March 19, 2005
National & Worldwide Protest actions
"We The People"
Rally & March For Peace
San Francisco, California
In San Francisco, more than 25,000 people marched and rallied. The crowd in San Francisco swelled as the rain subsided in the late morning. It took more than 45 minutes for the entire demonstration, marching on wide streets, to enter the Civic Center Plaza.
The S.F. march included contingents from the labor movement, Glide Memorial Church, the Palestinian and Arab American community, students, immigrant rights movement and many other organizations and communities.
ILWU Local 10, the dockworkers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the Bay Area, voted to hold their stop-work meeting on March 19, shutting down Bay Area ports for the day. Lo. 10 also voted to participate fully in the March 19 demonstration in San Francisco, and the local’s famed Drill Team led a large labor contingent in the march.
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Report from March 19 NYC Troops Out Now Demonstration
March 19, 2005 - Today, tens of thousands of people converged on New York City to oppose an illegal war of aggression against the people of Iraq. People drove from as far away as Florida and Minnesota to demand an immediate end to the occupation.
<>The day began with a rally in Marcus Garvey Park. After the opening rally, more than 15,000 marched to join thousands already gathered in Central Park. As they marched through Harlem, they were greeted by cheers and applause from the community. People came out of stores and apartments to join the march. Others hung out of their windows and flashed the peace sign or raised their fist.
Photo by Troops Out Now Coalition
Anti-war demonstrators protest in New York's Central Park protesting the second anniversary of the War on Iraq March 19, 2005. Demonstrators from several peace and social justice groups marched to various United States military recruiting stations throughout New York city disrupting the recruiting process. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
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United For Peace & Justice
March 18-20 marked the two-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq. At least 765 towns and cities, in all 50 states ( Map) - an unprecedented number - held anti-war events, in a reflection of the growing breadth of the anti-war movement. This is more than double the number of anti-war actions on the first anniversary of the war last year. UFPJ's strategy for this year's anniversary of the war was to emphasize local protests and local movement-building, rather than to focus on a handful of large mobilizations in major cities. Judging from the more than 200 accounts we've received of these events, it was an extremely successful approach, helping to deepen and broaden anti-war sentiment all across the nation. The reports from smaller towns and cities are particularly inspiring, reflecting a real growth in anti-war sentiment and organizing in many conservative areas of the country.
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North Carolina Peace & Justice Coalition
"On the Second Anniversary of the War and Occupation of Iraq, over
4,000 people marched and rallied in Fayetteville, NC [home of Fort
Bragg, 82nd Airborne, Special Forces], to Show Real Support for the
Troops: Bring Them Home Now! This was the largest anti-war
demonstration in Fayetteville's history, and signifies a historic
turning point for the anti-war movement, when military families,
veterans and soldiers take the lead in calling for an end to the
Occupation in Iraq.
"People came from all over: Tennessee,
Florida, South Carolina, Minnesota, DC, Hawaii, New York. At least 20
active duty GIs defied orders from Ft Bragg to come to listen.
"The NC Peace & Justice Coalition joined with Military Families Speak Out, Veterans For Peace, Fayetteville Peace with Justice, Quaker House, Bring Them Home Now, North Carolina Council of Churches, and United for Peace and Justice as the core sponsors for the March 19 mobilization to Fayetteville. Busloads of people from across the South poured into Fayetteville. We delivered a compelling and powerful message against the continuation of the war - That's REAL support for the troops."
Steve Liechty, from Durham, N.C., carries a mock coffin during an anti-war march, Saturday, March 19, 2005, in Fayetteville, N.C., as thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets around the U.S. to commemorate the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq . (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Marc Hall)
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New Paltz, NY
"Some 65 organizations from seven counties participated in the ad hoc March 19 coalition that sponsored a march and rally in Hasbrouck Park. The coalition was initiated by the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter.
"The rally was followed by a colorful march of 1,200 demonstrators through village streets, lead by a marching band. Chants such as "Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay, Bush and Cheney Go Away!" and the old favorite, "What do we want? PEACE. When do we want it? NOW," provided the sound when the band rested.
"The press accounts estimated the crowd as "hundreds and hundreds," but the 1,700 estimate by the organizers is correct. One veteran of many such events climbed to the top of playground monkey bars nears the stage and she calculated the size sector by sector to arrive at this figure. Meanwhile, another activist slowly walked through the crowd from end to end and independently arrived at the same conclusion."
Chicago
Thousands of anti-war activists gather in Federal Plaza Saturday, March 19, 2005, in Chicago to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. Protesters sought a permit to march down Michigan Avenue in downtown but were denied by the city prompting a heavy police presence. Police say two protesters were arrested. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Silver City, New Mexico
Hudson St. (HWY 90) by the Visitor's Center, gathering for the Peace Walk.
The March 19th event in Silver City, New Mexico was heartening.
• Our pre-march rally out on the highway drew a lot of support from the public driving by and there were very few negative responses.
• 125 people joined our quiet, solemn walk to the park, during which we sang peace songs. People watching along the way flashed peace signs and said thank you. Some joined us as we walked through downtown. Many stepped out from their shops, giving peace signs and calling out their approval and encouragement as we went by.
• At the park, we assembled and lighted over 1500 luminarias, one for each U.S. casualty, and 100 representing Iraqi casualties with poster-size photos of Iraqi citizens. For five hours straight, people took turns reading names of the dead, including many Iraqi names. Several members of the local clergy participated in the reading.
• One of our (2) local newspapers covered the event although both were contacted more than once.
• City officials and police were very helpful and courteous, even smiling.
At least 150 people participated throughout the day's events. There was definitely more support than either last year's or our Jan. 20 Counter-inaugural event. We saw more young people there and it was the first time local clergy participated. Ours is a small community (12,000) so we notice when new faces show up. ~Marta Green
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Boston, Mass.
Walter Ducharmarme, of Cambridge, Mass., stands beside a row of symbolic coffins as demonstrators gather on Boston Commmon, Sunday, March 20, 2005, to mark the second anniversary of the war in Iraq. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
Eugene, OR
Anti-war protester Gwen Jaspers, of Eugene, Ore., carries an 'End the Iraq War' sign during a march Saturday, March 19, 2005, in Cottage Grove, Ore. A group of demonstrators gathered in the small Willamette Valley town Saturday to mark the second anniversary of start of the war in Iraq. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
San Francisco, CA
Protesters march against the U.S. occupation of Iraq during a demonstration in San Francisco, Saturday, March 19, 2005. Thousands marched and held a rally to mark the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. (AP Photo/Jakub Mosur)
Demonstrators protesting the U.S. occupation of Iraq march in San Francisco, March 19, 2005, carrying a banner reading 'We need jobs, healthcare, education, not more war and occupation.' Thousands joined the march and protest rally held to mark the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. REUTERS/Lou Dematteis
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Nancy Friedman, left, Sandra Butler, center, and Chana Bloch, right, of the Bay Area Women in Black, protest the war in Iraq during a demonstration in San Francisco, Saturday, March 19, 2005. (AP Photo/Jakub Mosur)
Protesters run in the streets of San Francisco during a demonstration against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saturday, March 19, 2005. Thousands marched and held a rally to mark the second anniversary of the invasion. (AP Photo/Jakub Mosur)
Trent Willis, President of ILWU Local 10 addresses the crowd on March 19
with members of the ILWU Drill Team.
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New York City
An anti war protester displays her feelings on a sign in New York City. Americans have conflicting views about the costs and benefits of the US-led war on Iraq nearly two years after its launch, according to a poll released.(AFP/File/Tom Mihailek)
NYC-- Anti-war demonstrators from several peace and social groups march up 42nd street carrying coffins as they stage a nonviolent protest to mark the second anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. (AFP/Timothy A. Clary)
Demonstrators hold mock coffins draped with American flags outside the United States Army recruiting station in New York's Times Square protesting the second anniversary of the War on Iraq March 19, 2005. Demonstrators from several peace and social justice groups marched to various United States military recruiting stations throughout New York city disrupting the recruiting process. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
They are wearing photographs of military personnel who have been killed in Iraq.
A demonstrator gives the peace sign after being arrested with others outside the United States Army recruiting station in New York's Times Square protesting the second anniversary of the War on Iraq March 19, 2005. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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A group of anti-war activists are arrested after blocking traffic in Times Square in New York, Saturday, March 19, 2005, gathering at armed forces recruiting stations and demanding that U.S. troops be brought home. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) .
A group of protesters hold a rally in front of the armed forces recruiting center in Times Square in New York Saturday, March 19, 2005. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Police move in to arrest a group of anti-war demonstrators as they block traffic, in Times Square, in New York, Saturday, March 19, 2005. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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LONDON
A demonstrator wears a mask depicting U.S. President George W. Bush during an anti-war demonstration in central London to mark the second anniversary of the start of war in Iraq, March 19, 2005. Photo by Stephen Hird/Reuters
Anti-war demonstrators protest to mark the second anniversary of theU.S.-led invasion of Iraq, in central London, Saturday March 19, 2005. (AP Photo/PA, Johnny Green)
Felix Jackson, 11-years-old , lays flowers at the foot of a mock coffin with 100,000 dead written on it, placed by anti-war protesters in front of the US Emabassy who marched through London, Saturday March 19, 2005 to marking the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The 100,000 number is not an official number of the dead killed in Iraq. (AP Photo/ Fiona Hanson/Pool)
Demonstrators hold up placards during an anti-war demonstration in central London to mark the second anniversary of the start of war in Iraq, March 19, 2005. Photo by Stephen Hird/Reuters
A protester holding a sign saying 'BLIAR' passes by a police officer during an anti-war rally organized by Stop The War Coalition in central London on September 27, 2003. Tens of thousands of people marched through central London, banging drums and waving banners and posters denouncing the 'war on terror' on the second anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. (AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)
A mock 'coffin' is borne through Grosvenor Square, London, to the US Embassy, by anti-war protesters, led by Ray Hewitt, right front, and George Solomou, left front, both former British soldiers, Saturday 19th March 2005. Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters marched through central London Saturday, past the American Embassy, to mark the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
"George Bush Uncle Sam. Iraq will be your Vietnam," chanted 45,000 protesters winding through central London as they put down a black cardboard coffin with the slogan "100,000 dead" scrawled on the lid outside the U.S. Embassy. Demonstrations were also kicking off in other cities around Europe.( AP Photo/PA, Fiona Hanson)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
An anti-war demonstrator holds up a banner during a rally in Glasgow calling for UK troops to be pulled out of Iraq March 19, 2005. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell
An anti-war demonstrator wears a Tony Blair mask during a rally in Glasgow calling for UK troops to be pulled out of Iraq March 19, 2005. Events are being held to mark the second anniversary of the start of the conflict in Iraq. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell
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