas
on what you can do.
GET OUT THE WORD
Circulate this email wide and far. UFPJ will soon have flyers,
stickers, and other resources available to help you get out the word.
HAVE YOUR GROUP ENDORSE MARCH 20TH
Email m20endorse@unitedforpeace.org
or call UFPJ(212-868-5545) to let us know your group is on board.
BEGIN PLANNING LOCAL MARCH 20th ACTIONS
Bring together local groups to plan March 20th actions in your
community.
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P.S. On Nov. 19-21, tens of thousands of people will gather in
Miami in a powerful mobilization against the Free Trade Area of the
Americas, in what promises to be the most important showdown over corporate
globalization since Seattle.
For
more information, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org.
-------------------------------------------
UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE http://www.unitedforpeace.org
212-868-5545
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