why so little interest on DU for the March 20 anti-war rallies?

[G_j]

what are your thoughts?

Information:
www.unitedforpeace.org

Over 200 U.S. Events Planned,
Protests in More Than 50 Countries,
More Than 500 Organizational Endorsers
Momentum is building for the Global Day of Action against War and Occupation on March 20, 2004 — the one-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. On that day people all around the globe will take to the streets to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. In communities large and small around the United States and across the globe, we will call for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bush's militaristic foreign policies. March 20 will be the first time the world's "other superpower" will take center stage since Feb. 15.
-----------
Fayetteville, NC - The World Still Says No to War
Saturday, March 20th 2004 ':' '
Fayetteville, NC USA

On March 20, a march and rally is planned in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Nearby is the home of Ft. Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the U.S., and home of the 18th Airborne Corp, the 1st Corps Support Command, the JFK Special Warfare School, and the Joint Special Operations Command. It is also adjacent to Pope Air Force Base, which includes the 43rd Airlift Wing, and the 23rd Fighter Group, and the 18th Support Operations Group.

We join with our sponsoring organizations - Military Families Speak Out, Bring Them Home Now coalition, Quaker House of Fayetteville, September 11th Families of Peaceful Tomorrows, and the Fayetteville Peace with Justice Coalition, and Veterans for Peace on March 20 under the banners:

WE DEMAND REAL SUPPORT FOR THE TROOPS: BRING THEM HOME NOW!
MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION, NOT WAR AND OCCUPATIONS.
THE WORLD STILL SAYS NO TO WAR!

On March 20, we call on all people of conscience to show their solidarity with military families, and vets, as well as the untold millions of others who are disproportionately affected by war and occupations, and the war at home, to join us in Fayetteville. The N.C. March 20 Planning Committee, representing over 100 peace and justice groups from across North Carolina, will join with others from South Carolina, Richmond Virginia, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia to wage peace during this historical gathering in the South!
------
March 20: NYC Still Says No to War!
March and Rally Against War and Occupation


------
Calender of events, from Australia to Sweden to the UK:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=17

[Aidoneus]

1. Other: Too busy campaigning for the pro-occupation candidates

[Aidoneus]

13. Not my response, of course..

I'll be active on the day, if not demonstrating then at least putting together subversive literature that encourages thoughtcrime.

[xang-chi]

28. Thank you

Look, plain an simple, if you realy do what you say you do (subversive lit. to encourage thought crime) then keep it up and find others in different areas to do the same as well. I have a few people running similer opperations in my area and it's nice to see others doing as well.

[DuctapeFatwa]

27. You said it better and in fewer words than I could. Thanks

:yourock:

[CaptainClark23]

2. Practice run for RNC

The other side will be watching closely, tactics, strategies, etc.

As will we.

Cards close to vest at this point. The whole pot will be on the table come august.

See you in the streets.

[lastknowngood]

3. Whats the diff now our "candidate" voted for the damn war too

if we protest the war we are protesting our candidate.

[anarchy1999]

17. Dem Candidate "Kerry" never had nor never will have my support.

Dems are sending us to the other side. Not Republican - but you Dems give us not many choices.

[G_j]

19. I can tell you why I'll vote for Kerry

it would suffice to say two words: "the environment"

I don't like his foreign policy at all, I think Rand Beers is a criminal, but Kerry will no doubt be much better for the environment. If it would save one giant redwood, one polar bear, one coral reef, one river or one mountain it's worth my vote. Extinct species or old growth forests can never be brought back. I may have to hold my nose or even wear a gas mask to vote, but the environment is too important to me, Bush and his band of Orcs have got to go.

just a thought to ponder...

[For PaisAn]

4. I'll be there

at the NYC anti-war rally. They may be herding us into pens again like they did at the 2/15/03 one. Totally unreasonable since at the 3/22/03 one we were permitted to march with no pens and there were no problems for the police at that event.

[CaptainClark23]

5. Actually

During the march itself, there were no troubles. The problems happened at end of march in Washington Sq. - pretty brisk confrontation. The medics used up plenty of eyewash solution.

To my understanding, for 3.20 the NYPD wants to pen the rally point at end of march.

Not a bright idea, I don't think. People are getting angrier. Moreso even than at the onset of invasion. But as I said above, I do believe this is going to be like a dress rehearsal for both sides, leading up to opening night at the RNC.

See you on the streets (you'll not find me in a pen, though)

[G_j]

8. I was told some people have written the NYPD

telling them that they are coming to NY to partake in lawful non-violent protests March 20 and/or for the RNC. They asked for suggestions and what to expect. This was an attempt to break the ice somewhat and begin to establish some sort of dialog between police and ordinary citizens. I haven't heard what the response have been, but it seems to me it can't hurt. Being pitted against the police is not the point. Just thought I'd share that.

[CaptainClark23]

10. good strategy.

I talk to cops all day long during these events. These guys are my neighbors, not the enemy. Let us know if your contacts get any response.

See you in the streets.

[G_j]

11. blue collar workers

many union,

building bridges

see you in the streets also, our beautiful American streets...

[For PaisAn]

62. Didn't know that happened last year

We left when we reached the end of the March. The police were insisting that everyone leave. Maybe that's what initiated the trouble, them telling people to leave.

Not to sound naive but how will you avoid being put in a pen?

[seventhson]

6. Me and mine will be there at one of them

I think we are all battle scarred and wary -- but those who can will.

[kitkatrose]

7. Other.

I can't go because of school. And I can't afford to go.

[G_j]

9. thanks for sharing that

check the event calender at the bottom of the original post in case there is something near you.
peace!

[kitkatrose]

12. I going to try to attend the DC march.

It depends on how my exams fall. I think it may be the day after classes end so I shouldn't have that many problems.

[JanMichael]

14. I just moved or I'd be in NYC.

I still hope to make a smaller NC protest though.

[G_j]

15. hey are you in NC?

I'm torn between Asheville (my present home) and Fayetteville. I think there is one in Charlotte also.

[JanMichael]

16. Yep. If I (And my lovely wife) can make it to Asheville I will.

I'm up in the Triad area.

[G_j]

18. cool! here's our organization

with further info on the Asheville rally

www.wncpeacecoalition.org

[Solidarity]

20. Been There Before

In 1968 the Eugene McCarthy election campaign was successful in getting people off the streets against the war in Vietnam. In 1972 it was George McGovern. McCarthy and McGovern did nothing to support anti-war demonstrations and did not even speak at any of them! But, people worked on their election campaigns and stayed out of the streets. Nixon loved it.

Is Kerry supporting the anti-war demonstrations? Will he speak. Will he act like the anti-war John Kerry of 1972? If not, perhaps we are seeing a repeat of 1968.

[G_j]

21. I don't know the entire history of Eugene McCarthy's attendance

at anti-war rallies, but I can attest without a doubt that he was on the street in one of the DC anti-war protests, because I spoke to him there and shook his hand.

[peace4all]

22. I'm going

don't post here much, but I'll be there

[G_j]

24. thanks for responding n/t

[smcmike]

23. I am pretty Anti-War,

and if there was a rally here, i would probably go, but i have to ask, what is the goal? what exactly do we want? I thought invading was a mistake, not to mention a tremendously negative shift in our foreign policy on the grandest of scales, but now that we are there we do have a responsibility to make Iraq stable... what are the goals of protesting? if they are to say that bush's preemption policy is wrong, or that we should be more concerned with civilian/cultural/civil rights casualties, heck yeah! if it is "bring our troops home now" i just can't agree.

[G_j]

26. i offer these links for your consideration

& welcome to DU!

http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&fi...

A soldier back from Iraq discusses the war and the U.S. soldiers fighting that war, the suicides, and much more.
Interview by Daniel Redwood

Because members of the military are limited in their ability to speak out publicly, the soldier interviewed here must remain anonymous. A military medic who served in the Gulf War in the early 1990s, he is a member of the Reserves who was called up to serve in the current war in Iraq. His primary role is to deliver medical care to U.S. military personnel as well as Iraqis.
..more..
----------------------------------
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/what/latest.html#mcphearson040219

Vet and Military Dad Michael McPhearson Reports from Baghdad!

Well, I'm back from my second trip to Iraq (the first was in Gulf War I or, as I say, "the 1st ground campaign of the current war"), and this time I made it to Baghdad. I find that words cannot truly capture my experience, but I want to share my impressions and the messages that Iraqi people sent home with me.
..more..

[corporatewhore]

25. I am going to crawford

[peace4all]

29. kick

[truthspeaker]

30. vote for Kerry AND protest the war

Remember, we can protest when Kerry is president too, and it will carry more weight because we're voters he can lose. Sometimes you have to choose the lesser evil - and then get in its face if it steps out of line.

[G_j]

35. absolutely

I also view it as one way to let Kerry know the peace movement is alive and well and has not gone away. To me that is very important.
There will be a lot of Veterans out there also.

[Dhalgren]

31. Oh, haven't you heard? Democrats are Pro-War, now.

Sure, we know that the evil terra-ists are out there plotting to kill good Americans - they hates us for our freedoms, dontcha know. Our only problem with Mr. Bush is that he didn't conduct the war in the "right" way...sure if he had handled the Great War On Terra like we Democrats wanted, why, we'd be right there with him. NO we aren't against the war, just Mr. Bushes handling of it. USA! USA! USA! I mean the Iraqis aren't even white (just like those Haitians)

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[tommilator]

32. Copenhagen will be marching too

Probably not as many as before the war but still in the thousands.

Http://www.nejtilkrig.dk

I for one don't support the immediate withdrawal demanded by the organizers of the protest, but I will be marching against war to show them lying politicians that even if they got their war they're not off the hook.

That, and spring is in the air ;)

[questionauthority]

33. Could it be that a lot of protests have gotten boring?

A major problem i had with the demonstarations i attended was that they were such a mish-mash of various causes as if somehow every injustice in the world was cosically related to one another.
EX: FREE MUMIA! END THE WAR!

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION ON DEMAND! END THE WAR!


it was like a lot of people couldn't drop their own personal pet issues to come together on something we all agreed on.
That's why i stopped going.
I was against the war, but didn't agree with all the other protestors out there.

[tommilator]

36. true

Last years demonstrations was my first. And I found it a little intimidating marching along red banners and people singing songs of international solidarity and socialism. But the pre-war demonstrations were some of the largest since Vietnam and drew the whole crowd from the political regulars to the elderly couple wishing to join up in antiwar support. I'm afraid this time the regulars will be in the majority, but hey, maybe I'm becoming one myself.

[G_j]

37. in retrospect

despite the various messages individuals bring, when Feb 15 (where 15 million came out world wide) is mentioned, it is described as the largest anti-war demonstration in history. So I don't think the message gets lost.

[LWolf]

34. I still have plenty of interest.

I'd planned to be at one, until I was assigned work that day. :grr:

[KoKo]

38. I'm still interested and doing what I can. But, I do pick up a lack of

interest here on DU. Probably because there are so many new DU'ers since last year this time.

Thanks for keeping the interest alive by posting on this. For many of us this issue won't go away because it goes to the heart of why Bush needs to be kicked out along with his PNAC pals.

Impeachment would be too good for these folks who brought us into a war for weapons that didn't exist and have lied at every turn.

This is why we have to keep the Peace Movement alive!

[G_j]

49. "All we are saying is give peace a chance"

sounds naive?
"Whats So Funny About Peace Love & Understanding?"


(couldn't resist) :-)

[rocktivity]

39. The focus of the U.S. demonstrations is too narrow

It needs to be widened to include the role that the Bush regime and the mainstream media are playing. If the theme of this march were "Boot Bush!" I bet you'd see a lot more interest.

:headbang:
rocknation

[leftchick]

40. kick

:kick:

[derby378]

41. We're going to Crawford, too

If all goes well, one of our posters will feature a picture of flag-draped coffins on a military transport and some choice Chumbawamba lyrics. Hell yeah we're protesting!

[G_j]

42. great that folks are going to Crawford!

:yourock:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

43. ANSWER rubs me the wrong way

and makes us look really bad, too

i'm waitng until the april 24th stuff to go to DC

[Stephanie]

44. Me too - but is this an ANSWER event?

I thought it was United for Peace and Justice...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

46. unfortunately UFP

has more or less merged with ANSWER on this stuff and they're co-sponsoring the event

the last time I was at an ANSWER event, the audience walked out of the rally and began the march, as they were becoming sick of ANSWER's 30-minute long pat-on-the-back and self-promotion

ANSWER is getting to the point that they can't get any speakers of value to come to these things either. the first few they had featured Susan Surandon, Jesse Jackson, Patti Smith, and more

now all they can get is a bunch of never-was's and has-been's from their own staff

[G_j]

48. that is Dis-information : ANSWER is not

a cosponsor of this event. If you can find them listed anywhere as a cosponsor, let us know. And out of the 500 'endorsers' I did not see ANSWER listed.

Also I believe it is completely wrong that UNFPJ and ANSWER have merged in any way. They worked together on the last event, but that took months of painful negotiation because these groups have always had major differences.

[Qanisqineq]

45. Would go but...

I WILL BE WELCOMING MY HUSBAND BACK FROM IRAQ!!

[G_j]

50. that is wonderful news!

best wishes and

WELCOME HOME!!! :toast:

[goddess40]

47. Add 2 to the "we are protesting"

We have 3 adults who are of voting age and we will all be in Stevens Point, WI on the 20th.
This afternoon 2 of us will be in front of the courthouse for our weekly protest of bush's war! We get many positive responses and keep our message out there. The pro-war idiots gave up when the weather got cold.

[G_j]

52. thats great!

[NightTrain]

51. March 20th is my birthday, and I'll be spending it...

...in a hotel room 300 miles from home, with a fellow DUer! :bounce:

[MAlibdem]

53. i was for the war

It wasn't well planned, it wasn't well executed, it was undertaken too fast. BUT...

Saddam Hussein was a brutal, genocidal dictator who needed to be removed. I am all for nation building...for democracy, not western imperialistic imposition of values, but for the right of each person to selfdetermination.

[rdfi-defi]

55. but since there is obviously no "self determination"

going on in iraq, i invite you to join the global community on the 20th and protest the "imperial imposition of values"

[MAlibdem]

61. fair point

i would need to be a little more sold on how there is no self determination...

...i sort of figured it would take a little while for violence to settle down...apparently the idiots in the administration didn't or they'd have been better prepared

[rdfi-defi]

54. san diego ca

gotta want peace to protest the war in military town

[diamond14]

56. I'll be there.....hey New York....we're coming from DC to join you....

and I am PROUD to carry the banner for
www.StandUpforPeaceWyoming.org




let's help and support those who are taking this to the streets....it is the HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM....

to those who object and throw hurdles and insults at the brave Patriotic Pro-Peace activists (and it has already started here on this thread....nasty hateful remarks about organizers and protestors): go smell up some other board....WE are proud to be Democratic Underground...PROUD to be marching in the streets and PROUD to be standing up for PEACE....

[corporatewhore]

57. Because our pro occupation guy is not speaking at one i seriously

laughed out loud and then felt like i was bizzaro world

[Stone_Spirits]

58. I heard Kucinich was invited to speak in NY. n-t

[stevebreeze]

59. IL primary is Tuesday but Sat is reserved for Marching

:kick:

[G_j]

60. kick for the weekend crowd