Iraq Moratorium

Six years of war sparks hundreds of actions

2009-03-18T19:08:00.003-05:00

Thursday marks six years since the "shock and awe" invasion rocked Iraq and the US kept the world safe from Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Dick Cheney continues to insist we "won" the war in Iraq because there is a new democratic government there. There's also a new Democratic government here, and that, too, is in large part a result of the invasion and occupation.

The Obama administration isn't talking about a 100-year war, as John McCain did. Right now, it's not quite three more years until all US troops leave -- and move to Afghanistan.

So why are the antiwar groups demonstrating? Are they never satisfied?

Well, I'm not, and I hope you're not, either. We need to keep the pressure on, to speed the Iraq withdrawal that currently plans to leave 50,000 troops there, and to stop the escalation in a guaranteed losing effort in Afghanistan.

Events across the country this week will mark the anniversary itself on Thursday. Friday is the Iraq Moratorium observance held on the Third Friday of every month, and Saturday is the day for marches in Washington, California -- and Milwaukee.

Wisconsin, where I live, is a hotbed of antiwar activity, and organizers have planned at least 24 events that I know of, and others that I don't.

Around the country there are hundreds of events. Many are listed on the Iraq Moratorium website and others at United for Peace and Justice or ANSWER.

Join them if you can.

It ain't over till it's over.

That's where our money goes, and it ain't buying our babies clothes

2009-03-14T17:58:00.003-05:00

This chart represents the U.S. discretionary budget - for last year. It does not include the bailout or the massive increase Congress voted overwhelmingly to give the Pentagon for this year, according to NotMyPriorities.org.

Actions this week, marking the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, are an excellent time to make the connections and call for spending on human needs.

Organizers in San Francisco have created a postcard with the pie chart on one side and a message to President Obama on the other. They're calling for a 25 per cent cut in military spending. Here are the specifics:

Join the Iraq Moratorium Campaign. Thursday, March 19, will be the sixth anniversary of the Iraq occupation. Cut the Military Budget by 25% End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Now. Jobs, Education and Health Care, Not War! United for Peace and Justice of the Bay Area is coordinating broad actions on that “unhappy birthday” with a call to Congress and the President to DEFUND war and REFUND domestic programs, including very specific social needs in our own neighborhoods. The plan is to provide a strong public presence during commute and noon hours at most of the BART stations and transit hubs in the Bay Area. Many activist and social advocacy organizations are coming forward to take responsibility for a BART station; we have 18 covered. Join the Iraq Moratorium Campaign at the Montgomery BART station from 11:30 am to 1 pm Thursday March 19. We will do outreach to the public in the area, hold banners, read the names of the dead, offer postcards and petitions to passer-by to sign, and more. IMC will organize a nonviolent direct action. If you can participate, Email us.

An open letter to MoveOn.org

2009-03-03T14:49:00.004-06:00

(Dennis O'Neil , a veteran of decades of antiwar work, was one of the original organizers of the Iraq Moratorium in 2007 and remains a member of the Moratorium's national core committee.)

As one of MoveOn's 3.2 million members and a participant of some years' standing in MoveOn vigils, living room events, online activities, etc., I opened yesterday's MoveOn email from Nita Chaudhary with considerable interest. It was entitled, simply, "Iraq."

My interest quickly turned to shock and then anger.

Your letter does a grave, grave disservice to the anti-war movement in this country. And it does so just when the movement, already fatigued after six years of protest, is facing a whole new set of challenges and not having an easy time adjusting.

One big problem with your letter is that it treats a Presidential promise to have all troops out of Iraq by the beginning of 2012 (almost three years from now) as a clear sign that the war is all but over, even though not a single soldier has been withdrawn yet and the killing and dying continue apace. Accompanied by a slide show of images of anti-war protest, it is valedictory in tone:

We wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work that you've done over the last six, dark years—-trying first to prevent the war before it happened and then working tirelessly to end it—-to thank you, sincerely, for all you have done.

This moment is possible because of you, and millions of people like you across our movement.

The email immediately goes on to urge us to contribute to a fund to help injured veterans, as if that was the main thing left to worry about. Yes, there's a vague cautionary note further in: "Of course our troops aren't home yet" and a grudging recognition that Congress is right to "raise questions" about the pace of withdrawal.

Which brings me to the other big problem. One reason the troops won't, in fact, be coming home any time soon is because a lot of them are being shipped to Afghanistan, 17,000 deploying directly. That's on top of the 34,000 soldiers and Marines already there. And the additional 17,000 look to be only a down payment on an expanded occupation for which no one in the government can identify a strategy. Or goals. Or an exit plan.

And this letter says not one mumbling word about it!

I don't know enough to speculate on the whys of this all. I simply observe that encouraging your millions of members to act as though the US is no longer is no longer at war, or as though there is no longer a crying need for anti-war protest, is worse than irresponsible.

The anti-war movement will continue, of course, and adjust. There are groups and projects at the national, regional and local levels that will keep up the fight until these unjust and unjustifiable occupations are ended. Just the locally-based, grassroots project I spend most of my time on, the Iraq Moratorium, will sponsor scores of events this month around the sixth anniversary of the war, mostly in rural areas, suburbs and smaller cities.

I am certain that I am not alone in hoping that MoveOn will come around and put its shoulder to the wheel. Soon. There is work to do.

Dennis O'Neil
New York City

The peace movement's job is far from over

2009-02-27T17:32:00.003-06:00

Statement from United for Peace and Justice, the nation's largest antiwar coalition with 1,400 member groups:

President Obama is about to order the beginning of the end of the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq:

Is it really the end?

On Friday, President Obama is scheduled to announce a plan to pull all combat troops out of Iraq by 19 months from his inauguration -- August 2010 -- three months later than his campaign promise of a 16-month pullout. During his speech before Congress on Tuesday night, Obama said that he would be announcing "a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war."

President Obama is largely keeping to his campaign promises, and that is a good thing. We are hopeful that we now have a President who wants to act on the will of the people who elected him. Taking steps to end the war in Iraq is a reflection of the anti-war consensus among the people of this country -- a consensus that the peace movement, led by United For Peace and Justice, helped build. Numerous commentators note that Obama's early promise to "end the war" played a huge part in generating early public support for his campaign.

The country and the world need a plan to fulfill the clear and unequivocal goal of a complete withdrawal of all troops, pulling out of all the 150,000 U.S. paid foreign mercenaries and contractors, closing all the bases, and ending efforts to control Iraqi oil.

With the announcement of the 19-month withdrawal plan, there are still critical ambiguities and unanswered questions that need to be addressed. The human and the economic costs in Iraq continue to mount at a time of a global economic crisis. The security and economic needs of both the Iraqis and U.S. peoples cannot be met while the war and occupation continues.

A "partial withdrawal" will leave behind as many as 50,000 to 70,000 U.S. troops. "It will require a significant number of troops to train the Iraqi military, conduct targeted counterterrorism operations and protect American personnel and assets," according to General Ray Odierno, U.S. commander in Iraq. Other officials speak of the plan to leave behind "intelligence and surveillance specialists and their equipment, including unmanned aircraft."

Some units may be re-labeled, so those currently counted as combat troops would remain in Iraq but be 're-missioned,' their efforts redefined as training and support for the Iraqis. That is not an end to the occupation. In fact, it could lead to U.S. troops being in Iraq indefinitely.

The "status of forces agreement" agreement (SOFA) with Iraq -- signed by a reluctant and defeated White House in the last days of the Bush administration -- calls for all U.S. forces to be out of Iraq by the end of December 2011. President Obama's announcement may reflect a similar timetable as well. But sources from within the Pentagon point to the fact that the status-of-forces agreement remains subject to change, by mutual agreement, and estimates are that between 30,000 and 50,000 will remain in Iraq beyond 2011.

The SOFA agreement calls for all combat troops to be out of Iraqi cities by this summer; and by the end of 2011, for all U.S. forces to be out of Iraq and all the U.S. bases to be turned over to Iraq.

For several years now, the Congress has repeatedly said no to leaving U.S. bases behind. We need to know what the timetable is for turning the bases over to the Iraqis.

The agreement is filled with big loopholes; the biggest is that both sides can suggest changes. The Iraqi government -- from its beginnings, dependent on and accountable to the U.S. -- is certainly different now. It has created a significant domestic power base. However, is it strong enough to refuse a quiet U.S. "request" for amending the agreement to push back or eliminate the ostensibly final deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops?

Alongside of the unanswered questions on troop withdrawals and U.S. bases, how will the presence of U.S. military contractors be ended? Although President Obama is the commander in chief, the oil companies and powerful contractors, whose CEOs and stockholders have made billions in war profits on Iraq contracts, remain a powerful pressure on the administration and Congress. While it is good that President Obama has promised transparency in the contracting process, our country also needs a commitment to bring home all the mercenaries and contractors.

Almost three more years of occupation is way too long. Having a date-specific to withdraw troops is a positive step in the right direction. But a 19-month partial withdrawal is not enough. Our movement has always been clear and we remain committed to this point: all of the troops must be brought home now! We are also deeply troubled by and opposed to the decision to send more troops into the senseless war in Afghanistan. The peace movement must once again press forward for a complete end to the occupation of Iraq, leaving no troops and no bases behind. The peace movement's job is to mobilize, to pressure, to continue to educate and advocate, and to agitate for a real end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On March 19 and 20, the sixth anniversary of the war, local antiwar activities will take place in communities throughout the country. On April 4, we will march on Wall Street in New York City. We will lift up the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, on this year's anniversary of his historic Beyond Vietnam speech to say that "Beyond War: A New Economy is Possible".

Give Obama more time? While how many more die?

2009-02-24T19:37:00.005-06:00

We were at a vigil in downtown Milwaukee last week when a young man stopped to say, with a rueful smile, "Can't you give him a little time?"

He was referring to the sign a couple of students were holding, calling for an end to "Obama's occupations."

The vast majority of the people at that vigil voted for Barack Obama. There may have been a few Green votes. I'd bet my bottom dollar there weren't any McCain backers in the crowd.

So, should we be patient?

I pointed out to the young man that while it's true Obama's only been in office a month, that's been enough time for him to decide to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, he's waffled on his campaign pledge to bring US troops home from Iraq in 16 months. And the report today is that he is leaning toward a 19-month withdrawal.

What's three more months when you've already been there for six years?

Not much in the grand scheme of things, right?

Unless, of course, you are one of the people who will lose their lives during those extra three months, or be wounded, or widowed, or have a loved one killed or maimed or permanently damaged psychologically.

Depending upon who's counting, more than a million Iraqis have died, several million have become refugees, and 740,000 or more women have been widowed -- almost 10 per cent of the female population between the ages of 15 and 80.

We don't know for sure how many Iraqis have been killed, because we don't even care enough to count their dead.

This is not a time to ask the antiwar movement to be patient, to quietly wait an extra three months.

It's time to ask the question John Kerry asked about Vietnam: Who will be the last one to die for this mistake?

We might add: How many will die for this mistake after Obama had said it would be over?

Grim Iraq analysis: Worst may be yet to come

2009-02-23T12:30:00.008-06:00

While commenters on blogs and passersby at peace vigils suggest the war in Iraq, if not over, certainly will be soon, there's another, much more pessimistic and, regrettably, probably more accurate view of the situation.

Washington Post correspondent Thomas Ricks:

I don't think the Iraq war is over, and I worry that there is more to come than any of us suspect... Many of those closest to the situation in Iraq expect a full-blown civil war to break out there in the coming years. "I don't think the Iraqi civil war has been fought yet," one colonel told me... The quiet consensus emerging among many who have served in Iraq is that U.S. soldiers will probably be engaged in combat there until at least 2015 -- which would put us at about the midpoint of the conflict now.

William S. Lind, writing on Antiwar.com, warns that holding a democratic election doesn't guarantee peace, and may do just the opposite:

In Iraq, as in most of the world, the question is neither whether elections were held nor who won. The question on which social order depends is who accepts the results of an election. If elections are to substitute for war, not only the winners but also the losers must accept their outcome. Losers must give up power, patronage, one of the very few local sources of money (often lots of it), and possibly physical security as well, hoping for better luck next time, if there is a next time. I suspect the odds of that happening in Iraq are small....

In such an environment, elections do not substitute for war but rather prepare the way for it. They exacerbate differences, heighten local conflicts, and lengthen the lists of "injustices" each party uses to justify fighting.

This unfortunate reality points again to what America needs to do in Iraq: get out now, fast, while it can. If we are lucky, history will grant us a "decent interval" between our departure and the next round of (4th Generation War)in Iraq. If we dawdle until the fighting ramps up again, we may find it difficult, politically if not militarily, to leave at all.

All the more reason to intensify, not relax, our efforts to bring US troops home now.

Congress members, protesters are pen pals

2009-02-18T19:50:00.008-06:00

This is not exactly a man-bites-dog story, but at least three members of Congress have expressed their support for a campaign to contact members of Congress and urge them to end the occupation of Iraq.

And a fourth has joined protesters at their regular vigil.

Representatives Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, and George Miller -- all California Democrats -- have written the Raise Hell for Molly Ivins campaign to encourage it to continue raising hell. Meanwhile, Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, joined a vigil in Wyandotte, MI. (He's at left in photo)

The Ivins campaign has been urging people to use the Third Friday of every month -- Iraq Moratorium day -- to contact Congresspeople in their home offices and ask them to get US troops out of Iraq.

"Please keep fighting," wrote Lee, a longtime opponent of the Iraq war.

Late last fall, Woolsey, Lee and Maxine Waters organized 92 members of Congress to sign a letter putting then-President Bush on notice that "we will only authorize funding for Iraq that is used for the safe and orderly redeployment of our troops and military contractors," Woolsey said. "We will have many serious issues to deal with in the coming months under a new President, but I will not forget that ending this occupation must be a priority for this Congress and for this nation," her letter said.

Miller cited President Obama's promise to bring the troops home from Iraq in 16 months, and said he and others will be working to accomplish that. He also "heartily endorsed" the Ivins efforts.

Miller, however, did not sign the Woolsey letter, which had its critics, too, including David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.

The proof, of course, will be in the pudding. Letters and statements from members of Congress are encouraging, but actions speak louder. All three have a track record of opposition to the war.

Miller voted against the war to begin with, and said this in 2006:

Mr. Speaker, there is no more pressing issue in our country today than bringing an end to the war in Iraq as quickly as possible.

But Miller's recent letter reads more like a polite acknowledgement of contact from a constituent, blames everything on Bush and says Obama will change things.

So, don't set aside your skepticism, or even your cynicism.

But do try to meet with, talk with, and confront your member of Congress personally when they are back in the district. And ask them for a commitment to end the war and occupation. Not a statement saying how much they admire what you do -- a commitment about what they will do.

How are we gonna end the war, Daddy?

2009-02-10T19:59:00.004-06:00

When your child asks, in 10 years, "What did you do end the war in Iraq, Daddy? (Mommy?), what are you going to say?

"Well, we worked really hard at it for years. We marched, and wrote letters, and held vigils, and called up Congress, and did a lot of other stuff -- oh, and a lot of meetings, too.

"So did you keep it up until you made them end the war?"

"Well, not exactly. See, we worked to elect this guy who was running for president and said he would end the war if he got elected. And he won.

"So he ended the war and then you could quit protesting?"

"Something like that. More like we quit protesting and hoped he would end the war."

"Did it end?"

"Yes, but not right away. It took a few years. Quite a few, actually."

"Do you think maybe you quit too soon?"

"It's getting pretty late. How about a bedtime story?"

* * *
Friday, Feb. 20, is Iraq Moratorium #18.

It is not the time to opt out of the effort to end the war and occupation of Iraq. It is a time to turn up the heat, or, at a minimum, to keep things simmering. Do something, large or small, to show you want US troops home.

And, whatever you're planning, please list it here.

Members of Congress are going to be home next week for a recess. It's a great chance to tell them face-to-face that we want our troops home. And talk to them about spending priorities, using the billions we are wasting in Iraq to do something constructive.

From United for Peace and Justice, the nation's biggest antiwar coalition:

The time is now to mount a campaign to cut the military budget by ending the war and occupation of Iraq and redirect the spending of our national budget.This is also an opportunity for the antiwar movement to work with economic and social justice groups in organizing joint delegations.

Don't go to their offices alone! Join with labor and community groups to make the first recess of the new Congress the beginning of a surge to compel them to end the war, cut the military budget and fund human needs.

If your Congressional representatives refuse to meet, or opposes the need for urgent emergency government action to respond to the economic crisis or bringing all the troops home: picket or vigil outside their office and call the press!

The opening of the debates on priorities for the next Federal Budget will follow this Congressional recess. We need to make our priorities clear! Ending the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan are the first steps to making larger cuts in the military budget and change the priorities of Federal spending.

That's just one idea. There are hundreds of things you can do to observe the Iraq Moratorium. Need ideas? Visit the website: IraqMoratorium.com.

What are you and me gonna do to end the war, Daddy and Mommy?

Generals plan media campaign to challenge Obama on Iraq

2009-02-05T10:39:00.003-06:00

Lest anyone think that under a new commander-in-chief the United States military will simply fold its tents and leave Iraq, consider this report from Inter Press Service news agency.

It is a reminder that the antiwar movement cannot sit by and wait for Obama to end the war, but must mobilize, organize and create the climate that will make it impossible for him to do anything else.

The war hawks are not backing off. Either can we. Read on:

US-IRAQ: Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision

By Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (IPS) - CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21.

But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen that he wasn't convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have talked with participants in the meeting.

Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including Gen. Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun to try to pressure Obama to change his withdrawal policy.

A network of senior military officers is also reported to be preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilising public opinion against Obama's decision.

More about that public opinion/media campaign here.

Putting war waste on the chopping block

2009-02-05T10:32:00.002-06:00

By David Swanson
After Downing Street.org

In the ordinary course of things in Washington, D.C., and on television, there are two separate conversations. In one conversation, everything that the government spends money on (schools, transportation, police, etc.) must be trimmed back to save money. In the other conversation, the expenses of wars and the military must be unquestioned. After what he said this week on ABC, it will be interesting to see whether Congressman Barney Frank is permitted on television anymore. He combined the two conversations.

After a right-winger proposed more tax cuts to "stimulate" the economy and denounced any spending programs as not being "stimulus," Frank pointed out that the largest spending program we've seen is the war on Iraq. Host George Stephanopoulos clearly felt the force of some galactic wind about to suck him into a different dimension in which the two conversations are permitted to overlap. He jumped in and said "That is a whole 'nother show." But Frank faced the taboo head-on, saying:

"No it isn’t. That's the problem. The problem is that we look at spending and say oh don't spend on highways, don't spend on healthcare, but let's build cold war weapons to defeat the Soviet Union when we don't need them, let's have hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars going to the military without a check. Unless everything is on the table then you're going to have a disproportionate hit in some places."

Read the rest at After Downing Street.

February Moratorium events

2009-01-26T19:55:00.008-06:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

California

Berkeley: Berkeley Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc. Iraq Moratorium vigil, 2-4 PM, Third Friday of every month, corners of University and Acton. We gather to sing, chant, hand out literature and say no to war at this busy intersection midway between the San Francisco Bay and the University of California in Berkeley. We have a loyal group of regulars, and new folks are always welcome to share the spirit. E-mail.*

San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil: Feb. 20, 6:-8 p.m. at Masonic and Fell in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Please join us in calling for an end to US involvement in the War in Iraq. We will have signs, candles, music, and food. All you need is a desire for peace! This will be a nighttime vigil, so please dress warmly. Photos of past events are here

Florida

Tampa: Tampa Iraq Moratorium (TIM) invites members of Veterans For Peace, Code Pink, Move On, St Pete For Peace, Florida Alliance For Peace and Social Justice, Gold Star Families, Iraq Veterans Against War, Vietnam Veterans Against War, Military Families Speak Out, Another Mother For Peace, United For Peace and Justice, USF World Can't Wait, American Friends Service Committee, Not In Our Name and all other groups and individuals supporting Iraq Moratorium's main cause of: "End the War in Iraq!" and "Bring Our Troops Home!" Please join us on the THIRD FRIDAY of every month at the busy intersection of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr next to USF in Tampa, FL during "rush hour" from 4 to 6 PM. Park in "The Edge at 42nd Street" apartment parking lot, 13605 N. 42nd St. Parking permission has been given by the apartment complex. We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the war and bringing the troops home. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this war; most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us? For more info contact Contact: e-mail or (813-220-4315) *

Illinois

DeKalb: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb, Jan. 16, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.* Contact: Dan Kenney

Maryland

Tacoma Park: Walter Reed Vigil. Friday, Feb. 20, 7 -9 PM. Middle of 7100 block of Georgia Ave DC between Dahlia and Elder Streets, in front of the main hospital. The Walter Reed Vigil is an ongoing event, every Friday evening (we are in our fourth year). No More Vietnams! Out of Iraq! Out of Afghanistan! Bring a candle. You don't need a ticket; just climb on board. (There is street parking. The 70 and the K1 buses stop there, or take a taxi (the drivers are some of our staunchest supporters). Closest Metro Stations: Takoma and Silver Spring.*

Tennessee

Sewanee: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace vigil. Third Friday, 3:30 pm, corner of University Ave. and Hwy. 41A. Signs available at vigil site.*

Texas

Austin: Be a part of the Iraq Moratorium! The next date is Friday, Feb. 20 (see Code Pink Austin calendar for details)

Wisconsin

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!*

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Feb. 20, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! E-mail. *

Hayward: Peace North will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium vigil for peace on Friday, Feb. 20, from 4-6 pm on the corner of Highway 27 & 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring a sign and a friend and some warm clothes! Good parking. Great people.

Janesville: (Updated!) Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the Third Friday of every month. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville with signs, including "Honk for Peace" signs. Email us for more info. *

LaCrosse: Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Madison: Saturday, Feb. 21, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” West Towne Mall this month, East Towne in March. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Manitowoc: Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, 4:30-5 p.m. , 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Third Friday of every month at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Minocqua: Northwoods Peace Coalition, Saturday, February 21, 10:50 a.m. until noon, in Minocqua, at the junction of highways 51 and 70. It is the day after the third Friday, Wisconsin’s declared day of the month to demonstrate for peace as part of the national Iraq Moratorium.

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm. This is our seventh Iraq Moratorium event. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every Third Friday of the month on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.*

Viroqua: Friday, Feb. 20, 12 noon weekly peace vigil at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the War. Info :amz1357@frontiernet.net *

Waupaca: Monthly vigil for peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium., 5-6 p.m. All welcome. For more information, contact People for Peace at bonni@waupacaonline.net or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: 12 noon - 1 pm . Silent Prayer Vigil for Peace, Holy Family Church, in the small chapel. Contact: Sr. Ann Wittman at crossings@holycrosssisters.org . All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace.

Reports from the field: January actions

2009-01-14T18:06:00.045-06:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available.

Ashland, WI

Chequamegon Coalition for Peace and Justice: 6 dedicated people were present to speak out for an hour and a half in extreme cold weather. We had a good time, with lots of support from passing cars and plenty of hot soup and tea

Oakland, CA

Photos from Joseph Woodard Multimedia. website: http://woodard.freemanbusiness.com

20 people participated in the Living Graveyard on Inauguration Day as we asked President Obama to bring all our troops home, not to send them to Afghanistan and to support a just peace in Palestine. 8 people lay on the sidewalk covered with white sheets to represent the dead. Four people read the names of Iraqi, Palestinian and Californian dead. A gong was sounded after each name. About 400 informational flyers were handed out to the public.photos of past Living Graveyards -- and hopefully soon this one-- can be seen at http://www.epicalc.org/

Janesville, WI

We had 3 people walk in the mall wearing Peace T-shirts. We also had 2 very brave people stand on the corner with "honk for peace" signs despite a wind chill of below 0 degrees. I think they only last 15 minutes, but they were there!

Chicago, IL

Camp Hope and Clearwater to Stop Blackwater. Although the temperature was just above zero the spirits of those gathered in Hyde Park for Friday the 16th were high. With signs reading YES WE CAN STOP BLACKWATER and YES WE CAN STOP OUTSOURCING OUR SECURITY we hudled around a small fire and greeted passers by who honked in support. We stood marking this January Iraq Moratorium by bringing the message of the dangers of privatizing our security. Getting the word out that there are over 190,000 private contractors working for over 600 companies in Iraq. Also 70% of our billions of tax dollars spent for intelligence gathering is paid to private companies working in every agency of the intelligence community. For true security, for an authentic democracy we need to rebuild the pillars of accountability, transparancy, and oversight that a democracy depends on. We must turn the tide of privatization that has marked all agencies of the defense department and the intelligence community since 9/11. The peace and justice movement must widen our dialogue to include the issue of outsourcing our security.

Santa Barbara, CA

The event consisted of a mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Information on 309, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts were displayed. The "Tombstones" were set up by volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace chapter and SBCC students. Passing by pedestrians and bike riders were asked to come down on the sand to place a placard of the colored photo and information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones". Signs & information on the cost of War & the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Afghanistan & Palestine were shared. A petition to the next President of the U.S.to make nuclear disarmament an urgent priority was available for signing.

Berkeley, CA

Berkeley Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc.: We had 18 people gather to sing, chant, hand out literature, and try to create a world without war. See you next month.

Eau Claire, WI

Like everywhere in the country, it was a cold night in Eau Claire, WI. We experienced wind chills around 20 to 30 degrees below zero. This limited the normal number of attendees, but we were able to get ten very committed peace activists out. We had a couple of war veterans and one man whose daughter is currently serving her second tour of duty in Baghdad. Our presence on the corner of a very busy intersection was quite a sight for passers-by. They knew we "meant business!" I'm looking forward to warmer temperatures in February and a larger showing of people who know that we have to keep up the pressure to end these immoral and costly wars.

De Kalb, IL

January 16, 2009: Local citizens brave the cold to send a positive message of hope and change for 2009. Members of the DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice stood on the corner of 1st and Lincoln highway, as they do every Friday, with a special vigil to mark the beginning of a new administration, an administration they hope will bring positive change for the country and the world. Lolly Voss, one of the organizers of the event said, "We hope that this new administration works to end the war and invest in the needs of people here at home."

Superior, WI

" Oh, the weather outside is frightful!" Neither rain, nor snow, nor wind chills cold enough to freeze your backside could keep a half a dozen hearty souls from standing for peace in Superior WI on Iraq Moratorium Day. While usually the twin port cities of Duluth,MN and Superior, WI hold separate Iraq Moratorium pickets, due to a week of weather which rarely rose to get to be zero degrees, we thought we'd consolidate our forces for the sake of warmth! Participants convened afterwards at the Red Mug coffeehouse just across the street to plan for next months event, so wash those long underwear, make yourself a sign or two, call a friend or family member, and be on the corner of Hammond and broadway on Friday, February 20th. See you there!

Cornwall, CT

Make Art, Not War!

This was the theme of January's observance of the Iraq Moratorium:Cornwall Edition, one of the most successful events we've held, and one of the most unusual. It was an art show opening for a group exhibit at the Cornwall Public Library!

Over fifty people shrugged off seriously icy sub-zero weather to turn out and look at some stunning pieces by 25 area artists who had responded to the Cornwall Moratorium group's call for submissions. Professionals with many gallery shows under their belts, illustrators whose work everyone reading this has probably seen in print, and talented amateurs all chipped in.

Normally we keep a strict one-hour time limit on our events. This time the artists, the art-lovers and the regular folks sick of the war kept returning to one or another favorite piece hanging on the wall and talking among themselves, and we had to forcibly close it down at 9:30, two and a half hours after it opened.

Best of all, this powerful show will remain on view at the library through the end of February, exposing the greater part of Cornwall's population to works like Karl Saliter's heart-punch of a sculpture, which indelibly draws the links between the deaths of 4200+ US troops in Iraq and the drive to control Middle East oil.

More pictures here.

Rice Lake, WI

It was a beautiful day in the north woods of Wisconsin. After three consecutive evenings of windchills ranging from 40 to 50 below zero, a nice southerly breeze and a sunny sky raised the temperature to only 5 below windchill. Nice! And so it was that 11 determined "People for Peace" took advantage of the balmy weather and stood for an hour as motorists honked, waved, smiled, swore, and gave the occasional one fingered salute. We saluted back with two fingers and a smile. Let's hope this beautiful weather holds for our February event!

Milwaukee, WI:

About 20 hardy souls braved sub-zero temperature and winds for Milwaukee's abbreviated January Iraq Moratorium vigil. Several of us adjourned afterward to a nearby coffee shop to discuss plans for February.

Milwaukee, WI:

I cannot attend today's Iraq Moratorium vigil because of a schedule conflict, but I changed both my facebook and myspace pages in honor of the Moratorium.

Sheboygan, WI:

Sheboygan poet and Vets for Peace member Gerald W. Bertsch has committed to writing a poem for peace every day until the war ends. Here's today's poem in observance of the Moratorium:

Iraq Disappointment
There weren’t any bombs.
Surprised? Hard to believe.
Disappointed? Certainly.
But not deterred.
We really wanted to find bombs.
We surmised they were there.
Finding them wasn’t necessary.
We’d did the war anyway.
Sorry we didn’t discover bombs.
Sorry so many died.
Can’t let it get to you.
Compromised? Nah.

Madison WI:

I sent this to President-elect Obama at change.gov:

I worked nearly full time and contributed more than my heirs think I should have to elect Senator Obama. I was motivated by many things but Iraq was near the top of the list. While viewed by many as a liberal, I can't stand the waste of precious resources. The Iraq war is a waste of $1.4 trillion, our prestige, lives, bodies, and minds. Please end it as quickly as possible and rethink your views on Afghanistan. Thank you. -- Tom Krajewski.

San Francisco, CA:

The Iraq Moratorium in San Francisco distributed postcards at the San Francisco Labor Council, addressed to President-elect Obama with a pie chart of the U.S. budget on the front depicting U.S. military expenditures in excess of 50 per cent of that budget. The postcards were mailed from different workplaces on Iraq Moratorium day.

Sheboygan WI:

I was out in the cold/wind/ice/frost in Sheboygan for our weekly peace vigil after reading a book about Shackleton the past week. Then on to Milwaukee for a fundraiser to help with travel expenses for George Martin, UFPJ co-chair,then two house concerts wearing a black arm band for conversation starter.

Madison, WI:

Peace activists, Wis. Network for Peace and Justice staff (pictured: Todd Dennis and Steve Burns) and Iraq Veterans Against the War colleagues attended an event at the Veterans Affairs office today, as a way to honor the Iraq Moratorium. The event was called: A Day of Recognition of Gulf War Illness – put on by the WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Presenters there report that FINALLY there is recognition that there is a real “syndrome” of illness for one-fourth of those who served in Kuwait and the Gulf War in 1991 – affecting up to 200,000 veterans. Long-term effects of exposure in 1991 to depleted uranium (DU) and untested vaccines are still unknown. This group is advocating for more research and cures for these illnesses. As this information spreads out to the public through the VFW clubs, VA hospitals, and Veterans Affairs events and press, recruiters will have a more difficult time getting people to join up – countering the appeal of glory and adventure, with potential sentence of a life-time of illness. (Note: we went indoors today for our IM event – with below-zero temperatures in Wisconsin!)

January Moratorium actions

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Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available

California

Berkeley: Code Pink veterans of the Marine Recruiting Station will observe the Iraq Moratorium on the third Friday, January 16 and join the vigil from 2 to 4 p.m., at Acton & University Avenues, Berkeley.

Costa Mesa: Orange County Peace & Freedom Party: Stop the Siege on Gaza : January 16, 2009, 5:00pm. Corner of Bristol & Anton, Costa Mesa (South Coast Plaza entrance.) The US administration and Media are siding with the zionist invaders of Palestine. People in this country are fed up with this! Please Join the Demonstration. The Orange County KPFK 90.07FM Support Group,The Orange County Peace & Freedom Party and others-- Invite all of you to come out and join us in opposing the war crimes that are being committed by 'Israel' in Palestine Friday January 16th, 2009 Corner of Bristol & Anton, Costa Mesa 5:00-7:00 PM

Novato: PeaceNovato Candlelight Vigil: Jan. 16, 2009, 5:30 - 7:00pm at the Old City Hall, Delong & Sherman Avenue. Please feel free to bring candles or signs; some will also be available. Come when you can, stay as long as you wish.

Oakland:

Ecumenical Peace Institute street theatre January 20 noon to 1:00 p.m. Oakland Federal Building1301 Clay Street, Oakland,CA 94612. President Barack Obama will be inaugurated January 20th. This is a time of great rejoicing for many. It is also a time to make a strong witness to the new administration and Congress to hold them to the unmistakable mandate for peace and justice given to them by the electorate. This is a time to mourn the nearly two million Iraqi and American dead and to call for our newly installed president to bring our sons and daughters home right away. We want our troops brought home, not relocated to Afghanistan. We want them brought home and not left in Iraq as "trainers" and "advisors". Living Graveyard participants lie on the city sidewalk covered with white sheets. Two tombstones give the numbers of the Iraqi dead and the "Coalition" and U.S. dead. During the hour of the action, names of Iraqi dead and California military dead are read. After each name is read a gong is sounded.The Ecumenical Peace Institute/CALC is the principal sponsor of the Living Graveyard. Details and photographs of the Living Graveyard and suggestions about how to organize a Living Graveyard may be seen at http://www.epicalc.org/

Oakland: Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party: Shut Down the War Machine! 1/16/2009, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. 40th Street at Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. We'll greet evening commuters at this busy intersection near the MacArthur BART station with our signs: "Shut Down the War Machine" and others you may bring. (Event will be cancelled in case of rain.)

San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil: January 16, 2009 6:00 pm - 8:00 p.m. at Masonic and Fell in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Please join us in calling for an end to US involvement in the War in Iraq. We will have signs, candles, music, and food. All you need is a desire for peace! This will be a nighttime vigil, so please dress warmly. If you can't join us this month, please put us on your calendar for next month--February 20. Photos of past events are here

San Jose: Indigenous Nations Network Memorial/Prayer ceremony 1/7/09, 8 pm St Phillips Church, Initipi grounds. We will be praying for the mother of Brett L. Lundstrom USMC KIA Iraq 1/7/06. We will also be praying for Edward Lundstrom Jr. for his healing and well being after completing his duty in Iraq, US Army. We ask that all soldiers who were lied to about the WMD and who are returning with toxic Depleted Uranium levels in their bodies. We are praying that U.S. Congress will fund education for Native youth and not prisons or WAR! We will be active on the 16th of Jan. with a visit to our congress person, U.S. Rep. Mike Honda's office and a protest outside of his office. We will smudge his area with sacred sage to cleanse his war efforts. NATIVE AMERICAS AGAINST WAR! Bring signs and call his office.

San Pedro: San Pedro Neighbors for Peace and Justice: 300th Vigil to end the war 1-16-09, 5:00PM- 7:00PM. First and Gaffey intersection, San Pedro, Ca. This will be our 300th Consecutive Vigil to End the War, combined with a "Give Bush a Boot in the Butt" where we are collecting shoes for the US Vets-Villages at Cabrillo, a home for 500 formerly homeless US Military Veterans and their Families in Long Beach. Following the vigil we will hear Sonali Kolhatkar host of "Uprising Radio" from Pacifica's KPFK who will speak on "Afghanistan is not a Good War." For more info call 310-548-3333

Santa Barbara: Vets for Peace, chapter 54: Teen Memorial, Fri. Jan. 16, 2009, 10 am - 3pm in Santa Barbara, California at West Beach, at the corner of Cabrillo Blvd and State Street, near the Dolphin Fountain at the foot of Stearns Wharf, down on the sand. A mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen casualties is planned as part of the national grassroots Iraq Moratorium movement calling for the immediate end to the war and occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.The event will consist of a mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 309, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts. The "Tombstones" constructed of white Corrogated Plastic or Coroplast will be set up by volunteers from the local Vets for Peace, Chapter 54 and Santa Barbara City College students. Then pedestrians passing by on the sun-filled sidewalks near the SB beach will be asked to step down onto the sand and place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones". Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from all current conflicts will be shared. There will also be a petition to sign calling for President Elect Obama to make Nuclear Disarmament an Urgent priority, these and many other petitions from across the country and the world will be sent to our next President on January 20, 2009.

Colorado

Durango: Join Animas SDS (Students for a Democratic Society)*, the Durango Tadamon! Collective, and the Durango community in a rally against the wars and occupations in Gaza/Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. ---- We will converge from 4-5 PM on Friday, Jan. 16th, on the corner of 11th St. & Main Ave. in downtown Durango. Bring signs, placards, banners, appropriate clothing, noise makers and musical instruments, sidewalk chalk, information and literature about the situation in Gaza/Palestine, etc. ---- We are calling for a continuum of autonomous direct actions against Israel (and supporters like the US) and in solidarity with the people of Palestine and other occupied and oppressed people of the world. ---- This action is an expansion of the Iraq Moratorium into a larger and expanded War Moratorium to oppose the wars in Afghanistan and Gaza as well. (Durango’s War Moratorium, in turn, is a monthly expansion of our weekly peace vigils, every Friday from 4:30-5:30PM at the same location.) Contact us at E-mail.

Connecticut

Cornwall: Moratorium Day #17 is shaping up as quite possibly the most exciting event we've had since the Iraq Moratorium: Cornwall Edition started in 2007. Our January theme is "Make Art, Not War!" and that's the title of our exhibit at the Cornwall Public Library. We have gathered at the town library for IM events before, but this time the library is co-sponsoring a professionally-hung exhibition of works on our theme submitted by over a score of area artists, both amateur and professional. The opening party for "Make Art, Not War" is on the Third Friday in January--the 16th--starting at 7 PM. If you can't make it and want to check out the work of notables like Marc Simont, Tim Prentice and Karl Saliter or perhaps discover some committed new talents, the exhibit will be hanging at the library through February 28. (And we should mention that some of the works will be available for purchase and a number of the exhibitors will be donating all or part of any sale to the Iraq Moratorium: Cornwall Edition. Or you can donate at the opening.)

Norwich: Iraq Moratorium Vigil, 1- 16- 2009, 4Pm-6Pm on Chelsea Parade, Norwich, CT, In front of Norwich Free Academy (NFA) The green between Washington Street and Broadway. Come join us at a peaceful vigil with like-minded Americans who want an end to the war & a safe return of our service men & women. Wear black, bring signs, or just stand with us in support of an end to war. The Youth Peace Group at NFA and the War Resisters League will also participate in the Iraq Moratorium. We will stand vigil with signs as reminders of our continued occupation. We continue to encourage the participation of a larger contingent of Americans who want this war to end and no new war to start. There is already quite the diversity of ages and backgrounds. Come stand at the Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Friday! YOUR SILENCE, YOUR LEGACY!!! MORE WAR...MORE DEBT!!!

Florida

Jacksonville: Ospreys For Peace: Peace Camp, January 16, 2009, 9am to 9pm. University of North Florida campus on the green. Join us for a day of Peace. On the day of January 16, the club Ospreys for Peace will be holding their second annual "Peace Camp" in honor of the Iraq Moratorium. Bring white t-shirts to tie-dye, tents, and a positive attitude. The event will be all day on the UNF green from 9am to 9pm. After 6pm, there will be live music from various local Jacksonville bands. The "green" is the free-speech zone of the UNF campus in front of the Fine Arts Center and to the right of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Do not miss out. Join In. Speak your mind. Bless. {for more information, do not hesitate to e-mail}

Tampa: Tampa Iraq Moratorium (TIM) invites members of Veterans For Peace, Code Pink, Move On, St Pete For Peace, Florida Alliance For Peace and Social Justice, Gold Star Families, Iraq Veterans Against War, Vietnam Veterans Against War, Military Families Speak Out, Another Mother For Peace, United For Peace and Justice, USF World Can't Wait, American Friends Service Committee, Not In Our Name and all other groups and individuals supporting Iraq Moratorium's main cause of: "End the War in Iraq!" and "Bring Our Troops Home!" Please join us on the THIRD FRIDAY of every month at the busy intersection of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr next to USF in Tampa, FL during "rush hour" from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Park in "The Edge at 42nd Street" apartment parking lot, 13605 N. 42nd St. Parking permission has been given by the apartment complex. We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the war and bringing the troops home. Rally at the SE corner of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this war; most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us? For more info contact Contact: e-mail or (813-220-4315) *

Illinois

Chicago: Camp Hope: Countdown to Change, sponsored by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, will feature a presentation at 7 pm on Jan. 16 at David Darst Center, 2834 S Normal Ave, on, "Blackwater Worldwide In Illinois and Beyond: The Dangers of Outsourcing Our Security." Dan Kenney from Clearwater, a northern Illinois group which has fought creation and expansion of a Blackwater facility in its region, will be featured. During the day, vigilers will be in Hyde Park from 8 am to 6 pm with an emphasis on the periods 8-11 am and 3-6 pm. More details on the website.

Chicago: Saturday, Jan. 17. Art Against War at Heartland Cafe , 7000 N Glenwood Ave, 9 p.m., $5. We’re moving to Saturdays! This month, we are partnering once again with the Heartland Alliance to support their Iraqi Resettlement services. Art Against War also donates part of the proceeds each month to the Iraq Moratorium.

Chicago (Hyde Park): Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice: Special Vigil. January 16, 4:30 pm. 51st and Drexel, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL. Join Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice for Iraq Moratorium number 17 at Camp Hope, 51st and Drexel in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood near the Obama's home. NWCPJ stands in solidarity with Camp Hope as we express our visions of peace and justice for the future to ask our new President to carry out the promises he made during his campaign. Please see their website for a full schedule of events. Contact laurel [at] nwcpj [dot] org if you want to car pool.

Maryland

Tacoma Park: Walter Reed Vigil. Friday January 16, 2008, 7 -9 PM. Middle of 7100 block of Georgia Ave DC between Dahlia and Elder Streets, in front of the main hospital. The Walter Reed Vigil is an ongoing event, every Friday evening from 7-9 PM (we are in our fourth year). However, the Friday before Inauguration Day is special--it is a chance at this time to remember those sacrificed by the war machine and make it clear to the New Administration that ending the wars and occupations is The Issue. No More Vietnams! Out of Iraq! Out of Afghanistan! Bring a candle. You don't need a ticket; just climb on board. (There is street parking. The 70 and the K1 buses stop there, or take a taxi (the drivers are some of our staunchest supporters). Closest Metro Stations: Takoma and Silver Spring.)

Massachusetts

Amherst: In honor of the Iraq Moratorium, we are again going to ring 21 bells from the Grace Church, Amherst, MA bell tower on Friday, Jan. 16.

New Jersey

Green Brook: Personal Day of Fast & Prayer: Every 3rd Friday of each month until ALL Wars end. From Sunrise to Sunset fast and pray and offer it up for an end to ALL Wars.

Ohio

Cincinatti: Ongoing monthly Event - 3rd Friday of every month IRAQ MORATORIUM: Neighborhood Peace Vigils MARK YOUR CALENDARS...Notice some cancellations, time changes, and location changes:
LOCATIONS:

*Spring Grove Village: Corner of Derby & Winton. Contact: Kristen Barker: 513-403-9963

*Price Hill: Corner of Enright and W. 8th. Contact: Sue Casey Leininger: 513-579-8547

*Northside: Hoffner park, corner of Blue Rock and Hamilton. Contact: Elizabeth Motter: 513-591-1407 or emotter@fuse.net. NEW TIME: 4:30-5:30

*Clifton: Fountain in Burnet Wood, corner of Clifton and Ludlow. Contact: Judy Cirillo: jcirillo.1@juno.com

*Mt. Healthy: Heritage Park, on Hamilton, right after Cross County. Contact: Karen Arnett, karen.arnett@fuse.net NEW TIME: 5:00-6:00

*Northern Kentucky: Newport Peace Bell, (corner of York and 4th St.) Contact Vicki Dierig - vickidierig@yahoo.com

*Miami Township: New location being determined. Contact Lauren Thamann-Raines, lpt89@hotmail.com

- Bring any relevant peace signs if you have them. IJPC has several banners and signs and will provide some at each site. Do you live in a neighborhood that didn't have a vigil? Are interested in having one next month? Great! Just call Kristen at IJPC for more details, 579-8547!

Tennessee

Sewanee: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace vigil. January 16 3:30 pm, corner of University Ave. and Hwy. 41A. Signs available at vigil site

Texas

Austin: Be a part of the Iraq Moratorium! The next date is Friday, January 16, 2009 (see Code Pink Austin calendar for details)

Wisconsin

Ashland: Chequamegon Coalition for Peace and Justice sponsors Ashland's first Iraq Moratorium demonstration/ vigil on Jan. 16, 3:30-5 pm at the Ashland Post Office, 615 Main St W. Dress warmly! Bring signs if you have them; some signs will be provided. Bring friends! Bring your own cup; hot tea will be provided. E-mail.

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!*

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Jan. 16, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come on teh third Friday or not, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail.

Green Bay: The Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq in their chapel at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16. The chapel is located at 3110 Nicolet Dr., Green Bay. For more information, please contact Sr. Maria Drzewiecki, 920-468-1828, or E-mail.

Hayward: Peace North will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium vigil for peace on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm on the corner of Highway 27 & 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring a sign and a friend and some warm clothes! Good parking. Great people.

Janesville: (Updated!) Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the Third Friday of every month, the 19th in January. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville with signs, including "Honk for Peace" signs. We are also offering an alternative because of the cold weather and encouraging people to do Mall Walking at the Janesville Mall wearing peace t-shirts. Email us for more info. *

LaCrosse: Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Madison: Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” East Towne Mall this month, West Towne on Saturday, Feb. 21. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, 4:30 to 5 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Menomonie: Join us for the Iraq Moratorium event in Menomonie,WI. The event will run from 4 PM until 5 PM in the Veterans Memorial in front of the Menomonie Market Co-op. Please bring signs. Please contact Steve Hanson E-mail for info.

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Third Friday of every month at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Milwaukee: In observance of the Iraq Moratorium, David Kaye and the Electric Mustache will perform topical anti-war songs as part of their performance on the 3rd Friday, Jan.16th, 8pm, at The Coffee House, 631 N. 19th St., Milwaukee.

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm. This is our sixth Iraq Moratorium event. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every Third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.*

Sheboygan: Sheboygan Veterans for Peace: Writing peace poetry daily until the war ends. I am a poet and I have committed to writing a peace poem every day during the duration of the war. The initial pieces have been published through Sheboygan Veterans for Peace. New finished pieces are accomplished weekly and a new peace and justice poetry book is in the works, more than doubling the content of the first.

Superior/Duluth: Anyone who wishes to brave the cold this Friday for the monthly Iraq Moratorium vigil should meet at 4 PM at the corner of Broadway and Hammond in Superior, by the Red Mug Coffee House. Grandmothers for Peace initially decided to cancel their vigil due to temperature concerns, but later agreed that those who feel hearty enough are welcome to hold vigil as per the original plan. A photographer from the Superior Telegram may come, so it would be good to have some folks there. We may decide to shorten the time we are outside, and meet inside the coffee shop to warm up after. See you there! E-mail.

Viroqua: 1/16, Friday, 12 noon weekly peace vigil at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the War. Info : amz1357@frontiernet.net

Waupaca: Friday 5 – 6 pm monthly vigil for peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium. All welcome. For more information, contact People for Peace at bonni@waupacaonline.net or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: 12 noon - 1 pm . Silent Prayer Vigil for Peace, Holy Family Church, in the small chapel. Contact: Sr. Ann Wittman at crossings@holycrosssisters.org . All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace.*

Reports from the Field: December 19

2008-12-19T12:58:00.032-06:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available.

LaCrosse, WI

Here is a picture of "SANTA" working to bring PEACE for CHRISTmas. This is the 3rd Friday of December, 2008, at the foot of the Cass Street Bridge at approximately 5:30 pm. People of LaCrosse are supporting the WAR MORATORIUM and here is a perfect example of SANTA braving near zero tempuratures and 30 inches of snow to get the message across to the masses and our elected officials.

Aptos, CA

American Soldiers Memorial, December 2008. Photos taken in Aptos, CA at memorial for dead soldiers and the numbers of civilians killed for every American soldier killed. Uncle of Wanbli Isnala, Brett L. Lundstrom, USMC KIA Iraq, prays for the well being of families as we grieve for our children and youth and all children.

Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara event consisted of a mock cemetery of the US military teen dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 304, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts. The "Tombstones" were set up by volunteers from the local Vets for Peace chapter and SBCC students. Visitors to the Beach Front were asked to place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones". Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from both conflicts were given out. In addition a Petition by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation was available to be signed. It is an appeal to President elect Obama to make a world free of Nuclear Weapons an urgent priority and to assure US Leadership to realize this goal. These petitions will be presented to President Obama on January 20, 2009. Anti-Nuclear Weapons information was also given out. This event was featured in the Santa Barbara Independant

New York City

A day or two after Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at Bush, this idea spread all over the internet. So on December 19, I headed down to my local PO in Manhattan and mailed this beat-up old shoe, along with a note taken directly from the words shouted by the journalist during his protest. It struck me that they apply to the Americans who have suffered in this unjust and unjustifiable war, as well as to the Iraqis.

Norwich, CT

We decided to hold our Iraq Moratorium the day after Christmas to remind those of the Prince of Peace's birthday wish. We also had a horrid snowstorm on the 19th and were concerned that where we vigil people often brake hard in their cars as they notice our presence and we just couldn't add to the dangers that the inclement weather presented. Either day we would have and did freeze as the temps were in the 20's and with the wind....

Once again we are reminded of all the harsh weather and circumstance that our soldiers are dealing with daily so 2 hours of freezing our collective butts off isn't all that difficult.

Peace in 2009, Peace to the World!

Cornwall, CT

It takes some genuinely serious weather for folks in Cornwall to cancel regularly scheduled activities and we didn't decide to cancel our Iraq Moratorium holiday observance until the snow on the afternoon of December 19th left us no choice. Plenty of the IM regulars broke their daily routines and took steps on their own. The ones I know about include: Glenn, who spent his evening writing to Obama about the need to end the war now; Marianne, who slogged to the library to post a cancellation sign. Jeanne, who lit a candle in remembrance of all who have died in the war our country started; Members of my family, who gathered at my logger son Jay's one-room house. His wife Rachel had been scheduled to play an Iraqi tune at the event. She broke out her fiddle anyhow and, draped in Moratorium ribbons, played just for us, and her and Jay's unborn child Darwin, plus another son, George, and his sweetie Megaly (who has donated a work to the upcoming Iraq Moratorium "Make Art, Not War" show at the Cornwall Public Library)

Los Angeles, CA

Christmas Celebration Against the War. Friends, family and neighbors joined artists and writers for the December 2008 Iraq Moratorium in Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas and call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq. The Christmas celebration took place at the home of local artist, Paul Krehbiel, who drew and designed this anti-war poster, which was the center-piece of his family's Christmas display.

Menomonie, WI

Ten people attended the first Iraq Moratorium in Menomonie. We stood in the Veterans Memorial in downtown Menomonie, greeting the passing cars, and receiving waves and friendly honking from many. We also received the expected shouts from some passing cars that we should support our troops, which of course is exactly what we believe we were doing. Phone calls were made from the site to our representatives, and one of us took a spectacular fall on the ice, adding to the festivities. We are working on having a banner printed for January, and hope to have better attendance and organization for the next event.

Superior, WI

Grandmothers for Peace: Iraq Moratorium Stand for Peace 12-19-08, 4-5 pm. Only two brave grandmothers came out to stand for peace in Superior Wisconsin on Friday. Single digit temperatures and holiday busyness likely drove the turnout down, but a renewed effort is already underway to make January's event better attended.

Duluth, MN

It was a snowy, holiday-y day, so perhaps not so surprising, but still disappointing, that no one but me turned up for the December vigil in Duluth. But I still spent a half hour planting antiwar signs in the snow.

San Francisco, CA

Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil, in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Our December Peace Vigil was on one of the coldest nights of the year in San Francisco (the rest of the country may laugh, but for us mid to low 40's is cold). The cold weather, the holiday rush (and holiday parties) may have accounted for our low turnout (we counted eight, including two passers-by who joined in). Despite the low turnout, we still had new faces:

and we were still enthusiastic:

We were again happy to have support and encouragement from passing motorists, and pleasant conversations with cyclists and pedestrians stopped for the traffic light at our corner.More photos of this vigil and of previous vigils can be seen here

Eau Claire, WI

Iraq moratorium vigil 12/19/08, 4:00-6:00 PM corner of Hastings Way and Brackett Ave, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We had 22 people standing in shin-deep snow to show opposition to the war. We had a meeting afterward to plan a "Peace Ball" in late Jan.

Fullerton and Huntington Beach, CA

Peace Caroling: 12/15/08 and 12/17/08, 7 p.m. At the residences of Congressman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach.) These peace caroling events were organized by the Orange County and Long Beach chapters of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO),which is a national not-for-profit organization of people with loved ones in the military and their supporters, working to end the occupation of Iraq, bring the troops home, and to ensure our society takes care of them upon their return. Pat Alviso and Jeff Merrick, a wife-and-husband team co-leading MFSO in Orange County, did a great job of coordinating the events, wherein we sang traditional Christmas songs with lyrics adapted to the peace theme. While our local pro-war congressional representatives are home this winter recess, it's a prime opportunity for getting our message out and demanding accountability. This season is for giving, not for giving war hawks a break! Our creative, nonviolent protest in Huntington Beach, at Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's home, was covered by the Orange County Register. See the article and photographs here.

Most carols we sang were rewritten by Vern Nelson, a local progressive Democrat and universal single-payer health care leader. The lyrics are included in his blog posting here. Local peace activist with well-endowed vocal chords Sharon Tipton adapted A Few of My Favorite Things especially for Rep. Rohrabacher. It was a fun one! These songs can be performed by a makeshift peace choir--all you need is a good group of caring world citizens--on busy street corners, during "mall-walks," at community or holiday events, in conjunction with a regularly scheduled demonstration or vigil... Use your collective imagination for peace...year-round! More photos here.

Rice Lake, WI

Iraq Moratorium Standing for Peace. The People for Peace in Rice Lake fielded a dozen hardy anti-war enthusiasts this afternoon for the monthly observance of Iraq Moratorium Day. We waved at motorists and called our Congressman and Senators asking them to start spending our tax dollars on health care and not warfare. We mourned the loss of life in Iraq from the several thousand coalition military personnel, to the likely hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. We prayed for peace this holy season, and we promised to be back in January.

Berkeley, CA

Gathering to protest the wars and occupations, 12/19/08, Corners of University Ave and Acton in Berkeley, CA. Small group today. We're primarily seniors, and health concerns keep us away from cold and rain. Even so, about 15 folks attended to sing, hold signs, and let the people who passed by in cars or walking know we can all say "no" to these illegal wars and occupations.

Milwaukee, WI

Literally a foot of snow fell on Milwaukee between midnight and noon on Iraq Moratorium 16, prompting some discussion about whether to cancel the usual 5 p.m. downtown vigil. But we learned from last year's Good Friday/Iraq Moratorium snowstorm that you can't stop this event even if you wanted to.

Not only did 18 people of all ages, from college students to seniors, make it, but some of the campus crowd even showed up with hot chocolate, as you'll see at right. There's talk of a barbecue grill and tailgate party next month. (Maybe Cheeseheads?) This wasn't the coldest vigil we've had, with temperatures in the 20s. and although traffic was much sparser than normal, drivers -- including a city Dept. of Public Works truck with a plow and a parking meter checker -- leaned on their horns to support the cause. The effort was a joint production of Peace Action-Wisconsin, UW-Miulwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

Madison, WI

After discovering that a Wisconsin manufacturer, Presto, makes weapons as well as Salad Shooters and Fry Daddies, two staffers from the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, went on an anti-shopping spree for Moratorium day. They visited stores selling Presto products and followed these directions, using a flyer available here: 1) pick up box to admire Presto “Fry Daddy” or “Salad Shooter”, 2) replace box on shelf, with flyer discreetly tucked underneath, 3) repeat. For the whole report on Presto's involvement in producing 40mm cannon rounds, see Steve Burns's story here. That's Burns pictured with the flyers he designed.

Pickings were slim at Walgreen's, their first stop, as you'll see in the video, but he did find one Presto product and took appropriate action. Big box stores are probably better targets.

December 19 Moratorium actions

2008-11-21T10:39:00.039-06:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available

California

Jackson: We are still having our monthy peace vigils on the Third Friday in front of city hall, Jackson, CA at the divergence of Highways 49 and 88 (behind City Hall) - unless it rains.

Montrose: Montrose PeaceVigil. Every Friday, 5:30 to 7 p.m. In Montrose Shopping Park at the NW corner of Oceanview Blvd. and Honolulu Avenue. We have gathered at this location every Friday evening since January 2005 to remind people that we are still at war, to stand up for peaceful solutions to conflicts, and to urge an enlightened and nonviolent U.S. foreign policy. We protest the U.S. invasion of Iraq and oppose the continuing occupation there. We have extra signs, or bring your own.

Novato: PeaceNovato Candlelight Vigil 12-19-08, 5:30 - 7:00pm. Old City Hall, Delong at Sherman Avenue. Candles and signs will be available. Feel free to bring your own as well.

Pasadena: Pasadena Iraq Moratorium, Counter-recruiting, talk to recruits at military recruiting office. Friday, December 19, 2008, 12 noon - 1 pm at the Military Recruiting office across from Pasadena City College on Colorado Blvd. Bring antiwar signs

San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Peace Vigil. Friday, December 19, 2008, and every third Friday of the month until the War in Iraq is over. 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Corner of Fell and Masonic in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Everybody welcome--all you need is the desire that the War in Iraq end. We will have signs and candles for you, or you can bring your own. We will also have music and food. This is a nighttime vigil, so please dress warmly. Bring your friends. Photos from past vigils: http://www.flickr.com/photos/haightpeacevigil/

San Jose: Street Rally/Protest EVERY Saturday/Sunday 11:30am-2pm at the corner of Stevens Creek Blvd. & Winchester Blvd. This peaceful action has been on-going for over 5-1/2 years! We must take this message directly to the public. Some signs provided or bring a sign with your personal message. Join passionate and peaceful local activists. If you believe in our message- we look forward to seeing you out there!

San Pedro: San Pedro Neighbors for Peace and Justice Candlelite Vigil. 5 to 7 PM at the intersection of First and Gaffey Streets. We have held more than 300 consecutive Friday Night Vigils To End the War and Bring Our Troops Home.

Santa Barbara: December 19: Santa Barbara Vets for Peace Chapter 54 will sponser an event on West Beach @ State Street & Cabrillo Blvd. by the Dolphin Fountain, on the sand, next to the wharf, from 10am-3pm. The event will consist of a mock cemetary of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Interactive Memorial to 18 & 19 year olds who have died in the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. 304 coroplast "tombstones". The tombstones will be set up by volunteers from the local vets for peace chapers and SBCC students. Then passing by students & community members will be asked to place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the crosses. Information about the cost of war & the immediate withdrawal of troops from both conflicts will be given out.*

Santa Cruz: Friday, December 19, 2008 End the War Peaceful Protest and Vigil. Counting Lives Lost Iraq War Memorial Community Art Installation. Community art installation of thousands of clay figurines representing the U.S. Troops and Iraqi Civilian deaths. Resurrection Church Cemetery-Aptos, Soquel Dr./ State Park Dr.

1:00-3:30 Make clay figures & fold flags Counting Lives Lost Iraq War
Memorial: Community art installation of thousands of clay figurines representing
the U.S. Troops and Iraqi Civilian deaths.
4:00-5:00 Peaceful Protest Corner of Soquel Dr. and State Park Dr. bring your end the war signs and peace banners
5:00-5:15 Prayer Vigil

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10964783?source=email

For more information: Kathleen Crocetti crocetti@rocketmail.com or peaceplanner@cruzio.com

Colorado

Durango: Animas SDS and Southwest Colorado Peace & Justice Coalition. Peace vigils are EVERY Friday from 4:30-5:30 on the corner of 11th Street & Main Avenue in Durango, CO. Monthly, the vigil expands into the Iraq Moratorium. *

Connecticut

Cornwall:

The Cornwall Iraq Moratorium Network will hold a holiday peace vigil on Friday, December 19, at 7 P.M., at the Cornwall Library. The event will feature music, readings of historic peace documents, tributes to anti-war heroes and the lighting of candles for the victims of war. For information, call 672-0183.

Florida

Lutz: Join CodePink at a vigil, 5 to 6 pm, on the Third Friday of the month during "rush hour" at the corner of US Hwy 41 and Sunset Lane at the Sunset Shopping Plaza (Lutz Post Office & Winn-Dixie). Park in the Winn-Dixie parking lot. Rally at the SE corner. 5:00 to 6:00 PM during "rush hour" at the corner of US Hwy 41 and Sunset Lane at the Sunset Shopping Plaza (Lutz Post Office & Winn-Dixie). Park in the Winn-Dixie parking lot. Rally at the SE corner. Link. *

Pinellas Park: Vets for Peace Iraq Moritorium Pinellas Park #16, Dec 19, 2008, 4:30 Pm to 5:30 PM. Gandy and US 19. Join Iraq Moritorium Pinellas Park #16 against the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. We meet on the third Friday of the month at the intersection of US 19 and Gandy/Park Blvd in Pinellas Park, with parking at the SW corner at the "Friends of Strays". We will hold signs against the occupation and to bring our troops home and face the rush-hour commuters, many who work for our major war industries located nearby.

Tampa: Veterans For Peace/MoveOn/CodePink. Tampa Iraq Moratorium December 19, 2008, 4:00 - 6:00 pm. SE corner of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr. Tampa Iraq Moratorium (TIM) invites members of Veterans For Peace, Code Pink, Move On, St Pete For Peace, Florida Alliance For Peace and Social Justice, Gold Star Families, Iraq Veterans Against the War and all other groups and individuals supporting Iraq Moratorium's main cause of: "End the War in Iraq!" and "Bring Our Troops Home!" Please join us on the THIRD FRIDAY of every month at the busy intersection of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr next to USF in Tampa, FL at "rush hour" Friday, December 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Park in "The Edge at 42nd Street" apartment parking lot, 13605 N. 42nd St. Parking permission has been given by the apartment complex. This is a monthly vigil focused on "Bring the Troops Home!" and "End the War in Iraq!". We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the war and bringing the troops home. Rally at the SE corner of Fletcher Av and Palm Dr. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this war, most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us? Contact jpalm_tan@yahoo.com (813-220-4315)

Georgia

Macon: Silent Peace Vigils every Friday 5-5:30pm, Washington Park in front of the Federal Post Office on College Street. Please see website:http://www.macon-bibb.com/Peace/

Illinois

Berwyn: Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice . Iraq Moratorium No 16 Shop for Peace, Dec 19, 4:30 pm. For more info and location of the action, or to get your own T-shirt, email Laurel. Shopping for peace means we: Don't buy gas on Iraq Moratorium Day. Don't buy war toys (anytime) but we do wear "Enlist in the Peace Movement" t-shirts.

Chicago. Friday, Dec. 19, Art Against War. Music and more protesting the war in Iraq, Heartland Cafe, 7000 N Glenwood Ave. Cost: $5, 9 p.m. A holiday show benefitting Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service.

Evanston: North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice: Songs for Peace in a Time of War. December 19, 2008, 6:30pm - 7:30 pm at the intersection of Maple and Church, just west of the Metra stop in the breezeway. Come join us as we sing Songs of Peace and Hope this holiday season in recognition that for many around the world, freedom from daily warfare, hardship, duress and terror is a hope and dream that seems a long way off....

DeKalb: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb, Nov, 21, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.* Contact: Dan Kenney

Oak Park. Peace Vigil. We have prayed, sung, stood in silence, "testified" for Peace on Fridays for more than five years.This is a faith based Vigil but ALL are welcome!! 7 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street.*

Wauconda: Lake Area Peace Partners: Welcome Home Soldier Parade 12/20/2008, 5:30 PM at American Legion Hall, Main street, Wauconda Illinois. The town has a welcome home parade every time a soldier returns home. The troop is paraded through town by Police, Fire and Public Works vehicles and the motorcycle group Patriot Riders. As part of the parade, we will represent the peace community with a car that says Welcome Home, We're Glad you are back - Lake Area Peace Partners. We will present the soldier with a Peace Lily plant and a card of peace.

Kentucky

Lexington: "War is Killing Our Economy," 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Join central Kentucky's Peace Action Task Group at rush hour on a busy corner near the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community & Technical College campuses. We will be standing on all four corners holding signs saying "War is Killing Our Economy." Anti-war signs, particularly on this theme are welcome. Location: Corner of Nicholasville Road with Waller & Cooper Dr. Sponsors: Peace Action Task Group, Central Kentucky Council for Peace & Justice. For more info, e-mail. In the event of reduced visibility (heavy rain), this event will be canceled.

Maryland

Baltimore: Women In Black sponsor a peace stand/vigil on Fri., Dec. 19 from noon-1 PM at the Inner Harbor, corner Pratt and Light. Everyone welcome, wear black if you can. See http://www.peacepath911.com/ or write wibbaltimore@hotmail.com or call 410-467-9114.

Baltimore: There is also a noon vigil on Fri., Dec. 19 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St. Call 410-467-9114. http://www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/

Michigan

Lansing: Friday noon vigil for peace and justice in front of the Michigan Capitol Building. Lansing area people have gathered to witness for peace each Friday since September of 2001. Dress for the weather. Location: On the sidewalk at the intersection of Capitol and Michigan Avenues. More Information: http://www.glnawi.org/ *

Minnesota

Duluth: Northland Anti-War Coalition picket Dec. 19, 4:30-530 pm, at the corner of Mesaba Ave. & Central Entrance in front of the Coppertop Church. We'll be holding a one hour anti-war picket in which we'll be holding signs for passing motorists, and handing out leaflets to pedestrians. We'll have extra signs on hand, but feel free to make and bring your own!

Ohio

Chagrin Falls: Saturday, Dec. 20 march against Iraq war, 12:30 p.m., Chagrin Falls Township Hall. An anti-Iraq war protest to bring the troops home, march around the Village downtown streets. Bring homemade signs, especially those that say HONK IF YOU ARE WITH US. Sponsored by Patriots for Change. Email.

Cincinnati: Ongoing monthly Event - 3rd Friday of every month IRAQ MORATORIUM: Neighborhood Peace Vigils. MARK YOU CALENDARS...Notice some cancellations, time changes, and location changes:

*Spring Grove Village: Corner of Derby & Winton Contact: Kristen Barker: 513-403-9963
*Price Hill: Corner of Enright and W. 8thContact: Sue Casey Leininger: 513-579-8547
*Northside: Hoffner park, corner of Blue Rock and HamiltonContact: Elizabeth Motter: 513-591-1407 or emotter@fuse.net NEW TIME: 4:30-5:30
*Clifton: Fountain in Burnet Wood, corner of Clifton and LudlowContact: Judy Cirillo: jcirillo.1@juno.com
*Mt. Healthy: Heritage Park, on Hamilton, right after Cross County. Contact: Karen Arnett, karen.arnett@fuse.net NEW TIME: 5:00-6:00
*Northern Kentucky: Newport Peace Bell, (corner of York and 4th St) Contact Vicki Dierig - vickidierig@yahoo.com
*Miami Township: New location being determined. Contact Lauren Thamann-Raines, lpt89@hotmail.com
- Bring any relevant peace signs if you have them. IJPC has several banners and signs and will provide some at each site. Do you live in a neighborhood that didn't
have a vigil? Are interested in having one next month? Great! Just call Kristen
at IJPC for more details, 579-8547! http://www.ijpc-cincinnati.org/calendar.htm

Fremont: Peace Vigil 12/19/2008, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Corner of W. State St. & Front St. Fremont, OH. Luminaries and candles will be displayed along with the signs for Peace on Earth. The vigil is for one hour. Please join us in this Christmas season to vigil forPeace on Earth.

Tennesee

Sewanee: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace. Peace Vigil #17, December 19, 3:30 pm. Corner of University Avenue and Hwy. 41A. Signs available at vigil site.

Texas

Austin: Iraq Moratorium, Friday, Dec. 19 at the Capitol, 5 to 6 pm, sponsored by CodePink Austin. See link. State Capitol building, south entrance, 11th and Congress. This month’s message: Give Troops a Gift, Bring Them Home Now!

Utah

Logan: Join us in a Peace Vigil every Friday between 5 and 6 PM on the east side of Main Street between Center Street and 100 N, Logan. This non-violent public event has been on-going every Friday since September 2005 and is sponsored by Cache Valley Peace Works, Logan Friends Meeting (Quakers), Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists, and Mormons for Equality and Social Justice, Cache Valley Chapter.*

Vermont

Brattleboro: Patriotic Response to Renegade Government. Main Street march to bring the troops home, Dec. 19th & the 3rd friday of every month, 4-5:00pm. Meet at COOP parking lot at the foot of main street. We march through downtown Brattleboro with drummers, sometimes dancers and signs calling to end the occupation and to bring the troops home now.

Washington, D.C.

A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM on Pennsylvania Ave., by the press gate to the White House. It is organized by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Call 202-882-9649. (Information from Baltimore Non-Violence Center, http://www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/)

West Virginia

Morgantown. Morgantown residents have been meeting once each month for nearly five years to protest the war in Iraq. Newcomers are always welcome. Please bring a sign to hold. 4 to 6 pm, Monongalia County Courthouse Square, High Street.*

Wisconsin

DePere: St. Norbert Abbey will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. Please park in the north parking lot and meet in the Chapter Room at St. Norbert Abbey, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere. For more information, please contact Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem, 920-337-4345 or email

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Dec. 19, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come on teh third Friday or not, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail. *

Hayward: Peace North will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium vigil for peace on Friday, December 19th, from 4-6 pm on the corner of Highway 27 & 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring a sign and a friend and some warm clothes! Good parking. Great people.

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Email us for more info. *

LaCrosse:Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Madison: Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” West Towne Mall this month, East Towne on Saturday, Jan. 17. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Menomonie: Menomonie will hold its first Moratorium protest on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. in front of Menomonie Market Co-op, 521 Second St. E. Meet in the park in front of the Menomonie Market, corner of Crescent and 2nd St. We will also meet after the stand at the Acoustic Cafe to plan the next month\'s activities.Bring signs. E-mail for info.

Minocqua: Northwoods Peace Coalition, which had been holding Saturday vigils, will hold its first Iraq Moratorium vigil on Friday, Dec. 19, to coordinate with others across the country. It's from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p,m, at the intersection of Hwys. 51 and 70.

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, December 19, from 4-6 pm. This is our fifth Iraq Moratorium event and we're looking forward to our largest turnout to date. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! NOW is the time to let the incoming adminstration know that we want an end to war and the beginning of healthcare for all! Healthcare Not Warfare! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every Third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.*

Superior: Iraq Moratorium Picket Dec. 19, 4pm. Grandmothers for Peace and the Northland Anti-War Coalition will be holding a one hour picket on the corner of Belknap and Tower Ave. in downtown Superior. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!

Wyoming

Laramie: Stand Up for Peace on the corner of 3rd and Grand every Friday evening, 4:45-5:15, since January 2003. Come join us. Bring a sign or use one of ours.*

Australia

Brisbane: Enogerra Military Base Vigil. Australian soldiers are deployed from the Enoggera barracks to illegal war in Iraq. A team of us holds a vigil near the entrance to our local Army Barracks every Friday-from 4 pm till dusk. This vigil has been going for more than a year.*

Reports from the Field: Nov. 21 actions

2008-11-20T18:40:00.046-06:00

San Francisco, CA

Haight Ashbury, in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Our first post-election vigil had a small (but enthusiastic) crowd (we counted nine). Cool weather had returned to San Francisco. We were pleased to see new people again:

We were also happy to see our old friends:

As usual, passing motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians were supportive.More photos of this vigil and of past vigils can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/haightpeacevigil/

Cornwall, CT

On November 19, the Iraq Moratorium: Cornwall Edition went back indoors to hold one of our best programs so far. Around 20 of us turned out to hear Jeff Bartos, a Connecticut member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. He talked about his experiences in the Army, how the damage the war had done to him affected him on his return, and the change running into IVAW had made for him. While he says he still hasn't spoken in public much, you could not tell that from the floor. The Q&A period was notable for a lively discussion of our government's use of private contractors (mercenaries) to do what the Armed Forces used to do for themselves. Jeff had several horror stories about how the big corporations have been cashing in on the war. Did you know that contractors get $30 every time a troop swipes his card to go into the mess hall, even if it's just to pick up a soda? He also talked about convoys of contractor trucks running nearly empty, because the government was billed by the run. Local residents suggested that this wasn't unplanned corruption but a premeditated way for the administration to funnel tax dollars to the military-industrial complex. We took up a collection to help the growing Connecticut chapter of IVAW keep on with its work.

Jackson, CA

We had another good vigil in Jackson, Amador County, California with about a dozen participants. We have a core of about 20 relatively reliable peace people in what is essentially a pretty "red neck" county of unenlightened voters. Still we've had very little negative reaction the past two months at our vigils and hope that minds and hearts are being changed. After 20 years here, I can attest, it's been a long, hard slog, to coin a phrase.

Macon, GA

Sewanee, TN

Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace: Eleven very chilly folks braved the below freezing temperatures to stand on the corner of University Avenue and Hwy. 41A from 4 pm until dark. We jokingly referred to ourselves as the Few, the Brave, and the Frozen, reminding ourselves how fortunate we were for not being in a war zone in Iraq or Afghanistan. Peace to all and for all.

Santa Barbara, CA

Vets for Peace, Chapter 54: A war memorial honoring 18- and 19-year-old military personnel, men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, was erected on a lawn overlooking the ocean at Santa Barbara City College. The local chapter of Veterans for Peace and students set up the memorial, which currently honors 303 young men and women. Dr. Gilberto Robledo, former faculty member of SBCC and VFP member along with several other VFP/SBCC students sets up the memorial the Third Friday of every month in conjunction with the national Iraq Moratorium. As students, faculty, staff and community members pass by, they're asked to place a placard on a white tombstone. The military person's picture, name, unit, circumstance surrounding the death, and birth date is on the placards. This interactive memorial depicts the cost of war, especially to the college age students, who in many cases are in the same age range as the teen casualties of these two current conflicts. Photographer and reporter from the SB Daily Sound were in attendance.

San Francisco, Los Angeles, Roseville, & Sonora, CA; New York; St. Petersburg, FL

Raise Hell for Molly Ivins Campaign. We called and faxed our demands to our Congr. Repres. and Senators local offices regarding getting out of Iraq NOW. We have not been emphasizing the taking of pictures and/videos, but we will from now on. This will be to create a more permanent record. We estimate that one hundred and fifty calls/fax were made on 11/21/08.

Hayward, WI

Twenty some Moratorium vigilers took to the street corner in Hayward on Friday to continue their stand against the war in Iraq. The election may be over but the war and occupation continue, and so will we! We made a dozen or so calls to our congressman and senators and asked them to start spending our tax dollars on health care and not warfare. We also collected non-perishable items for our local food shelf, which has seen a 25% increase in requests since this time last year. With thousands of our soldiers dead, and perhaps over one million Iraqi's dead since the invasion and occupation began in 2003, we have a moral imperative to continue our efforts. Please join us in December. President elect Obama needs our/your help in bringing this great tregedy to an end, and in forging a new set of national priorities for America.

Rice Lake, WI

Bitterly cold winds and a spate of local events conspired to drive the turnout down in Rice Lake on Friday, though almost 10 hardy souls came out anyway to stand for peace for a couple of hours. A half a dozen telephone calls were made to congressman Dave Obey's office in Washington urging him to support health care and not warfare, and callers report they were very well received by the congressman's staff. On to December and an end to this war!

Superior, WI

Grandmothers for Peace, Standing for Peace. 15 sturdy anti-war enthusiasts showed up for the Grandmothers for Peace first Iraq Moratorium event in Superior on Friday, including newly elected 73rd District assemblyman Nick Milroy. Single digit windchills, frozen fingers and rapidly encroaching darkness didn't stop peace supporters from making a dozen telephone calls to 7th district congressman Dave Obey's office asking him to support "Healthcare Not Warfare." The Grannies vowed to be back next month and every month afterwards, no matter the weather, until this war is over. If the Grandmothers can do it, SO CAN YOU! See you in December.

Berkeley, CA

Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants and Berkeley Gray Panthers November 21 Iraq Moratorium Vigil. Lovely weather, lots of singing of peace songs, a pleasant afternoon was had by all as we continue to express our demands to the incoming administration that the wars and occupations must end. We numbered about 30. See you next month.

Duluth, MN and Superior, WI

Despite the biting cold temperature, we had small but spirited gatherings in both Duluth, MN and Superior, WI to mark the November Iraq Moratorium. In Duluth we held a picket at Pennell Park along the busy Central Entrance street. A dozen hearty souls participated. And across the bridge 15 people held a picket on the corner on Belknap and Tower Ave. in downtown Superior.

Eau Claire WI

Eau Claire had its 1st Iraq Moratorium event on Friday, Nov. 21. Thirty hardy souls braved 15 degree temps and gusty winds to show our opposition to the continuing Iraq occupation. Some people, whose fingers weren't frozen, made calls to Wisconsin senators and representatives to urge them to make bringing the troops home the first priority of the new administration. After the event a number of energized people retired to Woo's Pagoda restaurant to thank them for the use of their parking lot, to enjoy great Asian food, and to begin plans for the December event. More from Voices for Peace Institute here.

Madison WI

Citizens in Madison Friday night, Nov. 21, were thinking about ending war and torture, not only in Iraq but throughout as hemisphere. The Iraq Moratorium event collaborated with a School of the Americas memorial service and rally this cold night in Wisconsin. Peace activists first gathered at the State Street corner of Capitol Square, and quietly processed around the Square -- in commemoration of all who have suffered from the military machine -- especially thinking of those in Central and South America tonight, where the SOA at Ft. Benning has trained soldiers from abroad in crowd control and torture techniques. We finished the rally with a memorial service in the United Methodist Church near the Square (pictured.) This weekend there is a massive gathering in Georgia, near Fort Benning, to protest this school, and our event was in solidarity with that event. "We remember you!" All wars against people must end - and this gathering tonight provided an opportunity to connect Iraq and Colombia..... Judy Miner, SOAW and Iraq Moratorium advocate.

Saint Paul, MN

Students, veterans, and community members gathered at Senator Norm Coleman's office to demand an end to the occupation of Iraq. We are marking the Iraq War Moratorium to publicly denounce elected officials' perpetuation of violence in Iraq; to present Norm Coleman with specific petitions and demands on this account; and to re-claim and re-appropriate his office as a public anti-war space through creative representations of the consequences of state violence. Iraq is not simply a "mismanaged war", but has been waged and maintained in the interest of the United States' corporate and political elite. Norm Coleman's office is but one of the spaces elected "representatives" occupy, a space in which the collusion of multinational corporations and American government leads to the suffering and death of thousands. We do not limit our critique to Coleman but extend it to all officeholders, Republican or Democrat, who do not enact an immediate end to the occupation. Today, for a short time, artwork and sculptures turned a war-wager's and war-profiteer's office into an antiwar space. Our reclamation of this space is a rejection of the unethical actions taken in our name by the U.S. government and a call for the self-determination of the Iraqi people. We demand from Norm Coleman and all other U.S. officials--an immediate end to the war in Iraq and US wars of aggression in the Middle East.

New York City

Once again, I posted numbers in my street-facing windows here in Harlem, representing today's total of US troops who have died since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and kept them visible for the whole of Moratorium Day #15. With current talk about bringing the troops home by 2012--maybe--I try and remind people that the sooner we bring them home, the more of them will be coming home alive.

Milwaukee WI

The return to Central Standard Time guarantees that it will be dark and cold for vigils in Wisconsin for the foreseeable future. Friday's 25-degree temperature didn't faze about 60 participants in a rush hour vigil, march and rally in the heart of downtown.

A large campus contingent from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society brought a lot of energy to the event, the 15th Iraq Moratorium observance sponsored by Peace Action-Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

People stood on all four corners of the intersection with flags, banners, and signs, interacting with drivers who honked their horns to show support for ending the war and occupation.

After half an hour, an SDS-organized march toprotest the School of the Americas went three blocks north to a corner across from City Hall, with chants along the way and a short rally before the marchers headed back to the start, where a handful of people had stayed behind to keep the street corner vigil going. More in Fight Back! newspaper.

Iraq Moratorium #15: November 21

2008-10-18T17:18:00.027-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

Alabama

Auburn: Friday, Nov. 21, 5-6 pm at Toomer's Corner, Third Friday of every month.You can use one of our signs or get some posterboard across the street at J&M Bookstore and make your own. It's that easy! Alliance for Peace and Justice*

California

Berkeley: Berkeley Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc. Iraq Moratorium vigil. Nov 21, 2008, 2 -- 4 PM, Corners of University and Acton, Berkeley, CA. We gather to sing, chant, hand out literature and say no to war at this busy intersection midway between the San Francisco Bay and the University of California in Berkeley. We have a loyal group of regulars, and new folks are always welcome to share the spirit.*

Jackson: We are still having our monthy peace vigils on the third Friday in front of city hall, Jackson, CA at the corner of the hiway 49 and Hiway99 divergence - unless it rains.

Montrose: Montrose PeaceVigil. Every Friday, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. In Montrose Shopping Park at the NW corner of Oceanview Blvd. and Honolulu Avenue. We have gathered at this location every Friday evening since January 2005 to remind people that we are still at war, to stand up for peaceful solutions to conflicts, and to urge an enlightened and nonviolent U.S. foreign policy. We protest the U.S. invasion of Iraq and oppose the continuing occupation there. We have extra signs, or bring your own. The Los Angeles Times covered our vigil and the counter-protesters in May 2008. ( http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere02-2008may02,0,4057494.story )

Novato: PeaceNovato Candlelight Vigil. Friday, Nov. 21, 5:30 - 7:00pm. Old City Hall - corner of Delong & Sherman Ave. Join us as we call for peace in Iraq and celebrate signs of hope since the election. Signs and candles will be available; you are welcome to bring your own as well.

Oakland: Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party: Shut Down The War Machine! 11/21/2008, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. 40th Street and Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. We'll greet evening commuters at this busy intersection near the MacArthur BART station with our signs: "Shut Down the War Machine" and others you may bring.

Oakland: Ecumenical Peace Institute, Living Graveyard. Tuesday, Nov 18 at noon. Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, 94612. Participants lie from noon to one o'clock on the city sidewalk in front of the Oakland Federal Building. They are covered with white sheets. Two tombstones give the numbers of the Iraqi dead and the "Coalition" and U.S. dead. For the hour of the action, the names of the dead are read. Groups of Iraqi names and names of California military dead are read. After each name a gong is sounded.

San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil--Friday, November 21, 2008, and every third Friday of the month until the war in Iraq is over. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Neighborhood Peace Vigil--Everybody Welcome. Corner of Masonic and Fell in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, San Francisco. We will have candles, signs, music and food. One issue focus--end the war in Iraq! If you can't join us this month, our next vigil will be Friday, December 19. Photos from last month are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/haightpeacevigil/

San Jose: Street Rally/Protest EVERY Saturday/Sunday 11:30am-2pm at the corner of Stevens Creek Blvd. & Winchester Blvd. END THE U.S. OCCUPATION OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN NOW! STOP MILITARIZING OUR YOUTH! This PEACEFUL action has been on-going for over 5-1/2 YEARS! We must take this message directly to the public. Some signs provided or bring a sign with your personal message. Join Passionate and Peaceful local activists. If you believe in our message- we look forward to seeing you out there!

San Pedro: San Pedro Neighbors for Peace and Justice Candlelite Vigil. 11/21/08, 5:00-7:00PM at the intersection of First and Gaffey Streets, San Pedro, Ca. This will be our 297th Consecutive Friday Night Vigil To End the War and Bring Our Troops Home

Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Vets for Peace Chapter 54 will sponser an event @ Santa Barbara City College, on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library, on every third Friday of each month during the Fall, 08 and Spring 09 Semesters, from 10am-3pm. The event will consist of a mock cemetary of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 299, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts.The crosses will be set up by volunteers from the local vets for peace chapers and SBCC students. Then passing by students & community members will be asked to place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the crosses. Information about the cost of war & the immediate withdrawal of troops from both conflicts will be given out.* Past events occurred in Sept with crosses and October was with "Tombstones". The first event had the Campus newspaper and the Local TV station. In November we will make the attempt to have the campus newspaper, local TV and the SB News press as well as coverage from UCSB.

Santa Cruz:

Peaceful Protest and Vigil Nov. 21, 4pm-5:30 at Resurrection Church Cemetery. Counting Lives Lost Iraq War Memorial Community Art Installation. Soquel Dr./State Park Dr. Aptos. The Iraq Moratorium is an event that takes place in cities across the country every third Friday of the month. We will peacefully protest the war during rush hour on the sidewalks in front of the Resurrection - Aptos cemetery where the Counting Lives Lost Iraq War Memorial: Community art installation of thousands of clay figurines representing the U.S. Troops and Iraqi Civilian deaths. The evening's vigil, with music and poetry will be held by the memorial in the cemetery. Please bring end the war/peace banners and signs. For more information peaceplanner@cruzio.com Counting Lives Lost article http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10964783?source=email

Ventura: Sponsored by Peace Coalition of Greater Ventura. Friday, Nov. 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in front of Pacific View Mall, Main St at Mills Rd.*

Connecticut

Cornwall:

Jeff Bartos, who served as a U.S. Army medic in Iraq, will speak about his war experiences on Friday, November 21, at 7 P.M., at the Cornwall Library. Jeff Bartos is an active member of the Connecticut chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War. The meeting is sponsored by the Cornwall Iraq Moratorium Network

Norwich: Iraq Moratorium Vigil, 4:00 PM November 21 on Chelsea Parade, In Front of NFA, Norwich, CT. Come join us at a peaceful vigil with like-minded Americans who want an end to the war & a safe return of our service men & women. Wear black, bring signs, or just stand with us in support of an end to war. The Youth Peace Group at NFA and the War Resisters League will also participate in the Iraq Moratorium. We will stand vigil with signs as reminders of our continued occupation from 4-6 PM. We hope to see a larger contingent of Americans who want this war to end and no new war to start. There will be quite the diversity of ages and backgrounds. Come stand at the Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Friday! YOUR SILENCE, YOUR LEGACY!!!

Florida

Pinellas Park: Veterans for Peace. November 21, 4:30 to 5:30 PM. Join Iraq Moritorium Pinellas Park peace activists against the occupations of OIE and OEF. We meet on the third Friday of the month at the intersection of US 19 and Gandy/Park Blvd in Pinellas Park, with parking at the SW corner at the "Friends of Strays". We will hold signs against the occupation and bring our troops home for rush-hour commuters, many who work for our major war industries located nearby and make them aware of the terrible human and financial costs of this war. Many respond with honks and peace signs.

Tampa: Tampa Iraq Moratorium, sponsored by Veterans For Peace/MoveOn/CodePink. Come out on Friday, November 21 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM during "rush hour" at the corner of Fletcher Avenue and Palm Drive next to USF - Tampa Campus and join the call to "End the War!" and "Bring the Troops Home!". Park in "The Edge at 42nd Street" apartment parking lot, 13605 N. 42nd St. Parking permission has been given by the apartment complex. Rally at the SE corner of Fletcher Avenue and Palm Drive. Contact jpalm_tan@yahoo.com (813-220-4315) or see the site IraqMoratorium.org.

Georgia

Brunswick: GlynnPeace Iraq Moratorium Vigil. November 21, 2008, 11:30 am - 1:00 p.m. US Post Office/Federal Building, 805 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31525 Vigil with GlynnPeace in front of Jack Kingston's (R-1) office. Bring signs, water, hat. Bring a friend(s.) More info at: http://www.glynnpeace.org/

Illinois

Berwyn:Join Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice for Iraq Moratorium No. 15, when we have a vigil and mass leafleting at the Harlem Avenue Metra Stop, 7135 Windsor Ave, Berwyn,from 5 to 6pm on Friday, Nov. 21. We are particularly targeting traffic with signs and commuters with fliers and 'honk for peace' to trains, trucks, buses and cars.

Chicago. Friday, Nov. 21 ,Art Against War. Music and more protesting the war in Iraq, Heartland Cafe, $5, variety of music, show at 9 pm. Art Against War donates the proceeds of each show to one of four selected non-profits actively addressing the prevention or fallout of war. Recipient organizations teach nonviolence, resettle refugees in Chicago, counter recruitment of youth to the military and assist returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. November's show will benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). IVAW was founded by Iraq war veterans in 2004 and gives voice to the many active duty service people and veterans who oppose the war. It calls for immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq and reparations for the human and structural damages Iraq has suffered. IVAW also works for full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women. November Performers: Amy Dixon-Kolar is a seasoned acoustic folk singer/songwriter, Her music and lyrics offer a new perspective to the everyday, drawing from her experience as a teacher, mother, political activist, interpreter and performer. The Warrior Writers is a project of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) providing an outlet for servicemen and women to express their experiences through poetry and stories. IVAW members will read selected shorts. Rock band, The Living Blue, headlines.

DeKalb: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb, Nov, 21, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.* Contact: Dan Kenney

Maryland

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: Takoma Moratorium Vigil: November 21, 6-7 pm at the Takoma Metro. Our group alternates between the Takoma and Silver Spring metro stations, and we will be at Takoma this month for a 6-7 vigil, followed by a potluck at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, Maple and Tulip Avenues. We will have signs and leaflets.

Michigan

Minnesota

Duluth: Northland Anti-War Coalition will be holding a peace vigil on Friday, Nov. 21 as part of our local contribution to the ongoing monthly Iraq Moratorium Project. From 4:30-5:30pm we'll be holding signs and handing out fliers at Pennel Park. Pennel Park is located on the corner of Central Entrance and Arlington Ave. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. We'll have extra signs on hand, but feel free to make and bring your own!

Saint Paul: Street Protest, Petition, and Creativity. On Friday November 21, at 3pm there will be street protest at Norm Coleman's office (2550 University Ave W) at which we will deliver anti-war demands and petitions from veterans and youth. The protest will meet at University and Transfer Rd, the corner outside of Norm Coleman's office. Bring any written demands or artwork that you would like to present to Coleman. *There is also a similar petition for Al Franken if he ends up winning the recount.

New Mexico

Albuquerque: Albuquerque will be having its usual weekly Saturday noon-1:30 vigil, November 22, at Central and Vassar.

Ohio

Cincinnatti area: Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center. Third Friday of every month. IRAQ MORATORIUM: Neighborhood Peace Vigils. Bring any relevant peace signs if you have them. IJPC has several banners and signs and will provide some at each site. Do you live in a neighborhood that didn't have a vigil? Are interested in having one next month? Great! Just call Kristen at IJPC for more details, 579-8547!

*Spring Grove Village: Corner of Derby & Winton. Contact: Kristen Barker: 513-403-9963

*Price Hill: Corner of Enright and W. 8th. Contact: Sue Casey Leininger: 513-579-8547

*Northside: Hoffner park, corner of Blue Rock and Hamilton. Contact: Elizabeth Motter: 513-591-1407 or emotter@fuse.net NEW TIME: 4:30-5:30

*Clifton: Fountain in Burnet Woods, corner of Clifton and Ludlow. Contact: Judy Cirillo: jcirillo.1@juno.com

*Mt. Healthy: Heritage Park, on Hamilton, right after Cross County. Contact: Karen Arnett, karen.arnett@fuse.net NEW TIME: 5:00-6:00

*Northern Kentucky: Newport Peace Bell, (corner of York and 4th St). Contact Vicki Dierig - vickidierig@yahoo.com

*Miami Township: New location being determined. Contact Lauren Thamann-Raines, lpt89@hotmail.com

Tennessee

Sewanee: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace Vigil #17. November 21, 4:00 pm. Corner of University Ave. and Hwy. 41A, Sewanee, Tennessee: Signs available at vigil site. Join us!

Texas

Austin: Friday, November 21st, 5:00 p.m. In front of the Capitol (11th & Congress)
Join us as we speak out against ALL wars! CodePink will wear black.

Utah

West Virginia

DePere: The St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center will host an EcumenicalPrayer Service for Peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 21, Old St. Joseph Church (on the campus of St. Norbert College, De Pere). For more information, please contact the Peace and Justice Center, 920-403-3881, or email pjc@snc.edu

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each Month, 4:00 p.m. In front of the Iowa County Courthouse, Dodgeville, WI. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! Beginning this coming Fri., Nov. 21, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come this Friday or not: On Friday, Nov. 21, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail.

Hayward: Peace North will hold a Vigil for Peace on Friday, November 21st, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in, what is likely to be, chilly downtown Hayward. We are determined to keep the Iraq Moratorium alive and growing so come on out and give us a hand. Dress warm, bring a thermos with a hot beverage, and stand with us for a couple of hours for the sake of peace. It's the least you/we can do! Bring a sign or use one of ours. Good parking. Great people. See you there!

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month. The next event will be held on Nov. 21. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Email us for more info.

LaCrosse:Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, November 21st, from 4-6 pm. This is our fourth Iraq Moratorium event and we're looking forward to our largest turnout to date. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! NOW is the time to let the incoming adminstration know that we want an end to war and the beginning of healthcare for all! Healthcare Not Warfare! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.

Superior: The Superior Chapter of Grandmothers for Peace will be holding our first "Iraq Moratorium Picket for Peace" on Friday, November 21st, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Tower and Belknap St's, in front of the Superior Public Library. We are excited at the promise that the Iraq Moratorium holds for bringing all peace loving people together to show our opposition to war, and our support for a more just and peaceful world. Please bring a sign as ours are limited, and bring a loved one as well. Together we can make a united anti-war voice heard all the way to Washington DC! E-mail.

Waupaca: Nov. 21, Friday 5-6 pm Monthly Vigil for Peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium. All welcome. For more information, email People for Peace at or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly Friday witness for peace. Email for more info.*

Wyoming

Laramie: Stand Up for Peace on the corner of 3rd and Grand every Friday evening, 4:45-5:15, since January 2003. Come join us. Bring a sign or use one of ours.*

Australia

Brisbane: Enogerra Military Base Vigil. Australian soldiers are deployed from the Enoggera barracks to illegal war in Iraq. A team of us holds a vigil near the entrance to our local Army Barracks every Friday-from 4 pm till dusk. This vigil has been going for more than a year.*

Reports from the Field: Oct. 17 actions

2008-10-17T17:11:00.021-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

Include photos or video if available.

Altadena, CA

MEMOIR NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS IRAQ MORATORIUM

Four area authors spoke at "Memoir Night" at the Altadena Public Library Friday, October 17, Iraq Moratorium day. Over 60 people packed the conference room for the event. Paul Krehbiel, author of Shades of Justice, talked about the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium from his book and the Iraq Moratorium today. Other authors on the panel were Tristine Rainer, author of Your Life as Story; Ray Elizondo, author of The Last Pachuco; and Nancy Mehagian, author of Siren's Feast: An Edible Odyssey. Shades of Justice and The Last Pachuco are available at www.autumnleafpress.com

Pasadena, CA

STOPPING MILITARY RECRUITMENT

Fifteen people set up an informational picket in front of the Military Recruiting Office on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena on Iraq Moratorium Day, October 17, to persuade potential military recruits NOT to join. Only two potential military recruits came to the office while we were there and we convinced both to leave without keeping their appointments with recruiters! The event was organized by the Pasadena Iraq Moratorium, which will focus future Moratorium Day protests to stop military recruitment as long as the war and occupation continues. Members of Students for Social Justice at Pasadena City College joined the anti-war protest. The picketers carried signs to stop funding the war to help save our economy, and to bring the troops home.

Oakland, CA

Living Graveyard, Oct. 21. Four people lay on city sidewalk covered with white sheets to represent the Iraqi and U.S. dead in the war. Names were read. About 300 flyers were handed out to the public.

San Francisco, CA

Haight-Ashbury: Warm weather returned to San Francisco for our October vigil. Our crowd was once again relatively small (about 16) but enthusiastic.

The sun is now setting earlier, so ours was mostly a nightime vigil.

We once again had food and music. Sorry we can’t share it on this website. But we are able to post some photos, so that you can see that, although our purpose is serious, we were having fun. You can also see us and our signs.

Our spot is along a bicycle and pedestrian path, as well as next to a traffic intersection. As usual, the response from passing motoristis, cyclists, and pedestrians was supportive.More pictures from our October vigil and from past vigils can be seen here

Amherst, MA

We rang our church bell again 21 times in Amherst, MA. The rector of Grace Church, Amherst, rang it instead of me because I was sick. Cheers for Rob Hirshfeld!

Cornwall, CT

$ For Banks $ For War
Is This What
We Pay Taxes For?

This was the biggest sign made when the Iraq Moratorium: Cornwall Edition observed Moratorium Day #14 with a vigil and sign painting event. About twenty locals gathered, not counting kids and dogs, to line the green in Cornwall Bridge.

As at our previous vigil, the outpouring of honks, peace signs and thumbs up from those driving past showed just how sick of the war folks in this little New England town are. One high point of the vigil came when a car pulled up across the street, driven by a couple passing through town on Route 7.

"We are from Ohio and we just wanted to stop and say how much we appreciate what you are doing."

Hey, thanks. This is the Iraq Moratorium. The third Friday of every month folks all around the country take action wherever they are to protest the war. Where in Ohio are you from?"

"Cincinnati."

"No kiddin'? There are Moratorium vigils in six or eight different places there on Moratorium Day."

"Hey! We've been to those! This is great!"

At the end of the day, as we were packing up, Cornwall folks were chatting about the November Moratorium Day and how exciting it is that Jeff Bartos, who is organizing a Connecticut chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, will be speaking there. As the signs went into the pickup, the suggestion was made that the slogan on that big sign mentioned at the start of our report would be ideal for an old-fashioned series of four roadside signs, like the Burma Shave ads back in the day. We just have to figure out what the fifth sign (the one after the rhyming slogan that said Burma Shave) would say. "Join us"? "Iraq Moratorium?" "Do something"?

Santa Barbara, CA

A mock cemetery composed of 300 coroplast "Tombstones" is set up on the lawn for the 18 & 19 year old U.S. military casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. As students and college personnel come down the walkway, volunteers from the Vets for Peace, SB Chapter 54, request their assistance in placing a name tag of the fallen youth on one of the "Tombstones". Hundreds of Students & personnel participated through out the day and many were moved to see the cost of War with the human touch of putting a face and name to this tragedy.

Duluth, MN

About 20 people attended the Northland Anti-War Coalition's October Iraq Moratorium. We held a one hour vigil on the corner of a busy intersection near the University of MN-Duluth. We held signs for passing motorists, and handed out leaflets to pedestrians. A large group of students from UMD's Students for Peace group attended, as well as some students from the College of St. Scholastica, a number of older peace activists. It was a very spirited vigil, and the response we got from the public was overwhelmingly positive!

Hayward, WI

Hayward’s October Moratorium #14 event was slimmer than usual due to the Obama House party happening concurrently in a neighboring community, but we prevailed. Around 25 citizens and 2 dogs rallied and demonstrated on the busy corner in downtown Hayward. Cars and trucks passed by waving, clapping and thanking us for standing up, with relatively few thumbs down. Several vigilers called in pledges to WOJB 88.9 FM, our local community radio station’s fall fund drive while others spoke live on the radio via cell phone (photo at right.) Some yummy brownies were available and the Wiscokidd played sing-a-long tunes! Pamphlets for the Progressive Democrats of America circulated highlighting their “Healthcare not Warfare” platform, as well as Iraq Moratorium pamphlets to those who had not heard about the “Every Third Friday” events nationwide.

Takoma Park/Silver Spring, MD

We are alternating between Silver Spring and Takoma Metro Stations these days, and were at Silver Spring in October. We had a small but spirited vigil, handing out our flyer. In November, we'll be back at Takoma, with a potluck afterwards at the Presbyterian Church.

Rice Lake, WI

Just over 30 anti-war supporters gathered in Rice Lake Friday to observe Iraq Moratorium Day #14. We were very glad to see a crop of new young faces at our event, having been joined by several high schoolers from the area. Spirits were high, passing motorists were supportive with honks and thumbs up, and enthusiasm for expanding the event is growing. We're all looking forward to a larger event on November 21st!

Norwich, CT

Still the protests continue. Another third Friday and we peacefully held our Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Chelsea Parade in Norwich, CT. Our state is very heavily dependent upon the military industrial complex with a major naval submarine base, along with Electric Boat a major submarine manufacturer, the USCG Academy, Sikorsky helicopter manufacturer, along with many other industries that support the military on other levels. The impetus to get out and protest a war that helps to employ so many in our state is just not there. We don’t care. We continue to vigil on the third Friday. We get a lot of honks and thumbs up along with a few negative comments. We just want the war to end and the killing to stop. Our great nation is in debt up the wahzoo! This continued war only adds to that debt. We are proud to claim the Iraq Moratorium as Our Legacy. Peace & Love to the World!

Janesville, WI

Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace vigil. Approx. 12 people today, with "stop the war" and "honk for peace" signs. It was raining and cold, so the group was smaller than usual. Lots of honks and only a few negative gestures.

Berkeley, CA

Berkeley Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants' Assoc. Gather to say NO to war. Today, Oct. 17, there were 22 people, 3 of us were in wheelchairs. We showed spirit and determination to end all of this insanity.

Pinellas Park, FL

Our event was held at the famous site of the March 2005 Terri Shivo feeding tube case in Pinellas Park, Florida. There were only two of us in Pinellas Park but we are part of three Iraq Moritoriums in the Tampa Bay Area...

Milwaukee, WI

Our usual 3rd Friday rally and vigil was bolstered by an increased presence of University of Wis-Milwaukee students, who also marched to the Federal Building and back. It seems impossible, but the response from cars driving by during rush hour was even more enthusiastic than it has been.

Madison WI

As an Iraq Moratorium event today, we held a special statewide organizing meeting in Madison to make plans to bring and keep our National Guard troops home: those who are currently fighting in wars abroad – and those with plans for being deployed in 2009! We need our Guard here – to deal with floods, and tornados, and supporting human needs within our state and region and nation….not abroad fighting in wars. We are developing flyers and petitions for the November and December Moratorium vigils. Watch for them on the WNPJ website.

This is part of a national campaign, endorsed by Veterans for Peace and more. The following states have active campaigns which have already introduced or will soon introduce state legislation: Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, our own Wisconsin and Oregon. A new "Bring the Guard Home" website will be up very soon, but in the meantime, go here for links to media releases, publicity fliers, articles and FAQs about the national campaign. And if you want to get involved in Wisconsin, contact Joy First at jsfirst@tds.net or 608-239-4327.

October 17 events: Iraq Moratorium # 14

2008-10-02T22:35:00.048-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

Alabama

Auburn: Friday, Oct. 17, 5-6 pm at Toomer's Corner, Third Friday of every month.You can use one of our signs or get some posterboard across the street at J&M Bookstore and make your own. It's that easy! Alliance for Peace and Justice*

California

Altadena: Oct. 17, 7 pm - 9 pm Altadena Public Library 600 E. Mariposa St. Altadena, CA 91001. Altadena Public Library presents "Memoir Night" on October 17, Moratorium Day, featuring four local authors: Tristine Rainer, Paul Krehbiel, Nancy Mehagian, and Ray Elizondo. Krehbiel will recount the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium from his book, and will talk about the Iraq Moratorium today. The authors' books will be on sale.

Berkeley: October 17. East Bay Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc. Gather on the 4 corners with signs, to sing, chant, hand out ribbons & info, play music and enjoy good cheer. Bring your positive attitudes and determination to end the wars and build the movement to end the wars. 2 - 4 P.M., Corners of University & Acton

Costa Mesa: Sponsored by the Orange County KPFK Support Group, Corner of Bristol & Anton, Costa Mesa, (infront of Scott's Sea Food) Friday 5:00-7:00 PM contact (714) 956-5037. This will be our seven year anniversary of continuos Orange County, Friday afternoon/eveming antiwar protests against war, racism, empire and occupation.

We invite you to join us for a two hour street corner antiwar protest. We are going to have a celebration and invite all of our former comrades, old and new friends to join us with snacks and drinks. The two wars are still going strong while indigent people resist. Mr. Bush has lost the wars and continues to bomb, maim and kill innocent Iraqi, Afghanistani and Pakistanis. A new war was started in Pakistan and threats of a war against Iran are promised while racism, empire and bellicose are rendered shamelessly from Republican and Democratic candidates. How many years will these senseless wars last? When will Palestine be Free?

When will the wars end? "When you want it!" John Lennon

Please join us. We few are still there and welcome your presence on this special day. Bring a treat, a snack or drinks. Bring your children and dogs. We stand up to the Evil Empire seven years later, thousands and thousands of deaths, of bombing and torture. We are still there at Bristol & Anton and we stand proud.

Jackson: Moratorium vigil in Jackson, CA from 5 to 6:30 on the 17th, by Jackson City Hall

Oakland. Shut Down The War Machine! 10/17/08 4 to 6 pm. Intersection of 40th & Telegraph Avenue. Sponsored by Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party. We'll greet evening commuters at this busy intersection near the MacArthur BART station with our signs: "Shut Down the War Machine" and others you may bring. Contact: dkadlecek@igc.org*

Oakland. Tuesday, October 21, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Living Graveyard. Oakland Federal Building anti-war activists join in the "Living Graveyard." Covered with white sheets, participants lie on the city sidewalk, far enough apart to allow for pedestrian and wheelchair traffic. We read the names of the dead of this war, sounding a gong at intervals. This is legal street theater to make visible the reality of the deaths caused by the war, representing the true human cost of the Iraq War -- the U.S. and allied dead and the untold thousands of Iraqis who have died in the conflict. 1301 ClayStreet, Oakland, CA 94612. For information visit http://www.epicalc.org/

Palo Alto: Friday, Oct, 17, 4:30-6 pm, corner of El Camino Real & Embarcadero Road.
Part of the Iraq Moratorium campaign, a monthly series of actions demanding an end to the war. On the third Friday of each month, local peace groups are taking the time to show our President, Congress, and candidates that our troops must be brought home, now! Peninsula Peace and Justice Center will hold a 'Human Billboard' vigil at the busy corner of El Camino Real & Embarcadero Road, holding antiwar signs and banners and encouraging commuters to actively oppose the war. Please join us!For more information on PPJC and this action, call 650-326-8837 or visit http://www.peaceandjustice.org/ . For a list of ongoing local vigils, check out www.peaceandjustice.org/index.php?topic=Vigils . Sign the Iraq Moratorium pledge and get involved with the campaign at http://www.iraqmoratorium.com/ .

Pasadena: Vigil at Recruiting Station October 17, 12 noon - 1 pm. Military Recruiting Office 1661 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91106. We will protest in front of the Military Recruiting Office with signs opposing the war and occupation, pass out anti-war literature, and urge prospective recruits not to join the military becasue of the military occupation of Iraq.

San Diego County: Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace We will stop the war when people want it so. Every week we protest to change their minds. Join Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace! We have rallies in 8 locations every weekend(click link for locations). 4:30 to 6 PM every Friday in Hillcrest, corner of 6th and University*

San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Peace Vigil, Masonic at Fell in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Everyone welcome. One issue focus--end the war in Iraq. Bring the troops home. We will have signs and candles for you, but you are free to also bring your own. We will also have food and music. Sunset will be about 6:15, so please dress warmly. We will continue our vigil every third Friday of the month until the war is over, so if you can't be with us this month, please put next month's vigil (November 21) on your calendar.

San Francisco: Hayes Valley Neighbors for Peace will meet at Hayes Green in San Francisco Friday, October 17, at 5pm as part of the Iraq Moratorium. Cindy Sheehan will be speaking about her bid for Congress. Music will be provided by Mokai. Meet under the banner. Signs are provided but limited. It would be great to see some new messages about the economic crises and the cost of the war(s). I hope to see you!

San Francisco: Iraq Moratorium folks will be handing out "No on V" leaflets ( no return of ROTC programs to the public schools.) We will also be handing out "Yes on U" leaflets. This latter initiative is a policy statement (like the former) and will be on the s.f. ballot nov. 4. It pressures congressional and senate representatives to no longer fund the deploymentof troops to Iraq, but to appove funds only for their return.

San Pedro: San Pedro NPJ and Veterans for Peace sponsor a vigil on Oct. 17, 5-7 pm, at the corner of 1st and Gaffey Sts. This will be our 287th cconsecutive vigil to End the War since the advent of the War and we will continue to meet there every Friday evening until our troops come home. Contact: jaclin1@pacbell.net *

Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Vets for Peace Chapter 54 will sponser an event @ Santa Barbara City College, on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library, on every third Friday of each month during the Fall, 08 and Spring 09 Semesters, from 10am - 3pm.The event will consist of a mock cemetary of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 299, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts.The crosses will be set up by volunteers from the local vets for peace chapers and SBCC students. Then passing by students & community members will be asked to place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the crosses. Information about the cost of war & the immediate withdrawal of troops from both conflicts will be given out.*

Ventura: Sponsored by Peace Coalition of Greater Ventura. Friday, Oct. 17, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in front of Pacific View Mall, Main St at Mills Rd.*

Connecticut

Norwich: Iraq Moratorium Vigil, October 17, 2008, 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Chelsea Parade, Norwich CT. This area is located in front of Norwich Free Academy (NFA), the green between Washington Street & Broadway. Come join us at a peaceful vigil with like-minded Americans who want an end to the war & a safe return of our service men & women. Wear black, bring signs, or just stand with us in support of an end to war. The Youth Peace Group at NFA and the War Resisters League will also participate in the Iraq Moratorium. We will stand vigil with signs as reminders of our continued occupation from 4-6 PM. We hope to see a larger contingent of Americans who want this war to end and no new war to start. There will be quite the diversity of ages and backgrounds. Come stand at the Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Friday! YOUR SILENCE, YOUR LEGACY!!!

Norwich: FREE MOVIE - "Stealing America: Vote by Vote." October 21, 2008, 5:30pm, Otis Library, Community Room, 261 Main StreetNorwich, CT 06382.

Employing first-person accounts, extensive research and telling clips gleaned from the nightly news, Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated social issue filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman shines a spotlight on the gritty reality of the last decades most egregious incidents of U.S electoral insecurity. For more than 20 years, exit polls accurately predicted U.S. election results. Over the last 10 years, that reliability has progressively disappeared. Whats going on?Stealing America unveils patterns of anomalies at every level of the electoral process. Controversial partnerships perpetuate a secretive environment, as relevant facts and figures remain hidden from view. As a result, most Americans have no real sense of the threat to free and fair elections. As seemingly unrelated pieces of the puzzle come together, a chilling picture emerges of widespread, artfully crafted glitches that, in the final tallies, have the capacity to alter election results. Throughout Stealing America, we hear from voters who experienced a wide range of problems, including those whose votes flipped from one candidate to another and those whose polls didnt have enough machines to serve the number of voters. With November just a bit beyond this viewing, the premier of this DVD is very timely.

Florida

Lutz: Iraq Moratorium in Lutz, sponsored by Veterans For Peace/MoveOn/CodePink. October 17, 2008, 4:30 - 6:00 PM, at the intersection of N US Hwy 41 and Sunset Ln in Lutz. October's "IRAQ MORATORIUM" is THIS FRIDAY. Please come join us as we call out to END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ! and BRING THE TROOPS HOME! Park in the Winn-Dixie parking lot on the SE corner of the intersection. This is a monthly vigil. We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the occupation and bringing the troops home. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this occupation, most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us?

Naples: A group of military veterans and spouses from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and who have sons in Iraq, standing on the corner of Pine Ridge Road and US 41 with signs to stop the War in Iraq. 4:30-5:30 pm, Pine Ridge & US 41*

Pinellas Park: Iraq Moratorium in Pinellas Park, sponsored by members of VFP chapter 119. We meet on the third Friday of the month and join with over 1500 Iraq Moritoriums world wide at the intersection of US 19 and Park Blvd, Pinellas Park, Florida. Ample parking is located at the "Friends of Strays". Join with members of Veterans for Peace who will demonstrate against the Occupation of Iraq and urge folks to VOTE. Gain awareness of the Friday evening rush-hour commuters. Many of them work in the military and the defense industry! Sign on the National Petition for the Reactivation of the US Civilian Conservation Corps (Give our youth and Veterans a shovel to put on their shoulder rather than a rifle!) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/national-petition-for-the-reactivation-of-the-us-civilian-conservation-corps

Georgia

Brunswick: GlynnPeace: Citizens To End the War In Iraq Friday, October 17, 2008. Brunswick U.S. Post Office(Federal Building) 805 Gloucester Street 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bring a friend. More info: http://www.glynnpeace.org/

Illinois

Chicago. New Hope United Methodist Church, Peace Vigil at 7 p.m. every Third Friday, 7115 W. Hood, Chicago, 773-775-1215.

Chicago. Art Against War. Monthly Iraq Moratorium event, with music and more protesting the war in Iraq. Featuring the Jesters and some of Chicago's finest young musicians and poets. Heartland Cafe, 7000 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, $5. Variety of music. Show at 9 p.m.

DeKalb: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb, Oct. 17, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.* Contact: Dan Kenney

Oak Park. Peace Vigil. We have prayed, sang, stood in silence, "testified" for Peace on Fridays for more than five years.This is a faith based Vigil but ALL are welcome!! 7 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street.*

Maryland

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: Takoma Moratorium Vigil. October 17, 6-7pm. Our group alternates between the Takoma and Silver Spring Metro stations; we pass out leaflets and hold a vigil from 6-7. This month we will be back at Silver Spring. Bring your own sign or use one of ours.

Massachusetts

Boston: Friday, 17 October 2008, 5 pm, at the corner of Mass Ave. and Boylston St., outside the Berklee College of Music by the Hynes Convention Center T station on the Green Line. Join the Socialist Party and the Stop the Wars Coalition on the third Friday of every month, to establish a De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) where all those who wish can congregate to denigrate and repudiate the war machine and celebrate the movement against war and oppression. DMZ is our contribution to the Iraq Moratorium project, which complements large regional and national demonstrations with regular local actions, helping keep opposition to the war in Iraq alive and agitation against it active. Bring your signs and minds, ready to chalk, talk, play music, paint art, and sing leftist songs with caring and sharing, in unity declaring that we are "chilling against the villins" in this zone to show our independence from the state.

Minnesota

Duluth: Northland Anti-War Coalition. Join us for a one hour picket where we'll be holding signs and handing out leaflets on the corner of College St. and Woodland Ave. near the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

New Mexico

Santa Fe: Every Friday (since 2002!) We meet at the corner of Cerrillos &St. Francis, noon to 1pm. Santa Fe Vets for Peace.*

Albuquerque: Our Albuquerque event is every Saturday at noon, at Central & Tulane.

Ohio

Chagrin Falls: Patriots for Change March. Oct. 18th, 12:30. Meet in front of Township Hall in Chagrin Falls. March around the Village. Bring home made signs March for one hour

Tennessee

Sewanee: The Sewanee TN group will host a peace vigil Friday, Oct. 17 at thecorner of Universtiy Ave. and 41A at 4:30 pm.

Wisconsin

Chippewa Falls: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 am Weekly Peace Vigil, in honor of the Iraq Moratorium. At the corner of Bridge and River. Contact Thomas Chisholm, Gaylord Oppegard and others at mailto:lagoclam@aol.com

Green Bay The public is invited to an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, West Side Moravian Church, 1707 S. Oneida St., Green Bay. For more information, contact Rev. Marian Boyle, 499-4433.

Hayward: On Friday, October 17, from 4-6 pm, Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 will be holding a Vigil for Peace at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in downtown Hayward. The vigil is in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #14. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Good parking! Good people! All are welcome to attend!!!

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month.
The next event will be held on October 17th. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Contact: kholcombe8117@charter.net

LaCrosse: We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 17th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq. Contact: napeacefulwarior@yahoo.com

Madison Saturday, Oct. 18, monthly peace vigils at the malls, for the Iraq Moratorium. West Towne mall this month: intersection of Odana Rd and Gammon Rd. The monthly peace vigils are an exciting and invigorating way to express your opposition to the "War on Terrorism." Help us count the honks for peace, over 400 an hour! Brings signs if you have them or borrow ours. Bring the whole family! The next vigil will be at East Towne Mall the third Saturday in November.For more information go to MadPeace.org or call Helena (608) 249-2097 for details.

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Rice Lake: The People for Peace in Rice Lake Wisconsin will be standing for Peace from 4-6 pm, on Friday, October 17th, in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #14. We'll be at the corner of Knapp and Main streets on the north end of downtown Rice Lake. Bring a sign, a friend, a loved one, and let's continue to show our opposition to this war!

Woodruff: A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace. crossings@holycrosssisters.org

Wyoming

Laramie: Stand Up for Peace on the corner of 3rd and Grand every Friday evening, 4:45-5:15, since January 2003. Come join us. Bring a sign or use one of ours.*

Reports from the Field: September 2008 Actions

2008-09-16T15:30:00.046-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available.

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.

Sept. 19 events: Iraq Moratorium #13

2008-09-01T12:51:00.074-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

Alabama

Auburn. Friday, September 19, 5 p. m. — IRAQ MORATORIUM VIGIL at Toomer’s Corner. All are invited to participate.Sponsored by Alliance for Peace and Justice. Bring candles, signs (some will be provided). Join thousands nationwide wearing black armbands or ribbons on the 3rd Friday of each month. See http://www.peaceeagle.org/.

California

Berkeley: East Bay Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc. Gather on the 4 corners with signs, to sing, chant, hand out ribbons & info, play music and enjoy good cheer. Bring your positive attitudes and determination to end the wars and build the movement to end the wars. 2 - 4 P.M., Corners of University & Acton

Costa Mesa: We meet every Friday evening for an antiwar protest on the corner of Bristol & Anton from 5.00-7.00 PM

Daly City: Go Black for Iraq Moratorium. Activists around the country will be saying No More Business As Usual on the Third Friday of every month. In solidarity with the Iraq Moratorium, Reach and Teach's website will go black for 30 minutes at 12:00PM PDT once a month thereafter until the war in Iraq ends. Click here to see what it will look like. Will you join us in this action by having your website go black for 30 minutes on the Third Friday of every month and displaying a message to "Pray and Act for Peace"? You can either do this manually yourself by creating your own page and temporarily replacing your home page on your website or we've written some code that you can use.

Gualala: Gualala Peace Vigil We meet every Friday in a vigil for Peace and a protest AGAINST the American war in Iraq. We stand on the side of CA Hwy 1 and make ourselves visible. We smile. Bring signs, flags, wear black (not required, we're pretty relaxed) Noon, Gualala Post Office, Highway 1

Jackson: Join us for a vigil in the foothills. We meet on the third Friday of every month from 5:00 to 6:30 at the corner of Hwys. 49 and 88. Bring signs, flags, etc.

Livermore: Iraq Moratorium actions every month. We meet at 5:30pm at the downtown fountains (corner of First Street and Livermore Avenue) and vigil for about an hour. Sponsored by Tri-Valley CAREs. Join us! 5:30 to 6:30 PM, First and Livermore

Oakland. Shut Down The War Machine! 9/19/2008 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Intersection of 40th & Telegraph Avenue. Sponsored by Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party. We'll greet evening commuters at this busy intersection near the MacArthur BART station with our signs: "Shut Down the War Machine" and others you may bring.

Oakland. Tuesday, Sept 16, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Living Graveyard. City sidewalk in front of the Oakland Federal Building, 1301 ClayStreet, Oakland, CA 94612. Bring a pad to lie on and a white sheet to cover yourself with.This is street theater, not Civil Disobedience. We will lie at least three feet apart and not block entry to the building. The names of Californians who have died in Iraq and the names of Iraqis who have died will be read during the event. Some people will hand out flyers, as we do each week at the Tuesday noon vigil. This is about two and a half years for the Living Graveyard, ten years plus for the weekly vigil. This event is wheelchair accessible and free. For information visit http://www.epicalc.org/

Palo Alto: Peninsula Peace and Justice Center "Get Out of Iraq! Stay Out of Iran!" Vigil & Demonstration. September 19, 2008, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road. Please join Peninsula Peace and Justice Center to oppose the ongoing occupation of Iraq and the drumbeats for war on Iran. We will create a "human billboard" by holding antiwar signs and banners, and encourage evening commuters to actively oppose the war. For more information on PPJC and this action, or for more information on ongoing local vigils, call 650-326-8837 or visit http://www.peaceandjustice.org/.
Point Arena: Join us in front of the Point Arena post office Friday, September 19; Noon-1:00pm . We have leaflets for interested folks with information about Iraq Moratorium and Women in Black. Bring your favorite banner or poster, too. We are proud to take a stand for Peace and Community throughout the world. Come one, come all!
San Diego County Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace We will stop the war when people want it so. Every week we protest to change their minds. Join Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace! We have weekly rallies in 8 locations! (click link for locations)
4:30 to 6PM, Route 67 and Dye Roads, 8 locations!
San Francisco Bernal Heights Vigil. Join your Bernal Heights neighbors for a monthly vigil to protest the U.S. occupation of IraqPlace: Cortland Avenue and Andover Street Day: Third Friday Every Month, Time: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bring: flashlight, candles, anti-war signs, friends 9/19/08 6 to 7 p.m., Cortland Ave & Andover St.
San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Peace Vigil, 6 to 8 p. m., in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, at Masonic and Fell. Neigborhood Peace Vigil (everyone welcome). One issue focus--end the war in Iraq. We will have signs, but you are welcome to bring your own. There will be food and music. Support the Iraqi people and the troops by ending the war now. Our vigil will continue every third Friday of the month until the war ends.
San Francisco: PEACEWORK: Fall ‘08 - Together we can end this war. The Iraq Moratorium campaign invites those who have worked with us during the first year, and others, for a social hour and celebration on Sunday, September 21, 3 to 5 pm, Unitarian Universalist Center: Thomas Starr King Room ,1187 Franklin St.(corner Geary Blvd). Drink liberal lattes, eat antiwar snacks, see a film. For more details: view the flyer.

San Pedro: San Pedro NPJ and Veterans for Peace sponsor a vigil on Sept. 19, 5-7PM, at the corner of 1st and Gaffey Sts.This will be our 286thcconsecutive vigil to End the War since the advent of the War and we will continue to meet there every Friday evening until our troops come home. Following the vigil we will show "Stop Loss" at our monthly forum which is held at the Harry Bridges Institute at 350 W. 5th. St. San Pedro, Ca. at 7:30 PM, admission free, we pass the hat. Contact: jaclin1@pacbell.net
Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Vets for Peace Chapter 54 will sponser an event @ Santa Barbara City College, on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library, on Friday, September 19, 2008 and every third Friday of each month during the Fall, 08 and Spring 09 Semesters, from 10am - 3pm.

The event will consist of a mock cemetary of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 299, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts.

The crosses will be set up by volunteers from the local vets for peace chapers and SBCC students. Then passing by students & community members will be asked to place a placard of the photo and information of a teen casualty on the crosses. Information about the cost of war & the immediate withdrawal of troops from both conflicts will be given out.
Ventura: Sponsored by Peace Coalition of Greater Ventura. Friday, Sept. 19, 5:30 to 6:30 PM, In front of Pacific View Mall, Main St at Mills Rd

Colorado

Colorado Springs: We'll be assembling for "bannering" on Friday, September 19, noon to 1pm at the pedestrian overpass of the Intestate 25 that goes from Denver through Colorado Springs to Pueblo and New Mexico.
Durango: Animas SDS and SWCPJC will be expanding our regular weekly Friday peace vigils once a month into a larger Iraq Moratorium event. 4:30 - 5:30 PM, Corner of 11th St. & Main Ave.

Connecticut

Cornwall:
Community Discussion of the Elections and the War. Historian/activist Jeremy Brecher will lead a discussion on the 2008 elections and ending the Iraq War, at the Cornwall Library on Friday, September 19, at 7 P.M. The meeting is sponsored by the Cornwall Iraq Moratorium Network. For information, call 672-0183.

Norwich: Iraq Moratorium Vigil. Come join us at a peaceful vigil with like-minded Americans who want an end to the war & a safe return of our service men & women. Wear black, bring signs, or just stand with us in support of an end to war.The Youth Peace Group at NFA and the War Resisters League will also participate in the Iraq Moratorium. We will stand vigil with signs as reminders of our continued occupation from 4-6 PM. There will be quite the diversity of ages and backgrounds. Come stand at the Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Friday! YOUR SILENCE, YOUR LEGACY! 4:00PM- 6PM, Chelsea Parade, In Front of Norwich Free Academy
Norwich:Winter Soldier II: Iraq & Afghanistan. The testimony given under oath by veterans in May 2008 about what they experienced, what orders they were given, what they witnessed, what they participated in. Otis Library Community Room, Monday, Sept. 15, 5:30 p.m., followed by discussion. Free admission. For additional information please Contact Paul or Kathleen Morosky at (860)848-6976. Prior to the showing, we will be presenting a short slide show by Jon Orlando of pictures taken of the IVAW in Denver as they held their convention and rally then marched to the DNC Convention center.

Florida

Fort Lauderdale: Broward AntiWar Coalition This is a simple honk and wave event, people hold signs at a busy intersection. We get a good response. 5-7pm, Welcome Park, 2402 South Federal Highway
Lutz: Please join us on the THIRD FRIDAY of every month at the busy intersection of N US Hwy 41 and Sunset Ln in Lutz, FL at "rush hour" friday, September 19 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. Park in the Winn-Dixie parking lot on the SE corner of the intersection. This is a monthly vigil focused on "Bring the Troops Home" and "End the War in Iraq". We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the war and bringing the troops home. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this war, most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us?

Miami: Honk and Wave Rally, Friday, Aug. 2: Sponsored by Democracy for America Miami Dade, Veterans for Peace, and Miami for Peace. Dare to show your feelings about the war in Iraq and this Bush administration to the rush hour crowd. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the support you'll receive and you'll meet a great group of fun, like minded people. First Friday of each month. Corner of US 1 and SW 17 Ave., (parking under Metrorail)
Naples: A group of military veterans and spouses from WW11,Korea,Vietnam and who have sons in Iraq, standing on the corner of Pine Ridge Road and US 41 with signs to stop the War in Iraq. 4:30pm--5:30pm, Pine Ridge& US 41

Port Richie: Florida Peace Action Network Morning rush hour demonstration; great visuals and drumming. Bring a sign or use one of ours. Park at Denny's (NW intersection) and join us for breakfast afterwards. 7:30am-8:30am, Ridge Rd and US19, SW intersection
Tallahassee: We have had a street side informational picket for seven years every Sunday 12:30 - 2:30 and Thursdays 4-6, NOT IN THE RAIN. Old Capitol Steps, 500 S Monroe

Georgia

Brunswick: GlynnPeace: Citizens To End the War In Iraq Friday, September 19, 2008 (1 year anniversary) Brunswick U.S. Post Office
(Federal Building)805 Gloucester Street11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. WEAR Summer WHITE! Bring a friend and water. More info: http://www.glynnpeace.org/

Macon. Peace Vigils every Friday Afternoon 5 - 5:30pm - Signs are provided.- Meet across the street from the Post Office on College Street in Macon, Georgia http://www.macon-bibb.com/Peace/

Illinois

Chicago. New Hope United Methodist Church, Peace Vigil at 7 p.m. every Third Friday, 7115 W. Hood, Chicago, 773-775-1215.

Chicago: Iraq Moratorium event at Heartland Cafe is a day late this month die to a conflict. On Saturday, Sept 20, Art Against War will feature great performances by acoustic musicians, poets and artists. The night will feature an acoustic sets by Mark Hetzel and Sam West, poetry by Fuad Jawad Ridha, visual art by Saad Yousif Jasim. Show begins at 9 p.m., $5. Benefits the International Refugee Center of the Heartland Alliance for their current work with Iraqi refugees. Link: http://www.myspace.com/artagainstwar
DeKalb: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb. Friday, Sept. 19, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.
Oak Park. Peace Vigil. We have prayed, sang, stood in silence, "testified" for Peace on Fridays for more than five years.This is a faith based Vigil but ALL are welcome!! 7 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street .

Kentucky

Lexington: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 19, Corner of Nicholasville Road with Waller & Cooper Dr. Join central Kentucky's Peace Action Task Group at rush hour on this busy corner outside Fayette Mall. We will be standing on all four corners holding signs asking for commuters to honk if they agree with our calls to: 1) Support Our Troops; End the War and 2) for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney for violations of national and international law associated with the Iraq War.

Maryland

Takoma/Silver Spring. CodePink initiated, community maintained. We are entering our fourth year in front of Walter Reed. We hold a weekly vigil to demand the immediate withdrawal of all troops, care for the wounded, and full benefits for the veterans! Please join us on Moratorium Day and on every Friday. 7-9 PM, Georgia Avenue, between Dahlia & Elder Sts,NW
Takoma Park/Silver Spring: We will be at the Takoma Metro this month, Friday, September 19, from 6-7 PM, with a new leaflet and the great signs we made during the summer. We will celebrate a year of activism with a potluck following the demonstration, at the Presbyterian Church at Tulip and Maple streets.

Massachusetts

Amherst: We will be tabling at noon on September 19 at the main intersection of downtown Amherst, getting people to sign the 4000+ card and holding a peace banner. We will also ring the bells at Grace church in downtown Amherst 21 times at noon.
Ashfield. On Friday the 19th, we are holding prayers for peace at the First Congregational Church in Ashfield, Main St. Route 116 , at 12 noon Also, we have a vigil at 5 p.m. on the Buckland side of the Iron Bridge in Shelburne Falls. We stand together on both sides of the bridge from 5 to 6 with signs and singing. Submitted by Kate Stevens songline50@aol.com

Boston: After a month on hiatus in August, our recurring Iraq Moratorium event is recurring again. The time and place on the 19th will be 6-8 pm at the corner of Mass Ave. and Boylston St., outside the Berklee College of Music by the Hynes Convention Center T station on the Green Line. A brief description of the action is posted here. Join the Socialist Party and the Stop the Wars Coalition to establish a De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) where all those who wish can congregate to denigrate and repudiate the war machine and celebrate the movement against war and oppression. Bring your signs and minds, ready to chalk, talk, play music, paint art, and sing leftist songs with caring and sharing, in unity declaring that we are "chilling against the villins" in this zone to show our independence from the state.
Shelburne Falls. We have a vigil at 5 p.m. on the Buckland side of the Iron Bridge in Shelburne Falls. We stand together on both sides of the bridge from 5 to 6 with signs and singing. Submitted by Kate Stevens songline50@aol.com

Michigan

Detroit: 11th Hour for Peace is encouraging our mailing list of 600 people to email Senators Obama & McCain to encourage them to support complete withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, beginning now. Emails are to be sent to the two senators on or before the upcoming Iraq Moratorium. In addition, we are leafletting at local libraries this weekend to encourage the public to participate in this Iraq Moratorium effort. Contact.
Lansing: The weekly noon-hour peace vigil in front of the Michigan CapitolBuilding in downtown Lansing continues. Lansing-area people have beenholding a weekly vigil for peace and justice since September of 2001. Sponsoring organizations include the Greater Lansing Network Against War &Injustice (http://www.glnawi.org/), the Peace Education Center (http://www.peaceedcenter.org/), and the Lansing Peace Vigil Community. The noon-hour vigil in front of the Capitol is one way that people in Lansing participate in the Iraq Moratorium. There may also be other local Third Friday peace actions. Arrive a little before noon if possible - and dress for the weather, with hat and sunscreen in the summer or warm clothing in the winter. We gather on the sidewalk, facing the street at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Michigan Avenue. Bring your own sign if you like, or use one of ours. At 1 pm, the vigil closes as participants gather in a circle, share local peace and justice announcements, and share a moment of closing silence for peace. Our numbers usually range between 15 and 30. New people are always welcome at any weekly Friday noon-hour peace vigil. For more information, see http://www.glnawi.org/.

Minnesota

Duluth: The Northland Anti-War Coalition will be holding a picket on Friday,
September 19th from 4:30-5:30pm at Memorial Park on Grand Ave. in West Duluth.
We'll have signs demanding "Bring the Troops Home Now!" and handing 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.

Missouri

St. Louis: Peace Economy Project BBQ and Iraq Moratorium. 5-7pm, World Community Center 438 N Skinker Blvd St Louis, MO 63130 (just north of Kingsbury.) It’s that time again, PEP’s monthly BBQ and Iraq Moratorium event is THIS FRIDAY! Please RSVP now with your choice of Ribs, Chicken, or something vegetarian! This month features KDHX’s own Pablo Meshugi singing labor tunes and a special guest from our friends at Jobs with Justice discussing The Labor Movement in a War Economy. $5 for JPS members, $10 for everyone else

New Mexico

Santa Fe: Every Friday (since 2002!) We meet at the corner of Cerrillos &
St. Francis, noon to 1pm. Santa Fe Vets for Peace.
Albuquerque: Our Albuquerque event is every Saturday at noon, at Central & Tulane.

New York

Long Island:Friday, September 19 marks the one year anniversary of the Iraq Moratorium. Veterans For Peace Long Island will demonstrate for peace on this date from 5 to 7 pm at the Armed Service Plaza, H. Lee Dennison Building on Route 347 in Hauppauge. We invite members of all organizations, and all individuals who love America and concerned with justice to join us and let the truth be heard.For more info, call 631-987-3338 or email coordinator at vfpli dot com
New York: Friday, September 19 noon - 1:30 p.m. Please join us for a Phone-A-Thon on the west side of City Hall Park on Broadway at Park Place. We'll ask passersby to call their Representatives about the despicable H. Con. Res. 362. No cell phone? No problem. Give out flyers and talk to people. Help set our country on a course for peace, one conversation at a time. Sponsored by: The Granny Peace Brigade, CodePink NYC. Contact: grannypeace@gmail.com

North Carolina

Fayetteville. Fayetteville Peace with Justice Bring signs highlighting the costs of the war -- to go with the wall of names of soldiers killed and our"Bring Them Home Now" banner. 5 pm, Market House, Greene and Hay Sts.

Ohio

Chagrin Falls. Chagrin Falls will hold its monthly march on Sept. 20th at 12:30. Meet in front of Township Hall and bring signs.
Cincinnati. Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center 3rd Friday of every month, 5:30pm IRAQ MORATORIUM: Neighborhood Peace Vigils MARK YOUR CALENDARS...Notice some cancellations, time changes, and location changes:
LOCATIONS:

*Spring Grove Village: Corner of Derby & Winton Contact: Kristen Barker: 513-403-9963 NEW LOCATION

*Price Hill: Corner of Enright and W. 8thContact: Sue Casey Leininger: 513-579-8547

*Northside: Hoffner park, corner of Blue Rock and HamiltonContact: Elizabeth Motter: 513-591-1407 or emotter@fuse.net NEW TIME: 4:30-5:30

*Clifton: Fountain in Burnet Wood, corner of Clifton and LudlowContact: Judy Cirillo: jcirillo.1@juno.com

*Mt. Healthy: Heritage Park, on Hamilton, right after Cross CountyContact: Karen Arnett, karen.arnett@fuse.net NEW TIME: 5:00-6:00

*Northern Kentucky: Newport Peace Bell, (corner of York and 4th St)Contact Vicki Dierig - vickidierig@yahoo.com

*Anderson: -CANCELLED THIS MONTH-

*Miami Township: New location being determined. Contact Lauren Thamann-Raines, lpt89@hotmail.com

- Bring any relevant peace signs if you have them. IJPC has several banners and signs and will provide some at each site. .Do you live in a neighborhood that didn't have a vigil? Are interested in having one next month? Great! Just call Sue at IJPC for more details, 579-8547!
Fremont. Every Friday since September 2007 the People for Peace and Justice of Sandusky County have held a Peace Vigil from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. We encourage people to bring their own signs or hold signs the group has available. Through the months the Honks for Peace have gotten more numerous. The longer the war goes on the more people realize it has to end. Corner of West State St and Front St.
Portsmouth. Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace Demonstration. We will present Representative Schmidt with a letter stating our desire for peace and justice. We carry signs for peace, impeachment, bring troops home, etc. 4-5 pm, Jean Schmidt's Office., 6th & Chillicothe Sts.
Wooster: Wooster Democratic Socialists will be tabling in Lowry and Kauke Tower and passing out black armbands to the campus to wear on Iraq Moratorium events later on in the year. Later on that night we will be watching a movie about the Iraq War and then have a discussion.

Tennessee

Sewanee::Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace sponsors Peace Vigil #14,September 19, 4:30 pm, corner of University Ave. and Hwy. 41. We jumped the gun and hosted our first vigil on the 3rd Friday in July 2007. We have not missed a 3rd Friday since! Thanks to Iraq Moratorium for being the inspiration. Contact: sllytle@blomand.net

Texas

Austin: September Iraq Moratorium, Friday, Sept. 19, 5:00 pm “Recruiting for Peace.” Outside of Dobie Mall near the UT campusFor more information, contact info@codepinkaustin.com

Utah

Logan: Peace Vigil. Join us at the weekly peace vigil each Friday evening from
5-6pm on the east side of Main Street in front of the Logan Tabernacle. The vigil is sponsored by Cache Valley Peace Works and Logan Friends Meeting (Quakers) and Cache Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Vermont

Brattleboro: Main Street March. Sponsored by Patrtiotic Response to Renegade Government This is a march to bring the war to the forefront of peoples' consciences. Drummers, horns, bagpipes, puppets dancers and signs are typically present. We do it every Friday,always focused on ending the war and impeachment (which is the single best way TO end the war) but the Third Friday each month is dedicated to be part of the moratorium project. 5 pm, start at Brattleboro Coop, Main Street. March the length of town and back - takes about 40 minutes.

West Virginia

Morgantown. Morgantown residents have been meeting once each month for the last 4½ years to protest the war in Iraq. Newcomers are always welcome. Please bring a sign to hold. 4:00p - 6:00p, Mon County Courthouse Square, High Street

Wisconsin

Chippewa Falls: Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 am Weekly Peace Vigil, in honor of the Iraq Moratorium, at the corner of Bridge and River. Contact: lagoclam@aol.com

DePere: The St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. The service will be held in the oratorium of Old St. Joseph Church, St. Norbert College, 100 Grant St., De Pere, WI. Parking is available in the lot across from the Church on the river side of the campus. For more information, contact the St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center, 920-403-3881, email pjc@snc.edu
Fort Atkinson Rock River Peace Group vigil as part of the nation-wide Iraq Moratorium. Bring a friend if you can. Sept. 19, 5 to 6 p.m., Downtown, South 3rd & Main Streets. Info: email http://www.blogger.com/oggc@psly.net
Hayward:
On Friday, September 19th, Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 will observe Iraq Moratorium Day #13. We'll be gathering from 4-6 pm to stand for peace at the corner of Highway's 27 and 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Good times. Great parking. Come and join us!
Janesville: September 19, Fri .4 pm Iraq Moratorium Rally and Vigil. Meet on the corner of Blackbridge Road and Milton Avenue. This area of town is very busy all the time, but more so on Friday afternoon. Sponsored by Rock Valley-Fellowship of Reconciliation. Our focus is ‘Stop the War’! We have signs but feel free to bring your own, but please join in our focus. Thanks. Sue Nelson at snelson@habiba.org.
LaCrosse. We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 15th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq.
Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net
Madison: Monthly Peace Vigils at the Malls, for the Iraq Moratorium. East Towne mall this month: Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.,intersection of East Washington and Thierer Rd. Call Helena (608) 249-2097 for details.
Madison: Madison Pledge of Resistance will hold an action on Monday Sept. 15, at noon at the Federal Building at the corner of Doty St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. There will be a meeting prior to the vigil at 11:30 a.m. at Scott’s Pastry Shoppe, 19 W. Main St. on the Capitol Square. We’ll formulate our plans on who wants to do what, and then walk over to the vigil corner at noon to begin chalking and leafleting. Some individuals may be moved to risk arrest during this action. Signs relevant to the action are welcome. “We’ll be chalking the outlines of loved ones……—trying to put a human face on the pain and insanity of war.” Cassandra Dixon, turning 50 this week. Cassandra is one of the recipients of the 2008 WNPJ Peacemaker of the Year Awards. Contact: jsfirst@tds.net
Milwaukee: Benefit concert for the Iraq Moratorium Sunday Sept. 14, 7:00pm at The Coffee House, 631 N. 19th St. Singer-songwriters David Kaye (with Chuck "The Electric Moustache" Floading) and Brett Kemnitz. Suggested $5. A good cause and a lot of fun, occasionally topical, occasionally silly music. Hope to see you there. http://www.the-coffee-house.com/
Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us as we start our second year. The universities will be back in session, which should swell the ranks. The Wheels of Justice bus tour will join us for the vigil, then hold a 7 p.m. event at Friends Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Pl., with eyewitness accounts from Iraq and Palestine. Info: Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com
Rice Lake:Come join the People for Peace in Rice Lake for our September Iraq Moratorium Stand for Peace. We will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main streets at the north end of downtown, from 4-6 pm, on Friday, September 19. Please bring a sign if you have one. Everyone is welcome!

Viroqua: Peace Vigil in support of the Iraq Moratorium, in Viroqua, at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the war. Friday, Sept. 19, Noon to 1 p.m.

Watertown: Watertown peace vigil will be joining in the Iraq Moratorium on Friday, Sept. 19, and will join all the other cities around to vigil. We will be at Main & Church Streets at 500 pm. Contact: Watertown peace committee
Woodruff:A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1:00 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace. crossings@holycrosssisters.org

Wyoming

Laramie. Stand Up for Peace on the corner of 3rd and Grand every Friday evening, 4:45-5:15, since January 2003. Come join us. Bring a sign or use one of ours.

Reports from the August Moratorium #12

2008-08-15T09:58:00.046-05:00

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available.

Pasadena CA

Members of the Pasadena Iraq Moratorium conducted a vigil on Lake Avenue at the 210 freeway -- one of the busiest streets in Pasadena -- on August 15 for the Iraq Moratorium. In addition to focusing attention on the on-going death and suffering of the Iraqi people and US soldiers, the group also highlighted the high cost of the war and occupation -- a cause of our current economic downturn; and also highlighted the relationship between high oil use, war, and global warming. Motorists waved and honked their horns in support -- sometimes 4, 5 and more cars were honking at the same time, and a number of pedestrians joined the vigil.

Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Maryland

We were back at the Takoma Metro this month. It was August in the DC
area, so we didn't have a lot of folks, but there was some new blood, and good
spirit, and we passed out hundreds of copies of our great new leaflet.

Detroit

For the August Moratorium, 11th Hour for Peace sent out a mailing, encouraging people to write letters to the editor, questioning recent calls to expand military efforts in Afghanistan. Sample letters were included.

New York City

THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE: CONFRONTING THE UNSPEAKABLE, SUPPORTED BY THE UNCONSCIONABLE, ONE PHONE CALL AT A TIME: House Congressional Resolution 362 - sponsored by Rep. Ackerman and co-sponsored by NYC Reps. Towns, Fossella, Weiner, Maloney, & Engel - evokes disappointment, fury, and phone calls from constituents.

Let the word go forth: the good people of New York City aren't one bit happy with the language and intent of this nasty piece of business*. On Thursday, August 7, several Grannies, CodePink women and members of Brooklyn for Peace set up shop at Brooklyn Borough Hall to sound the alarm and ask constituents to call their representatives and the response was so terrific, we went back for an encore on August 15th. Once again, Brooklyn welcomed us. Calls were made, conversations were started, voters were registered, and here are a few of the moments we'll certainly remember:

On the 15th, Iraq Moratorium day, our first call is made by that Politically Endangered Species, a man in a suit! As faithful followers of the phone-a-thoners may recollect, this is not our strongest constituent base and we hope this is the start of a trend.

Two women from Yvette Clark's district, giddy with excitement when they discovered 'their girl' missing from the Wall of Shame. "You just tell her we love her to bits and we're proud of her," they tell her office.

A man shakes his head over Rep.Towns' support of H. Con. Res.362. "The man came to my church," he says. "He seemed like such a good man. What's happening here?" We wonder the same thing.

A young couple, just married in Borough Hall, pose for their wedding portraits right near our table. We offer them our congratulations, Granny buttons and we register the bride…to vote!

A young mom from Anthony Weiner's district drops by. Her small son has autism and it is a full-time job getting him the support he needs. She calls Weiner's office, tells the staffer she wants to register her distress at the congressman's support of H. Con. Res. 362, and wants to see him front-burner domestic issues for 'real people'. The office hangs up on her. Note to Rep. Weiner: you've got one very angry constituent on your hands — and she is not about to keep quiet.

We are told that Rep. Edolphus Towns and members of his staff were covertly checking out our table. If indeed this was the case, we sure are disappointed he didn't want to engage us in some discussion.

Next Tuesday at 10AM we'll be rallying at the Times Square Recruitment Center for a press conference and then marching to the Democratic National Committee headquarters here in NYC to present our peace planks for the national platform. Come and join us! And stay tuned — we'll be coming to a neighborhood near you!

- Fran Sears with Phyllis, Caroline & Joan P
- photos (coming) by Eva-Lee Baird

Cornwall, CT

Wow! Moratorium Day #12 was our biggest event yet in Cornwall. As many as 150 people took part in our Peace Fest at one point or another through the evening, despite prolonged, heavy rain which lifted only at starting time. The Peace Fest started out with a potluck supper in the pavilion at the town's public Foote Field. After the feast was underway, a triple header of local bands took the floor.
First up was the well-named Homegrown Band, Cornwall residents all, a bluegrass outfit that plays for area dances. For most of their set, ace fiddler Rachel Gall laid down her instrument and instead tried her hand at calling figures for contra dancers. A slew of couples ranging in age from about five to about seventy five followed her instructions-- or at least tried to--through some basic figures. Observers had almost as much fun as dancers.
Next came the Berkshire Stompers Brass Band, a marching band-style ensemble pulled together by Moratorium regular, Charlie Keil. Their 8 person line up included 6 horn players and 3 percussionists (Yes, we can count: the remarkable Holley Tierney played trumpet AND knocked out the rhythm with steel-soled tap shoes.) The band played intricate riff-based tunes to accompany chants like "Peace Is The Answer/No More War", while the crowd joined in. (Watch the video above.) (Video coming soon.) A special treat, Karl Saliter suddenly appeared during the last number juggling torches!
The last set was the stunningly talented trio, lespecial, young avant-rockers whose presence drew a large audience of local young'ns to their first Iraq Moratorium event. Lespecial was soon joined by folks from the previous bands and musically-minded friends for tunes that morphed into loud, powerful jams, closing out a great eventing.
The rain-defying turnout was no doubt helped by the fact that we got announcements on four area radio stations. While music ruled the evening, there were short talks about the Iraq Moratorium between sets. Despite a bit of disorganization around staffing a literature table and going through the crowd with clipboards, a score of newcomers signed the pledge, asking to be notified of future events. Well over $100 was collected for the national Moratorium clearing house, $40 of of it from an impomptu buck a ticket raffle of a one-of-a-kind lespecial t-shirt, donated by the band on the spot.

Hayward, WI

Ages ranging from a few weeks old to over 75 made up the nearly 30 diligent anti-war protesters rallied on the usual corner this past Moratorium event from 4-6 PM. We had new “Take the Pledge” flyers complete with the new logo to hand out to passer-bys. Two of those gathered took a hand-full of flyers and walked down busy Main Street talking and sharing with tourists while a prominent local business owner stopped by with two boxes of cookies for us as a treat. There were new signs voicing “Health Care Not Warfare.” This event is sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 and we are anticipating a good turnout for next month’s Moratorium anniversary

LaCrosse WI

Again just two of us, Will and I, at the Moratorium at Cass Street bridge. We depart the northern climes in November, so there will be an activist moratorium for this event through October ... upon our return in April we shall see what has occurred during our absence:-)

Brunswick, GA

We had our 12th Iraq Moratorium Vigil outside the Post Office where our Congressional representative, Jack Kingston (R-1) has an office. Had more folks this time. Humidity was 70 % plus......

Duluth, MN

The Northland Anti-War Coalition held a spirited picket from 4:30-5:30pm in Duluth's busy Canal Park tourist district. We held signs demanding "Bringthe 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 providinghealth care, or other social services.

Berkeley CA

Here's the report from Berkeley vigil at University and Acton for IM #12: Twenty seniors from Strawberry Creek Lodge and the Gray Panthers gathered to demand 1) an end to the occupation and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2) that we bring our troops home now, and 3) no attack on Iran. We had music, drums and good comraderie. We look forward to our one-year birthday on September 19.

Waupaca WI

Waupaca had its first Iraq Moratorium action this month, a short vigil with signs and a banner on the square in the heart of downtown. The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which has nurtured and spread the Moratorium in Wisconsin, was holding its board meeting Friday in nearby Amherst. So a handful of "outside agitators" on their way to the meeting teamed up with a few members of Waupaca's People for Peace. Responses were generally friendly, although this is one of the state's most conservative counties. One family, a couple and child on their bikes, stopped to say that the father was headed for Iraq soon, but they were appreciative of our efforts. People for Peace is discussing moving its monthly action to the Third Friday to join those marking the Iraq Moratorium across the country. We're hoping they'll begin that next month.

Rice Lake, WI

The People for Peace in Rice Lake held their first Iraq Moratorium event this afternoon from 4-6 pm. Just over 20 spirited activists gathered at the corner of Knapp and Main streets in the center boulevard among the petunias to wave at passing motorists and to demand an end to the war in Iraq. Unfortunately our photographer did not show, but we'll have two next month so that we have a back-up.

We were pleasantly surprised when a couple of young people pulled up next to the curb in a Jeep and handed us a bag filled with cans of soda pop and bottled water. Said the young woman behind the wheel, "We can't join you today but it looks like it's hot out here. We got you all something to drink!"

A couple of young men also came by and expressed interest in helping to organize next months event. It was a great start and we look forward to expanding our numbers next month!

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee's 3rd Friday rally and vigil was very well-received, again. Lots of horn-honking, friendly waves and "V" peace signs. One of this month's highlights was "Puppy for Peace."

August events: Iraq Moratorium #12

2008-07-30T17:56:00.066-05:00

Your event not listed? Email us the information.

Alabama

Auburn. Friday, Aug. .15, 5 p. m. — IRAQ MORATORIUM VIGIL at Toomer’s Corner. All are invited to participate.Sponsored by Alliance for Peace and Justice. Bring candles, signs (some will be provided). Join thousands nationwide wearing black armbands or ribbons on the 3rd Friday of each month. See http://www.peaceeagle.org/.

California

Berkeley East Bay Gray Panthers & Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Assoc. Gather on the 4 corners with signs, to sing, chant, hand out ribbons & info, play music and enjoy good cheer. Bring your positive attitudes and determination to end the wars and build the movement to end the wars. 2 - 4 P.M., Corners of University & Acton

Costa Mesa: We meet every Friday evening for an antiwar protest on the corner of Bristol & Anton from 5.00-7.00 PM

Daly City: Go Black for Iraq Moratorium. Activists around the country will be saying No More Business As Usual on the Third Friday of every month. In solidarity with the Iraq Moratorium, Reach and Teach's website will go black for 30 minutes at 12:00PM PDT once a month thereafter until the war in Iraq ends. Click here to see what it will look like. Will you join us in this action by having your website go black for 30 minutes on the Third Friday of every month and displaying a message to "Pray and Act for Peace"? You can either do this manually yourself by creating your own page and temporarily replacing your home page on your website or we've written some code that you can use.
Gualala: Gualala Peace Vigil We meet every Friday in a vigil for Peace and a protest AGAINST the American war in Iraq. We stand on the side of CA Hwy 1 and make ourselves visible. We smile. Bring signs, flags, wear black (not required, we're pretty relaxed) Noon, Gualala Post Office, Highway 1
Jackson: Join us for a vigil in the foothills. We meet on the third Friday of every month from 5:00 to 6:30 at the corner of Hwys. 49 and 88. Bring signs, flags, etc.
Livermore: Iraq Moratorium actions every month. We meet at 5:30pm at the downtown fountains (corner of First Street and Livermore Avenue) and vigil for about an hour. Sponsored by Tri-Valley CAREs. Join us! 5:30 to 6:30 PM, First and Livermore
Oakland. Shut Down The War Machine! 8/15/2008 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Intersection of 40th & Telegraph Avenue. Sponsored by Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party. We'll greet evening commuters at this busy intersection near the MacArthur BART station with our signs: "Shut Down the War Machine" and others you may bring.
Oakland. Tuesday, August 19, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Living Graveyard. City sidewalk in front of the Oakland Federal Building, 1301 ClayStreet, Oakland, CA 94612. Bring a pad to lie on and a white sheet to cover yourself with.This is street theater, not Civil Disobedience. We will lie at least three feet apart and not block entry to the building. The names of Californians who have died in Iraq and the names of Iraqis who have died will be read during the event. This event is wheelchair accessible and free. For information visit http://www.epicalc.org/

Pasadena: The Pasadena Iraq Moratorium will hold a vigil on Lake Ave. at the 210 freeway beginning at 5:00 PM during rush hour traffic to demand an end to the war and occupation and to bring our troops home now!
Point Arena: Join us in front of the Point Arena post office Friday, August 15; Noon-1:00pm . We have leaflets for interested folks with information about Iraq Moratorium and Women in Black. Remember your warm clothing, as it can get cold and foggy in a moment. Bring your favorite banner or poster, too. We are proud to take a stand for Peace and Community throughout the world.

Come one, come all!

San Diego County Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace We will stop the war when people want it so. Every week we protest to change their minds. Join Ramona Forum and Vets For Peace! We have weekly rallies in 8 locations! (click link for locations) 4:30 to 6PM, Route 67 and Dye Roads, 8 locations!
San Francisco Bernal Heights Vigil. Join your Bernal Heights neighbors for a monthly vigil to protest the U.S. occupation of IraqPlace: Cortland Avenue and Andover Street Day: Third Friday Every Month, Time: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bring: flashlight, candles, anti-war signs, friends 8/15/08 6 to 7 p.m., Cortland Ave & Andover St.
San Francisco: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Peace Vigil, 6 to 8 p. m., in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, at Masonic and Fell. Neigborhood Peace Vigil (everyone welcome). One issue focus--end the war in Iraq. We will have signs, but you are welcome to bring your own. There will be food and music. Support the Iraqi people and the troops by ending the war now. Our vigil will continue every third Friday of the month until the war ends.

Colorado

Colorado Springs: We'll be assembling for "bannering" on Friday, August 15th, noon to 1pm at the pedestrian overpass of the Intestate 25 that goes from Denver through Colorado Springs to Pueblo and New Mexico. We'll have an even bigger message than last month (see our July report under "reports from the fiield" here on the website.)
Durango. Animas SDS and SWCPJC will be expanding our regular weekly Friday peace vigils once a month into a larger Iraq Moratorium event. 4:30 - 5:30 PM, Corner of 11th St. & Main Ave.

Connecticut

Cornwall. PEACE FESTIVAL. The Cornwall Iraq Moratorium Network will host a peace festival on Friday, August 15, at 6:30 P.M., at Foote Fields, Route 4, Cornwall. The festival will feature a potluck picnic supper and live music by the Biocentrics Brass Band, Rachel and the Homegrown Band and le Special. Everyone is invited to bring family, friends, and picnic food to share. For information, call 672-0183.

Norwich. Iraq Moratorium Vigil. Come join us at a peaceful vigil with like-minded Americans who want an end to the war & a safe return of our service men & women.Wear black, bring signs, or just stand with us in support of an end to war.The Youth Peace Group at NFA and the War Resisters League will also participate in the Iraq Moratorium. We will stand vigil with signs as reminders of our continued occupation from 4-6 PM. There will be quite the diversity of ages and backgrounds. Come stand at the Iraq Moratorium Vigil on Friday! YOUR SILENCE, YOUR LEGACY! 4:00PM- 6PM, Chelsea Parade, In Front of Norwich Free Academy
Norwich. Free Movie Night. Tuesday, August 12th at 5:30pm.Otis Library Community Room, 261 Main Street. (Which documentary not confirmed yet.)

Florida

Fort Lauderdale: Broward AntiWar Coalition This is a simple honk and wave event, people hold signs at a busy intersection. We get a good response. 5-7pm, Welcome Park, 2402 South Federal Highway

Lutz: Please join us on the THIRD FRIDAY of every month at the busy intersection of N US Hwy 41 and Sunset Ln in Lutz, FL at "rush hour" Friday, August 15 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. Park in the Winn-Dixie parking lot on the SE corner of the intersection. This is a monthly vigil focused on "Bring the Troops Home" and "End the War in Iraq". We hold signs, wave and give thumbs-up to all the passersby who honk to support ending the war and bringing the troops home. This vigil is a reminder of the catastrophic costs of this war, most importantly the human lives that are irreplaceable. Won't you join us?
Miami: Honk and Wave Rally, Friday, Aug. 2: Sponsored by Democracy for America Miami Dade, Veterans for Peace, and Miami for Peace. Dare to show your feelings about the war in Iraq and this Bush administration to the rush hour crowd. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the support you'll receive and you'll meet a great group of fun, like minded people. First Friday of each month. Corner of US 1 and SW 17 Ave., (parking under Metrorail)
Naples: A group of military veterans and spouses from WW11, Korea,Vietnam and who have sons in Iraq, standing on the corner of Pine Ridge Road and US 41 with signs to stop the War in Iraq. 4:30pm--5:30pm, Pine Ridge & US 41,
Port Richie: Florida Peace Action Network Morning rush hour demonstration; great visuals and drumming. Bring a sign or use one of ours. Park at Denny's (NW intersection) and join us for breakfast afterwards. 7:30am-8:30am, Ridge Rd and US19, SW intersection
Tallahassee: We have had a street side informational picket for seven years every Sunday 12:30 - 2:30 and Thursdays 4-6, NOT IN THE RAIN. Old Capitol Steps, 500 S Monroe

Georgia

Brunswick. GlynnPeace: Citizens to End the War in Iraq. This will be our 12th Iraq Moratorium Vigil outside the Post Office where our Congressional representative, Jack Kingston (R-1) has an office.Wear black,bring water and A FRIEND ! Noon - 1 p.m., U.S. Post Office/Federal
Building, 805 Gloucester Street
Macon. Peace Vigils every Friday Afternoon 5 - 5:30pm - Signs are provided.- Meet across the street from the Post Office on College Street in Macon, Georgia http://www.macon-bibb.com/Peace/

Illinois

Chicago. New Hope United Methodist Church, Peace Vigil at 7 p.m. every Third Friday, 7115 W. Hood, Chicago, 773-775-1215.
DeKalb. Vigil for Peace every Friday. De Kalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice, 5-6 p.m., Memorial Park , North 1st Street and Lincoln Hwy. Contact: Dan Kenney 815-793-0950 dan@dekalbinterfaithnetwork.org
Oak Park. Peace Vigil. We have prayed, sang, stood in silence, "testified" for Peace on Fridays for more than five years.This is a faith based Vigil but ALL are welcome!! 7 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street .

Kentucky

Lexington: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Friday August 15, Corner of Nicholasville Road with Waller & Cooper Dr. Join central Kentucky's Peace Action Task Group at rush hour on this busy corner outside Fayette Mall. We will be standing on all four corners holding signs asking for commuters to honk if they agree with our calls to: 1) Support Our Troops; End the War and 2) for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney for violations of national and international law associated with the Iraq War.

Maryland

Silver Spring/Takoma Park. Iraq Moratorium Vigil sponsored by Takoma Moratorium. We'll be back at the Takoma Metro station for our August demonstration. We will have signs and pass out leaflets. In September we will follow the demo with a potluck at the Presbyterian Church. 08/15/2008 6-7 pm, Takoma Metro.
Takoma/Silver Spring. CodePink initiated, community maintained. We are entering our fourth year in front of Walter Reed. We hold a weekly vigil to demand the immediate withdrawal of all troops, care for the wounded, and full benefits for the veterans! Please join us on Moratorium Day and on every Friday. 7-9 PM, Georgia Avenue, between Dahlia & Elder Sts,NW

Massachusetts

Amherst: We will be tabling at noon on August 15 at the main intersection of downtown Amherst, getting people to sign the 4000+ card and holding a peace banner. We will also ring the bells at Grace church in downtown Amherst 21 times at noon.
Springfield: We are gathering at 4 pm at the Federal building in Springfield for a short rally, then will encircle the building and hold hands around it. The theme for the day is "Dont Invade Iran." We are calling our action "Hands Around the Federal Building". Car pools are coming from all over we need 350 people to make this work. We are confident we will have that. Eric Wasileski 413.367.0320 .Veterans for Peace Chapter 95.

Michigan

Detroit: Barack Obama has called for a surge of military activity in Afghanistan. He is portraying the occupation of Afghanistan as the "Good War." There is no good war. In observance of Iraq Moratorium, we are asking people to send a letter to the editor by this coming Friday, August 15. The letter should address military disengagement — along with determined and sincere diplomatic efforts — for both Iraq and Afghanistan. Click the following link to generate the letter: http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/petition.cgi?pnum=875
Lansing: The weekly noon-hour peace vigil in front of the Michigan Capitol
Building in downtown Lansing continues. Lansing-area people have been
holding a weekly vigil for peace and justice since September of 2001.
Sponsoring organizations include the Greater Lansing Network Against War &
Injustice (http://www.glnawi.org/), the Peace Education Center (http://www.peaceedcenter.org/), and the Lansing Peace Vigil Community.

The noon-hour vigil in front of the Capitol is one way that people in Lansing participate in the Iraq Moratorium. There may also be other local Third Friday peace actions. Arrive a little before noon if possible - and dress for the weather, with hat and sunscreen in the summer or warm clothing in the winter. We gather on the sidewalk, facing the street at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Michigan Avenue. Bring your own sign if you like, or use one of ours. At 1 pm, the vigil closes as participants gather in a circle, share local peace and justice announcements, and share a moment of closing silence for peace. Our numbers usually range between 15 and 30. New people are always welcome at any weekly Friday noon-hour peace vigil. For more information, see http://www.glnawi.org/.

Minnesota

Duluth. This month's Iraq Moratorium picket will be on Friday, Aug. 15. We'll be holding a one hour picket in Canal Park from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. We'll be gathering in front of the DeWitt Seitz Building on Canal Park Drive and Buchanan Street. Join us in holding signs and handing out fliers against the ongoing Iraq war. We'll have extra signs on hand, though feel free to bring your own. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Northland Anti-War Coalition: http://northlandantiwar.blogspot.com/

New York

Brooklyn: Somebody once said the definition of insanity is repeating behavior and expecting different results. Remember the rhetoric and saber-rattling that got us into our current mess? It's deja vu all over again with House Concurrent Resolution 362, which wants to sanction and perhaps blockade Iran, so the Granny Peace Brigage is taking to the street... STOP 362 PHONE-A-THON, Friday, August 15, Noon to 1:30 p.m.,Brooklyn Borough Hall. http://www.grannypeacebrigade.org/

North Carolina

Fayetteville. Fayetteville Peace with Justice Bring signs highlighting the costs of the war -- to go with the wall of names of soldiers killed and our"Bring Them Home Now" banner. 5 pm, Market House, Greene and Hay Sts.

Ohio

Chagrin Falls. Peace March on Saturday August 16th at 12:30. Meet in front of Chagrin Falls Township Hall.

Cincinnati. Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center Ongoing monthly Event - 3rd Friday of every month, 5:30pmIRAQ MORATORIUM: Neighborhood Peace VigilsMARK YOU CALENDARS...Notice some cancellations, time changes, and location changes:
LOCATIONS:
*Spring Grove Village: Corner of Derby & WintonContact: Kristen Barker: 513-403-9963 NEW LOCATION
*Price Hill: Corner of Enright and W. 8thContact: Sue Casey Leininger: 513-579-8547
*Northside: Hoffner park, corner of Blue Rock and HamiltonContact: Elizabeth Motter: 513-591-1407 or emotter@fuse.net NEW TIME: 4:30-5:30
*Clifton: Fountain in Burnet Wood, corner of Clifton and LudlowContact: Judy Cirillo: jcirillo.1@juno.com
*Mt. Healthy: Heritage Park, on Hamilton, right after Cross CountyContact: Karen Arnett, karen.arnett@fuse.net NEW TIME: 5:00-6:00
*Northern Kentucky: Newport Peace Bell, (corner of York and 4th St)Contact Vicki Dierig - vickidierig@yahoo.com
*Anderson: -CANCELLED THIS MONTH-
*Miami Township: New location being determined. Contact Lauren Thamann-Raines, lpt89@hotmail.com
- Bring any relevant peace signs if you have them. IJPC has several banners and signs and will provide some at each site. .Do you live in a neighborhood that didn't have a vigil? Are interested in having one next month? Great! Just call Sue at IJPC for more details, 579-8547!
Fremont. Every Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. we stand with signs promoting peace and stop the war. Any like minded people are welcome to join us one time or many. Corner of West State St and Front St. We also have a booth at the Sandusky County Fair in Fremont, Ohio, August 19 to August 24th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. We will be handing out information showing the cost of the war with Iraq and what that money could be used for, such as, health care, roads, schools, etc.
Portsmouth. Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace Demonstration. We will present Representative Schmidt with a letter stating our desire for peace and justice. We carry signs for peace, impeachment, bring troops home, etc. 4-5 pm, Jean Schmidt's Office., 6th & Chillicothe Sts.

Utah

Logan: Peace Vigil. Join us at the weekly peace vigil each Friday evening from 5-6pm on the east side of Main Street in front of the Logan Tabernacle. The vigil is sponsored by Cache Valley Peace Works and Logan Friends Meeting (Quakers) and Cache Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

West Virginia

Morgantown. Morgantown residents have been meeting once each month for the last 4½ years to protest the war in Iraq. Newcomers are always welcome. Please bring a sign to hold. 4:00p - 6:00p, Mon County Courthouse Square, High Street

Wisconsin

DePere. The public is invited to an ecumenical prayer service
for peace in Iraq, Friday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Chapter Room, St.
Norbert Abbey, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere, WI. For more information, please
contact Br. Steve Herro, 920-337-4345, email steve.herro@snc.edu.

Dodgeville. Courthouse Vigil. The Grassroots Citizens for Peace, a group that has members from Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Spring Green and Barneveld, will hold its monthly vigil in front of the Iowa County Courthouse from 4 to 4:30 PM. The vigil will be followed by our monthly meeting to plan educational activities and intergenerational events.

Hayward. Iraq Moratorium Vigil for Peace, sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153, from 4 to 6 p.m. in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #12. We'll be at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in beautiful downtown Hayward. Please come, bring a friend and a sign as well, and let's continue to show our opposition to this war!

Janesville: 4 p.m. Rock Valley-Fellowship of Reconciliation and friends will gather on the corner of Blackbridge Road and Milton Avenue for an Iraq Moratorium vigil (#8 for us.) This area of town is very busy all the time, but more so on Friday afternoon. Our focus is Stop the War! We have signs but feel free to bring your own, but please join in our focus. Thanks. Sue Nelson snelson@habiba.org

LaCrosse. We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 15th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq.
Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium. August 15, 4:30 p.m., 8th Stret & Maritime Drive.

Milwaukee. Peace Action Wisconsin, Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a vigil and rally at downtown's busiest corner, with signs, flags and banners. We leaflet pedestrians to tell them about the Iraq Moratorium and invite drivers to honk their horns in support, with a good response. Join us for all or part of the hour. Peace Action 414-964-5158

Rice Lake. The People for Peace in Rice Lake will stand for peace for two hours on Friday, August 15th, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Knapp and Main streets on the north end of town. The stand is in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day # 12
Stevens Point. Weekly Demonstration ,Downtown, by the Shopko parking lot, 3:30 p.m., sponsored by Concerned Citizens of Stevens Point.

Waupaca. A first Iraq Moratorium event in Waupaca, on Friday,Aug. 15 from 3 to 3:30 p.m., across the street from Chez Marche at 108 S. Main. People for Peace and Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice board members, who
are meeting later in Amherst,will vigil together. Contact: xofferson@wi.rr.com

Woodruff. Prayer vigil for peace, Pax Christi Northwoods. This is an hour of silent prayer for peace held weekly in a small chapel at the church. Noon to 1 p.m., August 15, Holy Family Chuch, Highway J.

Wyoming

Laramie. Stand Up for Peace on the corner of 3rd and Grand every Friday evening,4:45-5:15, since January 2003. Come join us. Bring a sign or use one ofours.

Reports from the Field: July Moratorium

2008-07-30T17:08:00.020-05:00

Your event not listed? Email us the information. Include photos or video if you have them.

Pinellas Park FL

Local members of Veterans for Peace sponsor a vigil against the Occupation of Iraq at intersection of US 19 and Gandy/Park Blvd. We hold signs in silence focused to bring “Our troops home” for rush-hour commuters, as a reminder of the terrible human and financial costs of this war. Many respond with honks and waves.

Chicago

On July 18, Chicagoans gathered at the Heartland Cafe for musical performances by Stuart Chaseman and Summer of Love, and poets Michael Watson, host of Wordslingers on WLUW 88.7 and Buddha309, creator of the poetry zine, Finite Machine. Visit www.myspace.com/artagainstwar for information about upcoming shows. Contact artagainstwar@gmail.com for more info.

Brunswick GA

GlynnPeace held its 11th Iraq Moratorium Vigil outside the Post Office where our Congressional representative, Jack Kingston (R-1) has an office.

Gualala CA

We have been holding a one hour vigil on Highway 1 in front of the Gualala Post Office (Mendocino County, 0.5 miles N of Sonoma/Mendo line EVERY FRIDAY (Noon - 1 P.M.). I am pleased to inform that we have a small but dedicated group of peace activists ranging in age from late 30s to late 70s! The response from passers-by has changed drastically over the weeks and months. We used to have hostile arguments, people swearing at us (as they drive by quickly in their trucks). Now we rarely have a negative response and we are having more and more open meaningful dialogue with pedestrians and travelers. But the war goes on. So shall we. Whatever it takes.

Sewanee TN

Here is a photo from Sewanee's Anniversary Vigil, July 18, marking one year since we held our first Iraq Moratorium event. A young family passing through town stopped when they saw our signs. The husband, wife, and two small children joined us in hoisting anti-war signs, flashing peace signs, and waving at cars and trucks that honked for peace. People I had never seen before wandered up and asked for signs, with our numbers swelling to more than thirty over the course of the hour.

Duluth MN

We had a spirited gang of 20 folks show up for a one hour vigil at the intersection of London Road and 21st Ave. E. in Duluth, MN. We got a great response from passing motorists!

Hayward WI

Almost 40 people turned out for Iraq Moratorium day #11 in Hayward Wisconsin. The event, sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153, featured a "No War With Iran" theme, which was called for by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which is an affiliate of United for Peace and Justice.

In spite of a busy summer schedule people continue to turn out for public displays of opposition to the war in Iraq, and now a possible war in Iran. Once again motorists passing by stopped to express their appreciation and to join us for a few minutes while on their way home from work. The American people want an end to this war, so let's keep the pressure on in August!

LaCrosse WI

Our small but intrepid crew at the Cass Street Bridge.

Berkeley CA

We had 20 folks on the corners of University and Acton, and in the median with signs saying "out of Iraq, stop the occupation, end the war, do not attack Iran." Classic peace songs with guitar and vocals. Much less traffic than usual. Guess folks aren't driving as much. Yeah! But still great enthusiasm from both drivers and walkers by!

Norwich CT

We stood vigil in about 90 degree New England humid heat for two hours trying to remind others that we are still occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. We got a lot of thumbs up from folks driving by in their A/C cars and we wondered if those who blankly stared at us understood that we weren’t “enjoying” ourselves in the heat (we did bring a few gallons of water to ensure peaceful safety). We have been standing vigil in the frigid winter and sweltering summer doing what we can to end these nightmare wars.

We actually had one man stop his vehicle and get out of his A/C to walk over to our group(s) and talk to people. He thanked us for what we were doing; we invited him to join us. He said maybe next month. His stopping and speaking did a lot for our morale

I got almost everyone (save the cameraman) who endured the sauna out there for one picture to post here.

After the vigil, a few of us took a drive up to Willimantic where at The Wrench In The Works (www.wrenchintheworks.org) they were premiering the documentary film, Winter Soldier II: Iraq It was a DVD well worth viewing, and truly brings new meaning to why we vigil. Our troops have been asked to do unthinkable things in our name; they too want this war to end and to bring their “brothers” home. We must support and show our love for all the members of the IVAW (www.ivaw.org).

To all you peacefolk out there who remain steadfast in your mission to see peace prevail, we not only salute you, we support you all in our thoughts and prayers. Keep up the great efforts and good works!

Norwich CT

The DVD showing of "Improbable Collapse" on Thursday night, before Moratorium day, was a success with at least 18 people in attendance. It certainly sparked discussion afterwards to the point that the Library was closing and had to ask us to leave.

Our hope remains that more within our community will want to do something, and the Iraq Moratorium on the Third Friday of each month is something everyone can and should do.

End the War Now, No War on Iran!

Silver Spring/Takoma Park MD

We were at the Silver Spring Metro this month, with new signs and a new leaflet -- we gave out all of the 300 we'd made. And we were joined by an activist who is collecting signatures on a huge banner (on the ground in the picture) that apologizes for the suffering the United States has caused the Iraqi people; he is planning to bring it to Baghdad.

Colorado Springs CO

We bannered on the pedestrian overpass of the Intestate 25 that goes from Denver through Colorado Springs to Pueblo and New Mexico. A great positive response from drivers traveling under us.

You can see more of our report here.

Pasadena CA

Twenty-five people participated in Pasadena on July 18. The group shown in the photos is on Lake Ave. and the 210 freeway during rush hour traffic in front of a Mobil gas station showing regular gas at $4.48 per gallon. We held our Moratorium in solidarity with the call by United for Peace and Justice to add to our messages: No war on Iran. Our messages were: Bring the troops home now, stop funding the war, End the war on Iraq, No war on Iran, Save Our Economy - Cut the War Budget, Iraq War costs 7.4 million per hour!, Honk for Peace, and Remember Don White - a local Iraq Moratorium organizer and peace and justice activist who died suddenly last month. The honks in support were steady and deafening!

San Francisco: Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood

After warm weather for our May and June vigils, our July peace vigil had typical San Francisco summer weather–foggy and breezy. We were again pleased to have a mix of new and returning advocates for peace:

Marko Harps brought an amp and played live music to supplement our recorded anti-war and peace songs.

William from Food Not Bombs once again supplied us with healthy, delicious food.

We again had positive responses from passing motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

More pictures from our June vigil and from past vigils can be seen here

Charlottesville VA

July 18 demonstration in Charlottesville, VA.

Brunswick GA

Several folks came out in the rain to vigil for peace.
Same place, same time. More honks and waves than curses and dirty looks!

Fort Atkinson WI

Rock River Peace Group in downtown Fort Atkinson, to protest the Iraq War and plans to attack Iran. In terms of future vigils we will be on hiatus in August to return in September. Looking forward to sharing a table with Walk Against War folks at 'Obamafest' in Lake Mills on July 24.

Manitowoc WI

Members of the Lakeshore Peacemakers have maintained this vigil every week since before the war began in March of 2003. We usually have about six of us on the corner from 4:30 to 5:30 every Friday. Last March we had over 30. We end each week by reading the names (top photo) of all of the Wisconsin young men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Janesville WI

Eighteen of us gathered for Rock Valley-FOR's Iraq Moratorium in Janesville. We moved from peace walking at the mall to a more lively set: Milton Ave. and Blackbridge Road at 4 p.m. Our “Honk for Peace” signs brought a ton of honks plus some new people. We agreed to continue outside for the coming months and evaluate the possibilities when the weather cools.

Milwaukee WI

It takes all kinds to end this war, so we mobilized a variety of people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and even the Prez himself and a self-styled cigar-smoking fat cat who stole someone's Harvard shirt. Perfect picketing/vigiling weather in Milwaukee for once, and lots of honking horns from cars, county buses, trucks, and even a bicycle bell.

Who's on board: Organizations endorsing Iraq Moratorium

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The following organizations have agreed to actively promote and participate in the Iraq Moratorium.

National Organizations

Just Foreign Policy - Just Foreign Policy organizes to reform U.S. foreign policy to reflect the values and interests of the majority of Americans.

Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice -

National Lawyers Guild

Peace Action West - Peace Action West advocates for a foreign policy that embodies the best values of the American people. As a membership organization, we foster broad-based civic activism to create a strong voice for peaceful and pragmatic solutions to global problems

Progressive Librarians Guild - The Progressive Librarians Guild (PLG) is a national organization of librarians and information workers for social justice, peace and cultural democracy. The Coordinating Committee, on behalf of the membership, has endorsed the Iraq Moratorium.

Liberty Tree - Liberty Tree is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the idea that the American Revolution's greatest, unfulfilled, promise is democracy.

Black Radical Congress

World Can't Wait, Drive Out The Bush Regime! - World Can't Wait is an organization to end the entire Bush program of war, torture, spying, lying, rendition, and imperialism!

Progressive Democrats of America

Military Families Speak Out

Gold Star Families Speak Out

VotersForPeace - Organizing anti-war Americans as voters into an effective political force.

United for Peace and Justice - United for Peace and Justice is a coalition of more than 1300 local and national groups throughout the United States who have joined together to protest the immoral and disastrous Iraq War.

Promoting Enduring Peace - Promoting Enduring Peace--"PEP"--conducts peace education activities to promote sustainable world peace.

Food Not Bombs - Sharing free vegetarian meals in protest to war and poverty

Veterans For Peace - Veterans working together for peace and justice through nonviolence. Wage Peace!

War Resisters League

Students for a Democratic Society

CODEPINK - CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities.

National Youth and Student Peace Coalition - NYSPC is a broad based coalition with over 20 national youth and student organizations.

Community-Based Groups

Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta - GPJC/Atlanta is a network of community, faith, and student organizations and individuals committed to ending the Iraq War and Occupation and working for just foreign and domestic policies.

San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice

St. Augustine People for Peace and Justice - Founded in October, 2002 in response to the Bush administration's deceitful march to an illegal, preemptive war, St. Augustine's People For Peace And Justice educates, demonstrates and networks to promote peace.

Chicagoans Against War & Injustice - Combines Mass Action with Electoral Intervention, as in Getting 800,000 Chicago Voters to vote for 'Out Now,' 81 to 19 percent, last November.

Venice Peace & Freedom - Venice Peace and Freedom has been holding/supporting weekly marches and vigils since the invasion of Afghanistan. Founded in 1967, Venice P&F has opposed every military adventure since Vietnam.

Bay Ridge Neighbors for Peace - We are a group of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn residents working together for an immediate end to the Iraq war.

NC Peace Action - Solve problems with diplomacy not war

Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace) - Network of Brooklyn residents — parents, non-parents, adults, youth, and neighbors, — alarmed by the growing militarism of our society and its effect on our lives and those of people in other countries. Our concern for future generations unites us.

Youth Leadership Coalition

Whittier Area Peace & Justice Coalition - The Whittier Area Peace & Justice Coalition is a broad based group of concerned community activist who believe that all life is sacred and that differences between people and nations can be solved in non-violent ways. We envision an end to war.

GlynnPeace: Citizens to End the War in Iraq - Community organization with focus on ending the Iraq War.

MCC Peace Club - Sponsor Speakers on Campus Show Videos & Films on Campus Participate in Community Peace Activities Hold Discussion Sessions & Forums Network w/Other Peace Groups Promote Conflict Resolution & Mediation Provide Opportunities to Learn Non-Violence

Fifth District Peace Project - The Pennsylvania 5th congressional district sprawls across 16 rural counties. Our congressman still supports the war. We're out to change that. We want to locate people who oppose the war and who now want to stop it through vigils and other action.

Iraq Veterans Against the War - Bay Area Chapter
Students of Salem for Peace - Our aim is to increase awareness of various approaches to peace and conflict resolution, oppose war and work for social justice.

The Pride Group at The Chicago School of Professional Psycho - Grad students working for equality and justice!

Mouths Wide Open - Activist-artist group based in New York City committed to ongoing resistance to the war. Our Army Men Project (a community art initiative launched in 2003 - see our website) has connected with activists as far away as Tasmania. Resist!

Florida Peace Action Network - We are a very group of activists committed to informing and uniting people of peace in the Tampa Bay Area.

People for Peace and Justice of Utah - PPJ is a grassroots organization based in Utah advocating nonviolence and justice through action and education.

Organization for Black Struggle
UCLA Students for a Democratic Society - The UCLA chapter of the newly reformed SDS!
Tampa Bay Democracy - Non-partisan group of activists fighting for peaceful conflict resolution, social justice, and transparent democracy.

Peace North - Peace North actively supports the Iraq Moratorium through media relations, regional coordination, and member events. Our most visible public expression is via special IM vigils at the corner of Hwy 63 and 27 in downtown Hayward, WI.

Peace Economy Project - PEP hosts a BBQ every 3rd Friday of the month in solidarity with the Iraq Moritorium and in efforts to build a community which is knowledgeable about the dangers of a War Economy and embraces the vision of a Peace Economy!

Traprock Peace Center - Traprock Peace Center has a rich history starting with the Nuclear Freeze Movement in 1979. Based in activist Western Massachusetts, we do our part. endorsed the IM movement at our last

Detroit Students for a Democratic Society - Students for a Democratic Society is a nation-wide student and youth-based organization that works to increase democracy at every level of our social lives through education, grassroots organizing and nonviolent direct action.

Coulee Region Progressvies - Progressive community members/students from 4 county area. 1600 plus strong. One of first 3 communities in WI to SAY NO TO WAR IN IRAQ via popular vote

Women in Black, Baltimore - Women in Black is an International Women's Peace Network.

Kids Against the War - Instead of adults making all the efforts we want us kids to be involved and be in charge of our own groups, and work for things we believe in.

Macon Peace - weekly silent vigils on Fridays from 5-5:30

Music Therapists for Peace

Traverse Group of the Sierra Club - We are the Sierra Club's local voice for the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization. Our group has over 850 members and represents nine northwest Michigan. "Nothing like a war to ruin the environment!"

Pensacola Patriots for Peace - The Pensacola Patriots for Peace meet in silent Vigil for Peace every third Friday from Noon to 1:00 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on Palafox St. in downtown Pensacola.

Green Party of Washington State

Massachusetts Peace Action

Upper Hudson Peace Action - We have six chapters in the Albany New York area, active in their neighborhoods working against the Iraq War.

Lincoln Park Neighbors United for Peace - Lincoln Park Neighbors United for Peace is a neighborhood group in Chicago, IL. We are excited about the possibilities of the Iraq Moratorium project.

Solidarity and Peace.org - a local organization dedicated to ending war and supporting workers rights everywhere

People of Faith CT

Walter Reed Vigil

Mountain View Voices for Peace - Mountain View Voices for Peace works to build peace and justice in our community, our nation, and our world. We are opposed to wars of aggression, and to all activities which are destructive of basic human values.

Alaska IMPACT - A 501(c)(3) nonprofit interfaith corporation for Alaskans who care about Peace, Justice & Creation

Coalition for World Peace - We are a network of peace and justice organizations in the LA area.

Peace Resource Center of San Diego - PRC is a membership organization and community clearinghouse of information on peace and social justice issues and activities.

Columbus, Ohio Chapter of World Can't Wait - Silence and paralysis are NOT acceptable. That which you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn - or be forced - to accept. There is no escaping it: the whole disastrous course of this Bush regime must be STOPPED.

Stand Up! Seattle - Anticorporate and antiwar grassroots organization. In existence for about 3 years. See website for details on what we've been up to.

Connecticut office- American Friends Service Committee - Faith based organization associated with Religious Society of Friends that works for peace, social and economic justice, and immigrant rights

The Noise - Boston rock magazine that frequently speaks out against the war.

Dreamers Wanted - Boston area musicians against war

Push For Peace - We are working to couple able bodied activists to people with special needs. People whose voice might not otherwise be heard, and whose face might not be seen. A disability should NOT prevent a person from being an activist!

North Manhattan Neighbors for Peace and Justice

San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice - We generally meet the first and third Monday of each month.

New Orleans Voices For Peace - Non profit website documenting hurricane relief and peace activism.

Antiwar League (Boston chapter) - The Antiwar League brings people together from across the political spectrum based on shared opposition to the plans of the War Party for perpetual war.

Women in Black Duluth - Women in Black Duluth currently vigils twice a month (1st and 3rd Wednesdays at noon), mourning all the deaths in this war.

Progressive Democrats - San Francisco

United for Peace of Pierce County (WA) - Anti-Iraq war organization affiliated with United for Peace and Justice and Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War.

Peace Coalition of Greater Ventura - Coordinating peace actions in Ventura County CA since Jan 2003

Activist San Diego - Activist San Diego is a social justice organization that promotes and facilitates the development of an active, inter-related, progressive community in San Diego through networking, culture and electronic technology.

Labor Organizations

AFSCME Local 2627 - NYC public sector union

United Teachers Los Angeles

Communications Workers of America Local 1180

AFT Local 1493 - the San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers

1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFl-CIO - The Los Angeles County Federation voted to support the Iraq Moratorium before September 21, Moratorium Day #1.

Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

United States Labor Against the War

Web Publications

BlackCommentator.com - A Weekly Internet Magazine featuring commentary, analysis and investigations on issues affecting African Americans

Iraq Media Action Project - The Iraq Media Action Project (IMAP) promotes the use of high quality documentary film to incite discourse and action related to the war in Iraq.

Soapbox4truth.org - An activist community determined to "Change the Course", co-sponsor of Iraq Moratorium by providing site hosting and engineering, live-help and on line community development.

International

Peace&Peace - In solidarity from Brazil

SEED - PAKISTAN - Of course there are many peace alternates of wars. That's why we oppose quarrels, fights, disputes and wars. Thus we strongly oppose IRAQ WAR. Be assure of our organization's stand and solidarity with you, In joined hand, I am, Inderias Dominic

Other

African Americans Against the War

HealthWrights

DC Students for a Democratic Society

Radford University Women's Studies Club

Raise Hell for Molly Ivins Campaign - The Raise Hell for Molly Ivins Campaign is building a regular and continuing series of peaceful pots & pans protests on the third Friday of every month at local congressional offices across the country to demand Congress end the US occupation in Iraq.

Movement for a Democratic Society-Bay Area - MDS is an association of people seeking to create a society that cares for the needs of its people and its planet through mutual aid and cooperation. We seek a world free of war, poverty, racism, sexism, economic exploitation, capitalism, imperialism.

rainbow affinity tribe/yippies - we are a group of many fighting for peace and justice

Individuals endorsing Iraq Moratorium

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Kathy Kelly,Voices for Creative Nonviolence
George McGovern, Presidential Nominee, Former US Senator
Peter Werbe, Radio Talk Show Host
Jesse Merlin, Opera Singer
Leslie Cagan, Coordinator, United For Peace & Justice
Francisco Gallardo
Juanes
Gabriel Macotela
Doris Tennant, Lawyer, professor
Michael Albert, Writer, co-founder Z-net
Audrey Hollis , Alderman, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
Gael Garcia Bernal
Gabriela Saraí Hobson Pliego, Mexicana, High School Student Activist
Blase Bonpane, Director, Office of the Americas
Leith Burk, Actor
Eric See, Organizer, Peace Action West
Noam Chomsky, Linguist, Activist
Kahlil Almustafa, People's Poet
Nancy Wohlforth, General Council AFL-CIO, Pride at Work
Charis Wilson. Legendary model
Freda Rebelsky, First female department head, BU, Lifelong activist
Coleen Rowley, Former FBI Agent, whistleblower
Greg AkiliActivist, Union Organizer
Edwidge Danticat, Author
James CarrollPriest, award-winning author, Boston Globe columist
Antonia H Chayes, Professor, former Under Secretary of the Air Force
Fernando Suárez de Solar, Goldstar Father
Danny GloverActor, Director, Activist
Jabbar Magruder, Iraq Veteran
Robert Zevin, Father of Socially Conscious Investment
Kathy Engel, Poet, Activist
Kathleen Chalfant, Actress, Activist
Eve Enslerwriter, performer, founder VDA
Tom Hayden, Writer, Activist
Mercedes Reuhl, Oscar Winning Actress
Ellen Barfield, Veteran, Peace Activist
Joseph H. Ellis, Financial Analyst
Hany Khalil. Anti-War Activist
Ann Wright, Veteran, Diplomat
Carlos & Mélida Arrendondo, Goldstar Parents
The Freeway Blogger
Larry Hamm, Chairman, People's Organization for Progress
Adam Neiman, CEO NoSweat
Stan GoffSoldier, Author
Rev. Lenox Yearwood, Hip Hop Project
Cindy Sheehan, Goldstar Mother
Bill Fletcher, Managing Editor, The Black Commentator
Steve Carlson, organizer, singer/songwriter
Susan Sarandon, Actress
Howard Zinn, Historian

The Iraq Moratorium: What it is

2008-05-01T21:05:00.002-05:00

The Iraq Moratorium project grew out of the frustration we share with so many Americans. Why does the war grind on when the people of this country have so clearly rejected it? Clearly voting didn’t do the job. In response to questions like those listed below, the idea of the Iraq Moratorium took shape.

* I really hate this war and what it's doing to my country, but I've never protested. I am not sure that I would be comfortable at a vigil or peace march.

If you do attend a vigil or other protest, you will probably be surprised at how many people very much like you are present. Still, there are many other ways to take a stand as an individual. Wear a black armband or ribbon on Moratorium Day.

Call or write your elected officials that day or send a letter to the editor of the local paper. Don't buy gas.

Whatever you do, you’ll be doing with millions of people, and whatever you do, fill out the easy to use form that will be posted the website, to let your elected officials and the media know what you did.

* I've already done all this. What good will this do?

We know. So have we. That's where the Moratorium idea came from. Imagine that even half the people who have stood up to end the war over the last five years were joined by even a tenth of all those who oppose the war privately - on the same day! It would be the biggest single outcry of protest in US history.

* Why black ribbons and armbands?

In U.S. society, black is the color of mourning. We wear the ribbons to remind ourselves, and our country, of the thousands of US troops and the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children who have died needlessly in this fiasco. We wear them as well to remind ourselves that if we do not act to stop it, the deaths will keep on coming. And coming.

* We've been holding a vigil on Sunday morning for years, and we don't want to change the day.

Fine, don't change your vigil time. But as you have an organized group, consider doing something else on the Third Friday. You might hold an additional vigil. You might on Friday morning leaflet houses in the neighborhood where the vigil takes place, leaving a flier with a ribbon attached and calling on folks to attend the vigil. You might plan an educational event or film showing on Friday evening at which you could also promote your vigil.

* What good does writing and calling my elected officials do?

It won't change things overnight, but politicians keep track of every call they get. And they watch the polls. They know the war and the administration are hugely unpopular. What they won't know until we make it crystal clear is that the people of this country are willing to back their views with action.

As a rule of thumb, the more effort you put into contacting politicians, the more attention they have to pay: one email is worth a dozen petition signatures, one phone call is worth a dozen emails, one hand-signed letter is worth a dozen calls, one office visit worth a dozen letters.

* Why don't you say "Troops Out NOW"?

Hey, most of us on the IMC think "Now" is more than five years too late. Still, plenty of people who want this war over with and the troops out of Iraq are gun-shy about the word "now" for a variety of reasons -political calculation, caution about putting troops at risk, concern for the people of Iraq. If you feel that "Now" is a key part of the message, raise it in the local actions you plan - the Iraq Moratorium Committee has neither the authority nor the desire to dictate local planning. The important thing is for folks all over the country to raise their own demands and plan their own activities. AT THE SAME TIME!

* Maybe we shouldn't have gone in the first place but won't things get worse if we leave now? Don't we have a moral obligation to the Iraqis?

Will bad things continue to happen in Iraq after U.S. military forces are pulled out? Yes. But as long as there is a large presence of US troops and mercenaries there (considered an occupying force by the majority of Iraqis), there is no way the people of Iraq can find their way to any solution to either the civil strife, or the infrastructure destruction, poverty and desperation that ravage their country now.

If the US occupation continues for years to come, as the Bush-Cheney administration is planning, it only means more death and more destruction and more delay, and the Iraqi people will still eventually have to deal with the damage, and chart their own way forward.

* Why do you call this a moratorium?

We chose the name in the spirit of the Vietnam Moratorium, the 1969 day of action that helped turn the corner toward ending that bloody conflict.

We chose it to signal that business as usual must be challenged and suspended.

We chose it to demonstrate that more and more people from the majority of Americans who oppose the war will be taking interrupting their normal routines and taking action.

* How do I join?

You don't join. This is not an organization, it's a project. You endorse it. To take part you DO SOMETHING on the third Friday of every month. Ideally you do it with other people.

* My group organizes in urban communities around the fact that the war is draining resources that we need for our cities, schools, youth etc.

Great! The war impacts every aspect of our lives, and the more that point is made the better! We need local groups to bring campaigns that they are working on.

* What is your relationship to other antiwar groups and coalitions?

This is not a group. It's a campaign. Many diverse and often divergent groups and individuals have signed on to this project and consult with us about plans and direction. We are not asking any groups to stop doing what they are doing. Instead, we hope this project will be a tool they can use to strengthen their mobilizing.

* Nothing is going to change until after the 2008 election anyway, so wouldn't it be better to concentrate on the elections?

We can't rely on our elected officials to do this. Unfortunately it is only unremitting pressure from the public that can bring this war to a speedy conclusion. Even after the 2006 Democratic sweep demonstrated how overwhelmingly the people of this country want the war to end, we have watched as the war escalates. After Nixon was elected in 1968 in a campaign that promised to end the war, it took seven more years before it finally ended. As IM endorser Howard Zinn says, "We who protest the war are not politicians. We are citizens. Whatever politicians may do, let them first feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not for what is winnable."

* Doesn't this undermine the morale of the troops?

Keeping the troops in harm's way in this unjust and unjustifiable war is not supporting them. Risking death and having to kill others for no good reason is what destroys morale.Working to get the troops out and to make sure they are taken proper care of once they get back home is the surest morale-builder there is. Organizations like Iraq Veterans Against the War and campaigns like the Appeal for Redress are concrete manifestations of the growing urgency many of the troops feel about ending this futile war.