5th anniversary of Iraq invasion
Will you be roaring like a lion or making peace like a lamb in March? Whether your plans are for a silent vigil or a loud, militant protest, we want to hear about it. March, which brings the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and the beginning of Year Six of senseless bloodshed, will refocus attention on the war and occupation of Iraq. Multiple actions are planned, in Washington and in communities across the nation.
Friday, March 21, is Iraq Moratorium #7, the Third Friday of the month. Some people may be traveling for Easter, and many college students will be on spring break. If that's your situation, we hope you will take the Iraq Moratorium with you, wherever you go, and do at least one thing to express your opposition to the war. Wear a button. Talk to your family about the war. Find an event in the community you're visiting. Make a donation to a peace group. But do something to mark the day.
3/13 – 3/16 Thurs - Sun Live-feed: Iraq Vets Against the War "Winter Soldier" hearings – Milwaukee. Peace Action conference room, 1001 e. Keefe. In the largest gathering of Iraq Veterans Against the War to date, hundreds of IVAW members will gather near Washington D.C. on March 13-16 for public testimony about their experiences during the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, sharing eyewitness reports that have often been ignored by the media. Screening is free and ongoing during Peace Action office hours. Contact: info@peaceactionwi.org More information about how your community can host a Live-Feed of the Winter Soldier hearings here…Video preview of Winter Soldier here…
3/14 Fri 6 – 7:30 pm Winter Soldier Event: “Aims of the Global War on Terror :the Political, Legal and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan” – Wausau. UW- Marathon County, Terrace Rm. Live-feed broadcast, followed by dialogue for action. Sponsored by the Northwoods Peace Fellowship - Contact number: 715-675 9681
3/15 Sat 10 am – 7:30 pm Winter Soldier Event – followed by dialogue for Action - Wausau. UW-Marathon County – Room No. 243 Iraq Veterans Against the War Live-feed to include: “Racism and War: Dehumanization of the Enemy” - “Civilian Testimony: The Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan” – and “The Cost of the War at Home”. Sponsored by the Northwoods Peace Fellowship - Contact number: 715-675 9681
3/15 - Milwaukee Transforming Hearts, Transforming Culture, a Prayer Service on the 5th Anniversary of War in Iraq – Catholics for Peace and Justice will be commemorating the 5th anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq with a special prayer service: “Transforming Hearts, Transforming Culture”, a prayer service of regret, peace and hope on the 5th Anniversary of War in Iraq. The prayer service will be held at the St. Joan of Arc Chapel on the Marquette Campus. Our guest speaker will be Fr. Simon Harak of the Marquette Center for Peacemaking. The prayer service will precede the Peace Action rally being held at O’Donnell Park at 1pm which is followed by a march to Veterans Park and back. ALL ARE WELCOME. BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
3/15 Sat 11 am - 12 noon Standing for Peace on the Bridge - Sauk City. Wisconsin River Bridge on US Highway 12.Join others on the Bridge to Stand for Peace and bring signs. Contact: Gail Lamberty 643-8017 or gail@shopstop.net 3/15 Sat 11 am - noon Peace Vigil at the Mall – Madison. East Towne Mall, intersection of East Washington and Thierer Rd. Call Helena (608) 249-2097 for details.
3/15 Sat 10 – 11 am Stand for peace, "5 Years Too Many," – Racine. Southeast corner of Highways 20 and 31.This will mark the 5th anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Info: Dick Kinch, dkinch@rootcom.net 262/638-0204.3/15 Sat 1 - 4:30 pm "Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan," - Racine. At Siena Center, 5635 Erie Street(use north parking lot, come to front entrance). This will be a live hook-up of testimony by veterans in Washington, DC. Info: www.ivaw.org. Contact: Dick Kinch at 262/638-0204
3/15 Sat 1 pm Rally & March on the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War – Milwaukee area. Meet at O’Donnell Park, Wisconsin Ave. & Prospect, for a short rally and march to Veterans Park for a reading of the US and Iraqi War Dead. Sponsored by the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace. Contact: info@peaceactionwi.org
3/15 Sat 1 - 6 pm - Live-feed: Iraq Vets Against the War "Winter Soldier" hearings – Madison. Orpheum Theater, State St. In the largest gathering of Iraq Veterans Against the War to date, hundreds of IVAW members will gather near Washington D.C. on March 13-16 for public testimony about their experiences during the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, sharing eyewitness reports that have often been ignored by the media. This event, sponsored by Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice and Iraq Vets Against the War - Wisconsin, will present a live video feed direct from the Winter Soldier hearings. Come for just an hour or for all five hours and share your reactions to the testimony with others. Screening is free of charge, all donations go to support IVAW-Wisconsin. Contact: Todd Dennis Iraq Vets Against the War - Wisconsin (todd@ivaw.org ), Steve Burns, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (outreach@wnpj.org) More information about the Winter Soldier hearings here…Video preview of Winter Soldier here…
3/16 Sun 7 – 8 pm Taize Prayer Service, devoted to peace in Iraq – De Pere, St. Norbert Abbey. 1016 N. Broadway ( Park in north parking lot and enter doors marked "Norbertine Center for Spirituality"). Contact Steve Herro at steve.herro@snc.edu
3/15 Sat 2 pm "March in March" to commemorate the 5th year of the Iraqi War disaster – Janesville. Gather at Basics grocery store and march to the U.S. Post Office. Sponsored by: Rock Co. Citizens for Peace. Co-Sponsor: Fellowship of Reconciliation. Contact Ted Kinnaman 754-2490.
3/19 Wed 11 am Nonviolent civil resistance action – Madison. Meet at Arby’s on East Washington. On the 5th anniversary of the war, Wednesday March 19, Madison Pledge of Resistance is organizing an act of nonviolent civil resistance at the military recruiting station near East Towne in Madison. We need people to be involved who are willing to risk arrest and others who will be there in support and solidarity with those risking arrest. Contact Joy First at jsfirst@tds.net 3/19 Wed 11 – 11:55 am 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War Rally and Vigil
– Madison. State St. corner of the Capitol Square. This Rally will be
followed at 11:55 am – with a 5 Minute Silent Vigil. Then at 12:00
noon, the Peace Train Parade will march around the Square. For details
call Miles @ 608-575-7683 pr Dennis Coyier at dcoy@execpc.com. Please
wear black and bring a candle to light at the vigil.
3/19 Wed 11:50 am Peaceful March in Support of the ‘Winter Soldier’ – Iraq Veterans Against the War – Minoqua. Meet at Torpy Park. Sponsored by the Northwood Peace Coalition. We will march peacefully, without blocking traffic through Minocqua to across the 51 bridge over Lake Minocqua with signs and puppets and songs that folks may care to bring. We welcome veterans who know first hand what many of us can only imagine in horror. We thank the town of Minocqua and our beloved country for assuring the opportunity for peaceful and law biding protest of policies that we believe it is our patriotic duty to protest most fervently. Contact: Jerry Woolpy at jerryw@earlham.edu
3/19 Wed 12 noon 5 Years Too Many! Peace Vigil & Press Conference – Duluth.At the Civic Center. Everyone who can is encouraged to come mark the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Sponsored by NAWC. Contact adamritscher@gmail.com for info or northlandiguana@gmail.com 3/19 Wed 12 noon Women in Black Vigil for Peace on the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War & Iraq Moratorium - LaCrosse. At 4th and Main St. We are urging many women who have not vigiled before to participate with signs and stand with us. Contact: June Kjome at jkjome@fastermac.net
3/19 Wed 4 – 6 pm Drive-By Picket Against the War – Madison. At the
corner of John Nolen Drive, Blair St., and Williamson Street. Picket on
the five-year anniversary of the U.S. Occupation of Iraq to demand an
End to the Occupation, Troops Home Now!, and sponsored by Madison Area
Peace Coalition. Bring a sign or use one of ours. For more information,
call 242-9232 or go to www.madpeace.org
3/19 Wed 4 - 5:30 pm Iraq War 5th Anniversary Vigil - Appleton. College and Appleton, downtown. Sponsored by the Fox Valley Peace Coalition. Wear black or dark colors if possible to indicate that we are in mourning for all people affected by the war. Contact: Ronna Swift at ronnas@athenet.net
3/19 Wed 4:30 – 5:30 pm Prayer Vigil for Peace – Webster. Meet in the parking lot of Grace United Methodist Church. Parking lot is located on Hwy. 35 one block north of Main Street. Contact: Jean McLaughlin at laughlin@sirentel.net
3/19 Wed 4:30 - 5:30 pm Peace rally - Kenosha. At the post office, downtown (7th Avenue). Organized by Kenoshans for Peace. Info: Denis Wikel, dwikel@wi.rr.com.
3/19 Wed 1 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6 pm Commemorating the 5 Year Anniversary of the Iraq War – Elm Grove. At the School Sisters of Notre Dame, 13105 Watertown Plank Road. The Global Justice & Peace (GJP) Commission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame invites you to join them in prayerful reflection and public witness commemorating the 5 year anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. At 1 pm and again at 6 pm the School Sisters of Notre Dame GJP Commission will host a showing of the film, No End in Sight – a film which explores the question…”More than four years after President Bush declared an end to combat in Iraq, the country is still fraught with many casualties, costly commitments, and an ongoing debate on how to end the violence. How did it come to this?” Reflection and prayer will follow. In addition, from 4:30 – 5:00 pm the public is invited to join School Sisters of Notre Dame as they take a public, prayerful stand for peace along Watertown Plank Road. Contact Tim for more information 262-787-1023 or tdewane@ssnd-milw.org
3/19 Wed 4 pm Rapids Citizens for Peace (RCFP) Protest of 5 Years of War in Iraq - Wisconsin Rapids. Meet at WI Highway 54 and 13 Expressway bridge over the Wisconsin River. Join in as we protest five years of the illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the war crimes of killing and wounding of Americans and Iraqis and the wanton destruction of Iraq. The event is open to our members and to the public. Bring a sign or banner of your own, borrow one of ours, or just stand in solidarity with us. Don Hoffman at doncanoe@tznet.com
3/19 Wed 4:30 - 5:30 pm Peace Vigil - 5 Years Too Many- Manitowoc. At Maritime Drive and 8th Street. Lakeshore Peacemakers - Contact: Linda Hunter at huntel@comcast.net.
3/20 Thurs 1 – 4 pm Five years of war in Iraq will be marked – Sheboygan.Fountain Park. Members of Veterans for Peace Sheboygan will read of the names of US killed in action. Contact: Chris Kuehnel at cqnel@vetsforpeacesheboygan.org
3/21 Fri 9 am Good Friday Walk for Justice - Racine. Start at Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain. Coordinated by Downtown Cooperative Parish. Contact: Dick Kinch at 262/638-0204
3/21 Fri noon Peace Vigil in Support of the Iraq Moratorium - 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. Info amz@mwt.net .
3/21 Fri 4 – 6 pm Picket for Peace and Against the War - Wausau. 400 Block downtown. Join the stalwart for this special Moratorium event. Please feel free to join, if interested, in nonviolent witness of all those affected by the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in reflection on the many costs (physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, social, environmental, etc.) of living in a society rooted in militarism. In keeping with the practice of nonviolence and in order to respect the dignity of all, we ask that any posters carried reflect peace and not sarcasm or political attacks. peace to all, dave kast at dhkast@nicoletcollege.edu and Carol Lukens at clukens@charter.net
3/21 Fri 4 – 5 pm Iraq Moratorium Vigil for Peace – Hayward. Intersections of Hwys 27 and 63. Please dress according to the weather and bring signs, candles and a black armband if you have them. Bring a friend, and a Cheesehead Hat if you have one. Co-sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter #153. See www.peacenorth.org for more.
3/21 Fri 4 pm Iraq Moratorium/Impeachment Emporium – Madison. Meet at University Ave at Park St. and the UW- Humanities Bldg. Bring your peace signs, anti-war signs, and IMPEACH signs. We meet the third Friday of every month at this site. Contact Steve Books at 437-5478 or books24u@aol.com or Larry Skupien at skup@mhtc.net.
3/21 Fri 4 pm Peacewalking for the Iraq Moratorium – Janesville. At the Janesville Mall (2500 Milton Ave). Sponsored by the Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation (rockvalleyfor.org). We will wear peace t-shirts that say “Honor the dead, Heal the wounded, End the war.” We will meet at the entrance next to Chuck E. Cheeses. There are lockers there for coats at that entrance. We will carry no leaflets or signs or wear any other message besides the one on our shirt. We will simply walk with our single message. Eleven of us walked in January and had a good time plus lots of exercise! You can order a peace t-shirt at http://www.donnellycolt.com/catalog/peacetshirt.html It takes about a week for the shirts to come, usually. Thanks. Sue Nelson at snelson@habiba.org
3/21 Fri 4 - 4:30 pm Monthly Vigil for Peace in Support of the Iraq Moratorium– Dodgeville. In front of the Courthouse. Meets the third Friday of each month. Contact Jane Hammatt-Kavaloski at jhammatt@mhtc.net.
3/21 Fri 4:30 pm Monthly Peace vigil for the Iraq Moratorium – Ripon. On the Square, by City Hall. 3rd Friday each month. Wear black armbands. Contacts: Kent Gallaway, Todd Berens, and Dianne W Ashley at kgallaway54971@yahoo.com
3/21 Fri 5 pm - IRAQ MORATORIUM Vigil - Milwaukee – At Water and Wisconsin. What to do wherever you are! Wear a black armband, don’t buy gas, wear an antiwar button to work or school, call your congresspeople 202-224-3121. Please link up with the national effort by going to the Iraq Moratorium website, http://www.iraqmoratorium.org/ and listing your event, every third Friday of each month. For more, contact info@peaceactionwi.org
3/21 Fri 5 – 6 pm Special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil – DeKalb. At Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Hwy. (downtown DeKalb) Sponsored by the DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice. Contact Dan Kenney at dkenney53@hotmail.com
3/21 Fri 5:30 pm 5 Years Too Many! March, Rally, and Film Showing – Duluth. Lake Ave. & Superior Street, Washington Center. Assemble for a march to the YWCA Trepanier Hall - where there'll be an indoor rally, potluck/social, silent auction and a mini-film fest. Sponsored by NAWC. See www.northlandantiwar.blogspot.com or contact (715) 394-6660 or northlandiguana@gmail.com .
3/21 Fri 5 - 6 pm Vigil to Protest the Iraq War and plans to attack Iran – Fort Atkinson. By the Municipal Building, downtown, 101 N. Main St. Sponsored by the Rock River Peace Group, rrpeacegroup@gmail.com ."One of the reasons we vigil is to protest the myth that the surge in has worked," said Chuck Ogg. "In fact, the opposite is true. It has not created stability and security in Iraq, the Bush administration's stated goals. There is clear evidence that the recent drop in violence was due to other factors. We believe a political solution cannot not be forged until our troops leave. We are also concerned that Bush is attempting to provoke Iran, hoping to start yet another war--a debacle that could be even more violent and costly. That's why now more than ever we need to stand up and be heard to pressure Congress. We must bring our brave soldiers home now rather than lose yet more lives." The vigil is part of the nation-wide Iraq Moratorium (www.iraqmoratorium.org ). Contact Person: Chuck Ogg, 920/568-0729 oggc@psly.net