Hopefully for the last time, the people of the Central Valley and the Foothills will again gather for the annual march and “Rally in the Valley for Peace and Justice: Bring the Troops Home Now” to insist that our government end this unjust, immoral, and illegal war against the Iraqi people which has already claimed the lives of 3,127 American military personnel (2/14/07), 256 military from other countries, an estimated 655,000 Iraqi civilians and an unknown number of American civilians.
The Rally is scheduled to take place at the new Eaton Plaza at Mariposa and ‘N’ Streets in downtown Fresno near the historic Water Tower on Sunday, March 18, from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm .
So far, Rally cosponsors include The Central Valley Counter Recruitment Coalition, The Fresno Center for Nonviolence, The Fresno Free College Foundation (KFCF), La Raza against War, The Peace and Freedom Party of Fresno County, Peace Fresno, and The South Valley Peace Center. Death Penalty Focus, Humanists of the San Joaquin Valley , and Sun Mt. are endorsing the Rally. Additional cosponsors and endorsers are expected to join in, and numerous peace and social justice organizations will table at the event.
Green Machine will supply music along with Lonesome Jem and Frank Moschella. Dolores Huerta will be our leadoff speaker. She will be followed by David Swanson of afterdowningstreet.org. And Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Representative from the Sixth Congressional District north of San Francisco , has tentatively agreed to address the Rally as the third speaker. We still need to resolve some transportation issues before the Congresswoman’s appearance is definite.
A really large turnout at Rallies around the country on this fourth anniversary of the war will help convince the 110th Congress to end this war. We are working to get more than 1000 people to participate in The Rally in the Valley in Fresno . Put it on your calendar now! The American People shall overcome!
For more information please leave specific questions on our voicemail, 487-2515.
Bill Simon
Peace Fresno
Major Central California Anti - War Event is set for March 18th
Peace Fresno has set its annual Rally in the Valley for Peace and Justice for Sunday, March 18th. They have been holding this event to commemorate the beginning of the US attack on Iraq since the conflict was first launched by the Bush Administration. This year’s theme is “Bring the Troops Home Now!”
This year’s event is set for Eaton Plaza which is adjacent to the Historic Fresno Water Tower in downtown Fresno . The official start time is 1:30PM. The day’s activities will lead off with a short march through the downtown area which will include a brief “Die - in” of participants to dramatize the death of so many in Iraq . The Die - in will take place on the plaza ground in front of the new Federal Building on Tulare Street .
When the marchers return to Eaton Plaza they will hear from Dolores Huerta who is legendary for her close association with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers organizing work. Ms. Huerta will be introduced by Michael O’Gorman of Farms Not Arms whose stated organizational mission is a “call for all countries to stop misappropriating their resources on war and to focus on fighting hunger, disease and protecting our environment and our farmland.”
Also, confirmed as a speaker is David Swanson of After Downing Street which is “a nonpartisan coalition working to expose the lies that launched the war and to hold accountable its architects, including through censure and impeachment.”
California Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey of Marin County has also accepted Peace Fresno’s invitation to speak subject to approval by the new strict House ethics rules. As Co - Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and one of the founders of the Out of Iraq Caucus, Woolsey recently introduced her own comprehensive bill on Iraq, H.R. 508, legislation, which would bring all US troops and contractors out of Iraq within 6 - months, provide assistance with the reconstruction, stabilization and reconciliation of the country, and fully fund the VA health care system, as an entitlement, to care for all of America’s veterans. Woolsey has called upon the Congress to continue to confront the President, and to use every available resource to end the occupation of Iraq .
Also on hand to convey the peace message through music will be the local favorites “The Raging Grannies”, “Lonesome Jem” aka Jemmy Bluestein, and the band “Green Machine.”
Peace Fresno is anticipating attendance of nearly 1,000 people based the outpouring of support that have had for recent anti - war events in the area. They are also planning for thirty booths by peace, environmental, and social justice issue groups who will be on hand with literature and paraphernalia.
Contact information:
Michael O’Gorman of Farms Not Arms
619 - 200 - 5954 or michaelogorman@hotmail.com
http://www.farmsnotarms.org/
Bill Simon Chair, Peace Fresno
SIMON72811@sbcglobal.net
(559) 227 - 6565
Cell: (559) 375 - 5725
