Dear Reader,
On this first anniversary of the brutal, unprovoked attack by the American-led, Corporate Global Empire on the people of Iraq, we will be en-masse in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, major cities and small towns throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and every other region of the planet. Why will so many people sacrifice to travel and join throngs in these towns and cities? We will come together to lift our voices as one and take a stand to end the wars being executed by the FEW, in out name - the MANY.
It is true that the pen is mightier than the sword. And "the pen" has many different voices. One of it's most powerful voices is off the written page. It is one which can be heard in unison, the world-over in the streets ... by the masses. This is a time when you are called upon for courage, forthrightness and for the power that you can add to the millions who will cry out "NO MORE WAR" to Empire. If you are physically able, we ask you to join the MANY and help make us the ONE!
I will be with many others in NYC with the forces of the International Action Committee, ANSWER, United for Justice and Peace and hundreds of other organizations who will represent the people's cry to stop war, racism and oppression.
While traveling outside the U.S. last week, someone said to me:
"But last year millions marched against the war around the world, but they did it anyway".
Yes. They did. - And in doing so, they have provided us with all the more reason to build our courage, strength and numbers to stop them. Did we think one battle would stop them? Just as their's is a world-war that has been planned for a long time, so our resistance must be. Every protest is a brick in the building. Every voice raised is mortar to hold the bricks. If we falter ... If we waver ... If we surrender ... where will they take us? How many more will they kill?
If we fall silent now, our silence will only feed their impudent aggressiveness, hubris, arrogance and willingness to kill, plunder and destroy.
Ours is a nonviolent, guerilla war of words and actions to stop the military madness that has swept through the halls of government. Our silence would make us accomplices to the Republican and Democrat politicians who have planned, executed, and supported the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. We must not stop. We must build our resolve, power and commitment to make our countries - our people's countries ... our earth - the people's earth.
Take heart! Be of good cheer! Possess your values! Take pride in our union! Join our ranks! Turn your fear into power! Our sisters and brothers who have fought ... and sacrificed ... in the past - ask you to carry their banner for peace and civilization. Come to the city or town nearest you - This coming Saturday and stand up for your values, your love of humanity and your words.
Les Blough, Editor
Axis of Logic
Boston, MA
For More Details About The March 20, 2004 Global Protests by United for Justice and Peace, please click on their excellent Call to Action HERE
The following is the the Call to Action by Answer (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and provides many details for the March 20 Protester.
MARCH 20, 2004 - GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION on the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of the U.S. BOMBING and INVASION of IRAQ
Madison Square Park (Madison Ave. & 23rd St.) in New York City, PERMITS SECURED for MARCH 20 DEMONSTRATION in NYC
MARCH 20 NYC JOINT STATEMENT
We will demonstrate on March 20 to support the right of the Iraqi people to self-determination without condition. Since the invasion began, tens of thousands of Iraqi people have been killed. Thousands of U.S. and British soldiers have been killed or wounded. The Iraqi people are resisting the occupation - they want the foreign soldiers occupying their country to leave, not tomorrow but today. Growing numbers of U.S. soldiers and their families are calling for the troops to be brought home NOW. These soldiers are being sent to kill and be killed for a war that was based on lies and fraud perpetrated by the Bush government. There is only one solution: to end the occupation now! We believe, in the words of the National Council of Arab Americans, that "internationalizing the occupation gives colonialism a new marketable cover and should not be accepted as a viable option for the global popular movement."
We will also demonstrate on March 20 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, including the right to return to their homes and land. The March 20 demonstration comes only ten days before the anniversary of the historic March 30, 1976, Land Day in Palestine. Calling for liberty, right to return, and self-determination for the Palestinian people on March 20 is an essential political necessity, without which the end to colonial occupations cannot be fully realized. The U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq is part and parcel of the administration's larger colonial project targeting the people of the Middle East. While the Bush administration spends $2 billion per week to occupy Iraq, it spends $15 million each day to support Israel's war against the Palestinian people.
We will demonstrate on March 20 to overturn the "USA Patriot" Act, and to end the repression directed at Arab American, South Asian, Muslim and immigrant communities. We will defend the right to free speech and oppose Bush's and Ashcroft's war on the Bill of Rights.
We will demonstrate on March 20 to call for money for jobs, housing, health care and education, not for war and occupation.
We will demonstrate on March 20 to demand an end to the Bush administration's "Endless War" plans for global domination. We stand for an end to U.S. intervention, occupation and threats against Korea, Colombia, Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, the Philippines, Haiti and everywhere.
Only the people's movement offers hope that an effective challenge can be mounted to the Bush administration's war drive. While the Democratic Party offers candidates to contend with Bush for the presidency, it agrees with Bush about maintaining U.S. troops in Iraq and supports continued aid to Israel as it wages war against the Palestinian people. On April 20, 2002, 100,000 people marched in an historic demonstration in Washington DC under the banner "Free Palestine." Six months later, on October 26, 2002, hundreds of thousands demonstrated against the pending war of aggression against Iraq. On January 18, February 15-16, March 15, March 22, April 12 and most recently October 25, 2003, tens of millions of people went into the streets around the world to say no to the Bush administration's war drive. This is a monumental struggle waged by the people of the world who seek self-determination, justice and peace. Global solidarity is the centerpiece of the new mass movement that has emerged to counter the forces of militarism and colonialism. The outcome of this struggle will impact on generations to come.
All Out for March 20, 2004!
CALL SIGNED BY (list in formation): Click here for a list of endorsers.
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is circulating the recent March 20, 2004, Call to Action issued by the National Council of Arab Americans (NCAA). Click here to read that call.
Begin planning now to hold a demonstration in your city on March 20, 2004. Hundreds of cities around the world are issuing, circulating and joining this call.
Click here for a full listing of March 20 activities, including local and regional demonstrations, and transportation to them. Please fill out the form below so that we can list your event or transportation!
from Iraq to Palestine and everywhere!
and housing - Not war!
Dolores Park in San Francisco, Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles,
Michigan & Pearson in Chicago, and in cities across the U.S.
from NYCLAW: March 20 NYC Unity Statement
- A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition
- Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition
- Arab Muslim American Federation
- Free Palestine Alliance
- Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
- Muslim Student Association of the U.S. and Canada
- National Lawyers Guild
& over 1,500 additional organizations and individuals