Paris, France
My wife and I were in France in September and took a break from our routine on Moratorium Day to support the Iraq Moratorium and call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq while we were at the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. My wife lit candles for all those who have suffered and all those who have lost their lives in this horrible war, and I held a sign -- made from the inside of a gift bag, which said, "Iraq Moratorium" with the peace sign. Hundreds of people watched silently. Some were praying. (From Paul Krehbiel)
Cornwall, CT
On Friday, September 19, the Cornwall Iraq Moratorium held its thirteenth consecutive event. The meeting was held in the Cornwall Public Library. Jeremy Brecher, author and a founding member of the IM Cornwall Edition, led a lively discussion on topics as diverse as the upcoming elections, humor, manipulation of facts, the national corporate media, the dynamics of trivialization, the military-industrial complex, turning off the TV, deregulation, and conservation of jobs, the dollar, the environment and the breadbasket of the Midwest. The common thread uniting all facets of the discussion was that ordinary citizens can be a visible presence, "to say that we cannot ignore that the war in Iraq is still going on, even as it seems to disappear from the national media and the campaigns," according to Brecher. The collegial atmosphere was supported by coffee (decaf, in the interest of cool heads prevailing), tea and cookies.
The Cornwall Iraq Moratorium, which is part of a national movement, is built around a pledge by participants to do something each month to end the war in Iraq. August's meeting, a potluck supper and music/dance fest at Foote Field in Cornwall drew about 150 participants, making it, as Brecher noted wryly, "perhaps the best attended per capita of any in the nation." Programs with various foci are held monthly on the third Friday, and all are welcome to attend. Next up is a protest vigil at 5:00 p.m. on the Cornwall Bridge Green on Moratorium Day #14, October 17. For more information call (860) 672-0183.
Santa Barbara, CA
Our first Iraq Moratorium event was successful. We set up a mock cemetary of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Our local KEYT tv station was there and it appeared at 6pm news on Friday, 9/19 and the Channels, SBCC student newspaper was also there with photographers.
Hayward, WI
Encouraged by a recent letter to the editor in our local paper reminding readers that the Iraq Moratorium is for all and any groups opposed to senseless war, (and tireless networking and phone calling) the Iraq Moratorium continues to grow and succeed in the small town of 2100 in northern WI. 40 protesters crammed the sidewalk over the 2 hour vigil from 4-6 PM. That is the beauty of the Moratorium - it is an umbrella for all groups. Of course, in an election year, people are infused with the need for change in Washington therefore a number of Obama supporters were present with their signs. Everyone is welcome as must work together to make real change in our country. We will keep at it for a energy infused event in October.
Duluth, MN/Superior WI
The Northland Ant-War Coalition had our biggest Iraq Moratorium event ever (except for the 2007 Strike for Peace) last week --20 folks at a picket at Memorial Park on Grand Avenue in West Duluth. We'll had signs demanding "Bring the Troops Home Now!" and handed out fliers highlighting how much the war in Iraq is costing, and what that money would buy if it were put towards providing health care, or other social services. Still not as big as Hayward, but we're gaining on them! We had a lot of new folks from University of Minnesota-Duluth Students from Peace, some University of Wisconsin-Superior students, and some folks from the Network of Spiritual Progressives that we've been reaching out to more lately. The neighborhood that we held the picket in, West Duluth, has a reputation for being very conservative, but the response we got from passing motorists and pedestrians was overwhelmingly positive.
San Francisco, CA
Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Peace Vigil
The September Vigil was our twelfth (we started last October). We had a relatively small but enthusiastic turnout, with a good mix of returning vigilers and new faces. A young man from Arizona passed by and joined us as his father took pictures from across the street:
A couple from Denmark saw one of our flyers and joined us:
Once again, passing motorists honked in support, and pedestrians, cyclists, bus passengers and drivers, as well as drivers and passengers of cars and vans waved, flashed peace signs, or otherwise expressed their support. More pictures of this vigil and of our past vigils can be seen here
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Moratorium Vigil.
We held our Iraq Moratorium event at the Takoma Metro in September, with a potluck afterwards at a nearby church. We will continue to alternate between the Takoma Metro and the Silver Spring Metro, with potlucks at the church the months we are in Takoma.
Laramie, WY
Stand Up for Peace. Every Friday afternoon since January 2003, a small but dedicated group of Laramie residents has stood on the corner of 3rd and Grand to protest the war and urge people to honk for peace. While our numbers have been dwindling the last year or so, as people become more and more depressed about the lack of action in Washington, we had a terrific turnout last Friday, Moratorium Day. Some 15 people showed up to urge people to oppose the war.
The honks for peace were almost constant during the half hour we were on the corner. We even had a semi honk for us, unsolicited. While we sometimes get semis to honk, we usually have to encourage them to do so. Not so with this truck. We all had a wonderful half hour of very high energy and lots of enthusiasm. Wyoming may be a "red state" but it has clearly turned against the war in Iraq.
St Louis, MO
Peace Economy Project, PEP BBQ and Iraq Moratorium. The Peace Economy Project had a wonderful, intimate, and tasty gathering last Friday. A local radio personality came and sang some wonderful labor songs and a representative from St Louis Jobs With Justice came and discussed the current state of the labor movement in the US, focusing on difficulties of organizing even long standing unions and the way history has shaped their current political dynamic. He also mentioned the labor movement in Iraq and the strikes that have occurred there, noting that solidarity with these workers is invaluable on the road to peace in Iraq.
New York City, NY
Diplomacy Works! War Is Not Inevitable was the theme of the Granny Peace Brigade and CodePink Phone-A-Thon at City Hall Park on Friday, September 19.
There’s plenty of unease in the economy this week; the day’s flier is headlined “DOES YOUR BUDGET HAVE $$$ FOR WAR?” Edith greets passers-by with, “Help stop the next war!” “Call your senators!” People accept the flier.
We talk about the way senators have been sounding the war drums towards Iran in amendments to the Fiscal 2009 Defense Authorization Bill. Turns out it has been passed the day before, minus most of the over 200 amendments proposed. The workings of the senate aren’t easy to explain to citizens on the street, nor for us to follow, even if we’re trying hard to stay on top of things.
Policemen and postmen and lots of other people give us the thumbs up when they see this sign.
These things cheer us: Fran’s newly registered 19 year-old Queens woman, learning who is her congressional rep, taking our info sheet for phoning reps and senators. Caroline’s Russian woman who doesn’t trust her English but wants to thank her Congresswoman Yvette Clark for supporting Peace by abstaining from H Con Res 362, the anti-Iran tirade proposed by New York’s Gary Ackerman.
Phoners to representatives reading the back of the flier find:
THERE IS LEGISLATION PENDING IN THE SENATE & HOUSE THAT CAN LEAD TO SANE, SMART FOREIGN POLICY.
Senator Clinton is co-sponsor of S 759 – prohibiting the use of funds for military operations in Iran. In the House: HR 5056, the Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008, calls for the appointment of a high-level United States representative/special enjoy for Iran for the purpose of easing tensions and normalizing relations between the United States and Iran.
DIPLOMACY WORKS!
WAR IS NOT INEVITABLE.
Call the Congressional switchboard (800) 828-0498.
In the coming weeks we’ll tell people about a new resolution: On September 18, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced H.R. 6951, “To prohibit the use of funds by the Central Intelligence Agency or the Department of Defense to provide covert or clandestine assistance for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of Iran.” The short title of the legislation has been changed to “Transparent Actions over Covert Tactics in Iran Act 0f 2008” or the “TACT in Iran Act.” The bill has six co-sponsors, including Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-NM), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). We’ll ask New York City Congressional Reps to sign onto this one.
- Caroline Chinlund with Fran, Jenny, Joan P., Eva-Lee, Edith and Owen
- Photos, Eva-Lee Baird
DePere, WI
The Peace and Justice Center at St. Norbert College held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil for peace in Iraq on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. Photos submitted by Patti Cole.
San Francisco, CA
Hayes Valley Neighbors for Peace held their fourth Moratorium Day vigil. It was very lively with many people honking for peace and music by Mokai. KGO, alocal news outlet sent someone to cover the event. Next month Cindy Sheehan will be making an appearance. As always, it was a lot of fun and provided folks an opportunity to connect with each other about their frustration with the war and lack of accountability that the Bush administration enjoys. It felt really good to do something about it.
Madison, WI
Freeway Blogging on September 19
Larry, Judy, and Steve enjoying all the honks, waves, and peace signs from passing motorists!!
Harlem, NY
As I have done previously, I posted the number of US troops dead in Iraq in my street-facing windows for the whole of Moratorium Day #13. Troop deaths in Iraq may have fallen some, but they've fallen almost completely out of the media, even during this last week which featured both an Army sergeant shooting his superior and another sergeant and a helicopter crash which killed seven.Remember, the sooner they all come home, the more of them will come home alive!
Rice Lake, WI
Iraq Moratorium Stand for Peace. Almost 20 enthusiastic "People for Peace" came out to stand for peace at the corner of Knapp and Main streets in Rice Lake, in observance of September's Iraq Moratorium Day. The highlight of the afternoon was when we were approached by two men who told us they were veterans, one from the Vietnam war and one from the Iraqi war. They were initially pretty upset at what we were doing and told us so. The Iraq war vet was wounded in action and said that seeing us out on the boulevard made him feel like what he did was for nothing.
Many of our group came over to talk with the two men, and thanked them for their service to their country. We told them we felt the best way to support the troops is to bring them home, and I told the young Iraq vet about how the Iraq Veterans Against the War marched in Denver to protest this war. By the time we were done talking we were all shaking hands, and they both said they'd look at the websites of Veterans for Peace and IVAW. This alone made the event worthwhile. If we can win over people even one at a time our efforts are worth it. See you in October!
Berkeley, CA
Gathering to say NO to war, we had about 26 people, helped by event announcements in Berkeley Daily Planet. Very spirited, enthusiastic response from motorists and pedestrians going by. We had music with guitar, Japanese drums, Tibetan bells, tambourine, whistles and sing-along lyrics.
St. Paul, MN
Saint Paul neighborhoods were hit with wheatpasted posters today as part of the monthly Iraq Moratorium--a national day of resistance to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Posters can be found on traffic poles all around Saint Paul.
San Francisco, CA
In San Francisco's Bernal Heights, neighbors vigil for peace on September 19. The fellow in the red on the right is local candidate for city Supervisor in District 9, Eric Quezada.
Berkeley, CA
At U.C. Berkeley, a teach-in took place in the student union building, bringing together veterans of the anti-Vietnam movement of 1968 with contemporary antiwar activists. A more detailed report of the teach-in is available here.
Milwaukee, WI
Beautiful weather for a street corner protest, and about 50 of us gathered in downtown Milwaukee on Moratorium Day, at a busy intersection during rush hour, to call for an end to the war and occupation. As usual, a very positive response from drivers and passersby. We were joined by folks from the Wheels of Justice, a bus tour with speakers on Iraq and Palestine, which is in Milwaukee for the weekend. As the vigil ended some of the group, including a contingent from Progressive Students of Milwaukee, gathered for a group photo, above.
