List of March 19th and 20th protests in the U.S.

Reza Nasri has suggested that we change our blog names to "Hands Off Iran!" on March 19th. See his post here.

Here is a list of the anti-war protests in the U.S. If you have information about protests in other countries, please put the link in the comments section. I found the U.S. protests list on the ANSWER Coalition website. It took me a lot longer to reformat the list than I thought it would. All the spacing was lost and the cut and paste had messed up the html. I just wanted to give a link to begin with, but all ANSWER coalition pages have the same url and it's hard at times to find relevant events. In any case, I hope this is helpful. I hope the effort is woth it. Also, some Iranians will get together at Dolores Park at 11 am to march together. See the info for that here.

I made an unfortunate mistake and without thinking, a few weeks ago booked a flight to Seattle for March 19th, right in the middle of the day! If I get on that flight, it means that I can neither make it to the SF protest nor to the Seattle one. I think I am going to go to the SF protests and will try my luck with stand-by option later in the evening! In any case, I hope there is going to be a protest in your area and that you can make it.
I have to revise a paper by tomorrow. If I don't get the chance to write here again for a few days, happy Norouz to all.

Here is the list organizes by state:

ALABAMA
Huntsville
North Alabama Peace Network

DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Rally at 12 noon in downtown. Gather at Flying Monkey Arts Center for a art show / benefit concert for the Victims of the War in Iraq: Art show, 3 - 7pm; Benefit concert 7-10pm.

ALASKA
Juneau
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 10am at the steps of the Capitol Building (4th & Main St)

ARIZONA
Phoenix
Grandmothers for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11am at Bell road & 99th Ave.

Tucson
Tucson Peace Action Coalition, Turnwind
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 10am, Catalina Park (On 4th Ave, one block south of Speedway), Rally at Catalina Park, 11am: March from Catalina Park. 12 noon: vigil at Military Recruitment Center, 2302 E. Speedway

Window Rock
Dine for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: 11am, Old Theatre, March starts at the old theather, and rally procedes at the Navajo Veterans Memorial Park (near the Window Rock and Council Chambers).

ARKANSAS
Little Rock
Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12 noon - 2 pm at the War Memorial Park Pavilion by the children's playground (off Markham Street and Van Buren). Rally at 12 noon and then a march to protest along Markham Street at 1pm


CALIFORNIA
Benicia
Solano Peace and Justice Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 5-6pm, City Park, 1150 First St.

El Centro
Imperial Valley Peace Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Bucklin Park, Meet in the park at 2:00 to begin assembling luminarias for each of the over 1500 American soldiers who have died in Iraq. We will also remember civilian deaths At sunset we will hold a candlelight vigil.

Eureka
Eureka Peace March
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon, Halvorson Park (across from the Adorni Center). Meet at noon for March through Eureka ending at the Gazebo for festivities.

Fresno
Peace Fresno
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12-3pm, Courthouse Park

Los Angeles
A.N.S.W.E.R. LA
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: At 12 noon we will gather at Hollywood & Vine

Mt. Shasta
Mt. Shasta Area Peace Activists
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12noon, Mt. Shasta City Hall Plaza

Redlands
Redlands Democracy for America Meetup
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12noon-3pm at Redlands City Hall (Orange & Citrus St.), March down State St. over to Lincoln Shrine (next to the Smedley Public Library)

Riverside
Riverside Area Peace and Justice Action
DATE: Friday, March 18EVENT: 6 pm - 8 pm, Corner of University & Iowa Avenues. This demonstration will be a peaceful but boisterous protest of the Bush Agenda. Bring drums, noisemakers, signs, etc.

San Diego
San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 2pm Balboa Park (6th and Laurel)

San Francisco
A.N.S.W.E.R
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather at 11am at Dolores Park march tothe Civic Center

San Jose
South Bay Mobilization, and a coalition of groups from San Mateo through Palo Alto to San Jose and beyond
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 1:30pm for an anti-war rally in San Jose Diridon Train Station followed by a march to Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita Neighbors for Peace & Justice and Democratic Alliance for Action
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 4 pm to 6 pm, Valencia Town Mall Corner of McBean Pkwy & Valencia Blvd (New Homes Information Center Corner). Peace Vigil, Live music, Bring signs or use ours.

Santa Monica
American Friends Service Committee & Veterans for Peace
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 11am on the Santa Monica Beach, adjacent to the pier

Sylmar
Political Science/Mecha/AGSL.A. Mission College
DATE: Monday, March 14 - Thursday, March 17
EVENT: Gather at 11am at 13356 Eldridge Ave:-Mon., March 14 for music, Sunali Kohakar fom KPFK-Tues., March 15 for music, video-Arlington West, Vet.-Speaker-Wed., March 16 for music & speakers-Thur., March 17 for music, video-Beats for Baghdad, Jerry Quickly from KPFK

Ventura
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 1-4pm, Mission Park (Main St. at Figueroa St. Plaza), March through downtown Ventura (Mission Park to Main Street to Fir Street and back to Mission Park) and rally in the park

COLORADO
Denver
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather at 1pm at the West Steps of the State Capital Building.

Walsenburg
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 12noon at the Courthouse

CONNECTICUT
HartfordConnecticut United for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Statewide March and Rally: Assemble at 11AM at Hartford Armory (Intersection of Broad Street and Capitol Avenues), March (and Coffin March) at 12 noon, Walk through the neighborhoods to Park Street, Rally at Barnard Park (South Green at Park and Main Street) 1:00 - 3:00 PM

WASHINGTON D.C.
TRANSPORTATION: To Fayetteville, NCClick here for details.


FLORIDA
Gainesville
Silentmarch
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 1-7pm at Gainesville downtown plaza.

Jacksonville
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 6-9pm at Riverside Park followed by a march to Memorial Park

Lake Worth
Palm Beach County Peace and Justice Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 2pm at Lake Worth Beach (across from John G's on S. Ocean Ave.)

Miami
South Florida March 19th Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 2-5pm at Torch of Friendship, Bayfront Park (Biscayne Blvd. & NE 2nd St.) music and cultural activities, followed by a demonstration with speakers at 3pm

Orlando
Orlando Not In Our Name
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 12 noon at International Dr. & Sand Lake Rd.

Pensacola
Patriots for Peace & Veterans for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lee Square, Jackson & N. Palafox streets, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, Gregory & N. Palafox. Participants gather at Lee Square (Jackson & N. Palafox) at 11:30 a.m. and walk south to Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza for a silent vigil. On their walk, participants will carry posters bearing names and representative pictures of war dead.

Sarasota
Coalition of Concerned Patriots
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 1-4pm, Bayfront Park (US 41 at Ringling Blvd)

St. Augustine
People for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March
at 2 pm

St. Petersburg
St. Pete for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon - 5 pm, gather at Williams Park, 4th St. and 2nd Ave

GEORGIA
Atlanta
International Action Center
DATE: Friday, March 18
EVENT: Gather at 4:30pm, at Marietta & Centennial Olympic Park; march will leave at 5pm

Savannah
Savannah Beloved Community Unitarian Universalists, Veterans for Peace, Federation of Reconciliation, Food Not Bombs, Codepink: Women for Peace (Savannah)
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: 7pm, Forsyth Park, main fountain (Bull & Gwinnett St.). Candlelight vigil for the 2nd anniversary of the bombing of Iraq. Drum circle at 5:30pm, bring your own music.

HAWAII
Hilo
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 12noon at the corner of Wainuenue & Kinoole

Pahoa
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm at Kalani Oceanside Retreat

IDAHO
Pocatello
Pocatello for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2pm, Caldwell Park (corner of Center and 7th), March to the Congregational Church on Garfield St., behind Pocatello High School

Sandpoint (downtown)
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather Afternoon to Night presentation of the film "Fog of War" (by Panada Theater)

ILLINOIS
Carbondale
Peace Coalition of So Illinois
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Day long installation of memorial crosses at the Town Square Pavillion. Vigils and Bannering at 4 locations in town at 11:30am with convergence for a rally at the Pavillion at 12:30pm.

Champaign
A.W.A.R.E.
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2-4pm, One Main St. (downtown Champaign), Several speakers including Fred Spannaus of MFSO; several verterans, including one from the 1st Gulf War; and a local Muslim student who is from Iraq and has family there and has visited several times since the war began.

Chicago
Chicago March 19 Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon gather at Oak St. & Michigan Ave. followed by a march down Michigan Ave. to Federal Plaza.

INDIANA
Indianapolis
Indiana Peace and Justice Network
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather from 12noon-3pm at Monument Circle

Terre Haute
Terre Haute Stop War on Iraq
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Gather at 10 am at Vigo Co. Courthouse (Third and Ohio Sts.), including drummers

Burlington
Citizens for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2 P.M., Port of Burlington Building on the Mississippi Riverfront

Davenport
CodePink, People for Peace, DFQ
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2:00 P.M., 4000 East 53rd St. (across Borders and Showcase Cinemas)

Des Moines
Coalition of Peace & Church groups
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m, Trinity United Methodist Church, 8th and College to St. Ambrose Cathedral, 6th and High; everyone is invited to march with banners and signs calling for an end to war.

Dubuque
Dubuque Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 10am-2pm, Gazebo in Washington Park (between 6th and 7th, Locust and Bluff St. in downtown Dubuque), 10am-12:30pm Read the names of US troops and Iraqis killed during the war 12:30-2pm Rally with speakers and musicians

Iowa City
War Resisters, Indict & Impeach Bush
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: 2:00 PM, Iowa City Pedestrian Mall by the fountain
KANSAS
LawrenceLawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice
(1)
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Rally, 12-1pm, Douglas County Courthouse (corner of 11th and Mass.)~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(2)
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Candlelight Vigil, 7-8pm, Douglas County Courthouse (corner of 11th and Mass.)

Salina
Salina People for Peace
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 7:30pm at Salina Mennonite Church 600 W. State St. (12th St. and State St.) for a film showing and discussion.

Wichita
Peace & Soc. Justice Center
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11:00 AM cst, Minisa Park 13th & Jeanette, March & Vigil from Minisa Park to P & SJC "Human Cost of War" Memorial. Bring signs, drums, voices, candles.

LOUISIANNA
New Orleans
New Democracy Rising, Louisiana Activists Network
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11 am in Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park, March at 12 noon
MAINE
Skowhegan
Waterville Area Bridges 4 Peace & Justice DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: 12noon-1pm, Margaret Chase Smith Bridge. Peace vigil on heavily traveled bridge with pedestrian access.

MARYLAND
Baltimore
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 12 noon at St. Peter Claver Church, 1546 N. Freemont Ave.

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
Boston Mobilization
DATE: Sunday, March 20EVENT: 1:00 PM, Boston Common.

Fall River
Greater Fall River Committee for Peace
St.)

Natick
Democracy For America-MA
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 10am at Natick Common, intersection of Rt. 27 and Rt. 135

New Bedford
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at from 1-4pm at the corner of Buttonwood Park, rte 140, and rte 6. across from the CVS.

Stow
Social Action Committee (FPC)
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 10am to 4pm, Peace Vigil, on Stow Common at the corner of Routes 62 and 117 (in front of First Parish Church (FPC) of Stow and Acton, Unitarian Universalist

Worcester
Veterans For Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12-2pm at Lincoln Square


MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Contact for details

Flint
Genesee County Progressive Caucus
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at the Genesesee County Courthouse on Saginaw St. at 1:00 to begin marching at 1:30 through downtown to the University of Michigan Flint campus. There will be a rally at McKinnon Plaza on campus when we arrive with speakers and music. Wear black armbands.

Flint
Flint Michael Moore Meet Up Group
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 3pm at City of Flint City Hall

Holland
Holland Peacemakers
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 2pm at Centennial Park (12th & River, across from City Hall)

Lansing
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon: Gather at the Capitol Building; 1pm: Car Caravan through local communities, Critical Mass bike ride to East Lansing; 2:30pm: Rally at MSU Administration Building; 3:30pm: Film: “About Baghdad” film showing at MSU 108 B Wells Hall

Montague
White Lake Peace Team
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 7pm at Weathervane (corner of Dowling & Water) for a candlelight Vigil

St. Joseph
Patriots for Peace
the U.S. Post Office stands, two blocks south of drawbridge. Bring your own sign, use one of ours, or just stand for peace.

Traverse City
Traverese Area Peace & Justice Community
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: 12:00 PM, Bay and Division Street. A mile long rope with black ribbons will be held through downtown Traverse City.

MINNESOTA
Bemidji
Bemidji Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12noon - 2pm, Bemidji Ave and 3rd St. (Paul Bunyan Statue Site), Paul Bunyan Dr. and Irvine Ave., Paul Bunyan Dr. in front of Super 8 (West Side of City)

Brainerd and Little
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 1 to 3 PM, 6 miles North of Little Falls, Camp Ripley Junction, MN Highways 371 and 116, near the tank. Park your cars on County Road 47, turn East Just South of the military tank. At 1:30 we will march in unison to the Main Gates of Camp Ripley, approximately 1 mile. Cut War Funding NOT VA Funding.

Minneapolis
Iraq Peace Action Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm at Loring Park Hennepin/Lyndale Ave. & Oak Grove St, march at 1:30pm, 2:30pm Speakers & Program at Wesley Inited Methodist Church (101 East Grant St)

Northfield
People for Peace and Good Will
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12-2pm at Bridge Sq.

Rochester
Southeaster Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2-4pm, Peace Plaza for a peace rally

St. Paul
Neighbors for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at from 5:45pm-7:15pm for a walk for peace, corner of Snelling and Summit Ave., going west to the Mississippi River. Please bring candles.

MISSISSIPPI
Biloxi
South MS United for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12-6pm at Biloxi Green & Visitors' Center, Highway 90 at Lameuse.

Tupelo
North Mississippians for Peace
DATE: Sunday, March 20EVENT: 2:00 PM, Lee County Courthouse, South steps (corner of Spring and Jefferson Street). Vigil to remember the Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops.

MISSOURI
Columbia
Columbia Peace Coalition
and Iraqis who have died in Iraq, march through town and place them in front of the recruiters building, silent vigil, return to Courthouse for speakers rally.

Kansas City
Kansas City Task Force
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather from 4-6pm JC Nichols Fountain (47th St. btwn Main & Nichols Pkwy)

St. Louis
St. Louis Instead of War Coalition
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather from 4-6pm at Art Hill in Forest Park Memorial Rally displaying 1500 tombstones to honor the U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians

Springfield
Peace Network of the Ozarks
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Marine Recruiting Office, corner of Battlefield and Kimbrough Bring signs without sticks. We'll stand on the public sidewalk.

MONTANA
Bozeman
Bozeman Peace Seekers
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 2:30pm at the Ballroom, Emerson Cultural Center for a "Party for Peace" with songs, speeches, drama and audience participation.

Dillon
ACLU
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 3pm at the University of Montana-Western (Small Auditorium, Main Hall)

Great Falls
DATE: Saturday, March 19
Event: Gather 11:30-12:30 on the Civic Center Steps, Rally for Peace and Justice. Participants urged to bring posters, prayers, instruments and friends.

NEBRASKA
Grand IslandCentral Nebraska Peace Workers
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 7:30pm, Pioneer Park (2nd and Elm St.), Candlelight Vigil and brief presentations

Lincoln
Nebraska Coalition for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather from 10:30 - 12noon West Plaza of the State Capitol (14th and K) rally with speakers and music, bring signs

Omaha
Omaha Global Day of Action
DATE: Saturday, March
at 2 pm at the monument in the park. A panel of speakers from various church groups and other organizations will begin at 3 PM. The event will end with an open mic and public protest.

NEVADA
Las Vegas
Peace Now!
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: - Gather at 9am at Las Vegas Review Journal (111 West Bonanaza) - Gather at 5pm at Sahara & Las Vegas Blvd to have a short rally followed by a march to the Bellagio and a march back

NEW JERSEY
Atlantic City
CPJ
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at from 2-4pm for a march will begin at Garden Pier parking lot, march to Kennedy Plaza for rally and return to Garden Pier

Cherry Hill
South Jersey Campaign for Peace & Justice DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather from 12-2pm at Route 38 (Meet at the entrance to the Cherry Hill Mall)

NEW MEXICO
AlbuquerqueStop the War Machine
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at from 11am - 1 pm at the National Guard Armory & Armed Forces Recruting Center, corner Wyoming and Copper, NE.

Silver City
Grant County Peace Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 3:30pm at Visitors Center for Peace, march to Gough Park at 4pm, light luminaries and read U.S. soldiers and Iraqis killed at 5:30, followed by a silent vigil

Taos
Action Coalition of Taos
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT:Gather at 4pm at Taos Plaza

NEW YORK
Binghamton
March Forth Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 10am Federal Courthouse Building (Henry Street), Rally at Federal building 10-12, March through downtown Binghamton ending at the First Congregational Church on the corner of Front and Main Streets for warming up with music and pizza, then return to Federal Building till 3:00 PM

New York City
Troops Out Now Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 10am in Marcus Garvey Park (124th St. and 5th Ave.to 125th St. and Lennox Military Recruiting Station). March to Central Park. Gather in the East Meadow of Central Park (97th St. and 5th Ave.) at 12 noon. At 3 pm, March to Mayor Bloomberg's house.

New Paltz
Initiated by Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Rally at 1pm at Hasbrouck Park (near SUNY New Paltz) and march through town. Rep. Maurice Hinchey will be the featured speaker.

Rochester
Peace Action and Education, Metro Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19EVENT: Gather at 4pm outside of War Memorial (Broad & Exchange St.)

Saratoga Springs
The March 20th Project
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 12noon for a community Rally and Walk in front of the Saratoga Springs Post Office on Broadway. Guest speakers will start at noon. Walk begins at 1pm.

NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte
Action Center For Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm at Marshall Park (2nd St & S. McDowell St)


Fayetteville
Bring Them Home Now, Fayetteville Peace With Justice, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, NC Council of Churches, NC Peace & Justice Coalition, Quaker House - Fayetteville, United for Peace and Justice, and Veterans For Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11 am at the Cumberland County Health Center (227 Fountainhead Lane). At 12 noon, march to Rowan Street Park (Rowan Ave and Woodside) for a rally from 1-4 pm.

OHIO
Cincinnati
UCAWC, IJPC, ISO, CAIR-Cincy Chapter, Moms + Dads 4 Peace, Cincinnatians 2 Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Peace Seekers, Women in Black, Bring The War Home Collective, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm for a rally and march at Fountain Square

Columbus
Central Ohio Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm at The West Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse (corners of Broad St. & High St. Broad and High St.)~ ~ ~ ~ ~Feeder march to Columbus rally:Network of Ohio State University and High School groups
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 12noon at Goodale Park in the Short North, feeder march to Columbus rally taking place at 1 pm at the West Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse (see above)

Dayton
September 11 Coalition
gDATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 6:30pm at Courthouse Sq. (Third & Main Sts.)

Lima
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: Gather at 2pm at Lima Sq.

Tiffin
Tiffin Area Pax Christi
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12noon -1pm "White Ribbon for Peace" rally to stand with our brothers and sisters around the world in the name of peace. Encircle the Seneca County Courthouse with a 1/3 mile longe white ribbon.

Wilmington
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 3-4pm at Fife Ave & College St. for a silent vigil

Youngstown
Valley Coalition for Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12noon, Federal Courthouse, across from Mahoning County Courthouse, downtown Youngstown, on Market St. Speakers include Kevin Benderman, currently being court-martialed as a conscientious objector; Monica Benderman; members of military families against the war; and others.

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City
Spriitual Walk for Peace
gDATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2-5pm, Rally for peace and to send the troops home in Memorial Park at NW 36th and Western. There will be music, dancing and brief messages. Several organizations will have booths.

OREGON
Corvallis
Alternatives to War
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11:30 am at the waterfront at the base of the bridge, the white ribbon march will walk through town and end at the Court House Lawn, with respectful mourning for the dead in this war and a commitment to end it.

Cottage Grove
Stand For Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11am for a procession through town to National Guard Armory

Portland
Codepink
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 10am teach-in, 2pm march PSU for teach-in, march from nearby location

PENNSYLVANIA
Allentown/Emmausthe Lehigh Valley Peace Coalition: Pax Christi
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT:- 12:30 - 1:30 pm: War Hurts Us All, Community Vigils For Peace at many locations throughout the Lehigh Valley.- 2:00 - 4:00 pm: Rally For Peace with Speakers & Music at Wesley United Methodist Church (2540 Center St., Bethlehem, about 2 miles south of Rt. 22). Please bring homemade cookies to share or a small donation for refreshments.

Bellefonte
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 7pm in Talleyrand Park, 320 West High St. and Route 150 We plan to light more than 1500 candles in memory of the American-led coalition forces, reporters, and countless Iraqis who have died as a result of the war.

Bethlehemthe
Lehigh Valley Peace Coalition: Pax Christi
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT:- 12:30 - 1:30 pm: War Hurts Us All, Community Vigils For Peace at many locations throughout the Lehigh Valley.- 2:00 - 4:00 pm: Rally For Peace with Speakers & Music at Wesley United Methodist Church (2540 Center St., Bethlehem, about 2 miles south of Rt. 22). Please bring homemade cookies to share or a small donation for refreshments.

Kutztown
Kutztown Area Democratic Club
gDATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 6:30 PM, Vigil starting at Kutztown Park and marching to the Kutztown Area Democratic Club headquarters for refreshments and discussion

Lancaster
Lancaster Coalition for Peace & Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm at Penn Square (538 W. Chestnut St.) followed by a town meeting from 2:15 to 4pm. Followed by a Candlelight Vigil 7:30-8:30pm at the courthouse steps, E. King

Lewisburg
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12:00-1:00, Post Office at 3rd & Market Streets. Solemn vigil remembering those who have died and been maimed and calling for an end to the war.

Pittsburgh
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 2:30pm at the corner of Forbes & Murray ave. in Squirrel Hill

RHODE ISLAND
Providence
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12noon - 4pm at War Memorial Park. March to Congregationalist Beneficent Church (Weybosset St.) for rally


SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston
Thinking People & Wake Up and Act
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 2-5pm at Marion Square in downtown (between King and Meeting Streets, on Calhoun Street).

SOUTH DAKOTA
Sioux Falls
South Dakota Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 1-3pm in front of Federal Courthouse (400 S Philips Ave)

TENNESSEE
Knoxville
Knox Area Coalition for Compassion
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 11-2pm at West Town Mall (Kingston Pike & Morrell Rd). Bring signs!

Memphis
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
S. Cooper. We will march through midtown to Overton Park where there will be a Rally at Veterans Plaza.


Nashville
Nashville Peace & Justice Center
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 12-2pm at West End Avenue (along Centennial Park)

TEXAS
Austin
Austin Against War
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 12:30pm at the Federal Building Plaza (9th & San Jacinto) march at 1:30pm to the new City Hall for a rally and concert

Dallas
Share International
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 10am-2pm at Lovers Ln. & Greenville Ave (5740 E Lovers Ln)

Denton
American Friends Service Committee
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11:00 AM, On the Square (110 West Hickory St.)

El Paso
Pax Christi El Paso
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11am-1pm, Corner of Wyoming & Mesa St.

Ft. Worth
Peace Action Tarrant County, AFSC
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon-5pm, Trinity Park Pavilion (715 Trinity Park Dr., South of 7th St., at Trinity Park Blvd, Across from the old Montgomery Wards building). Bring some food for a lunch on the lawn with live music at 12 Noon and bring an instrument or a sign for the march and to jam after the rally!

Galveston
Galveston Peace Action Network
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 1pm in front of the local US Army Recruiting Center (Seawall Blvd & 41st St.)

UTAH
Salt Lake City
Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 1:00 PM, Wallace F Bennett Federal Building. Gather at the Federal Bldg for a march through downtown Salt Lake City. Meet at the City-County Bldg (451 S State St.) at 2pm for a rally with local music and diverse speakers.

VERMONT
Rutland
Central Vermont Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 3 til 5 pm at RTE 4 and 7, Rutland Vermont (Main St Park by visitors center)


VIRGINIA
Augusta
Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at from 12noon - 1 pm at the Augusta County Court House

Floyd
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12 noon until 1 pm, Floyd County Courthouse, Please bring signs with messages of peace. This event will show our solidarity with vigils & protests that will be happening worldwide on the 2nd anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

WASHINGTON
Olympia
Olympia Code Pink
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11am at the Capitol Campus Tivoli Fountain followed by a march to Sylvester Park. The march begins at 12:40pm.

Seattle CONTACT: 206-568-1661
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Call for details


WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
West Virginia Patriots for Peace
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Davis Park, 301 Capitol Street (btwn Lee and Capitol in downtown Charleston). Join our gathering as we raise our voices through music, poetry, and speakers, including author Denise Giardina. To remember the dead, we will have the Wall of Remembrance. "Peace is in our Hands" for kids.

Martinsburg
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather from 4-7pm at 224 West King Street


WISCONSIN
AppletonFox Valley Peace Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Corner of College Ave. & Appleton St., Rally from 11-12, music at Harmony Cafe 12-2

Madison
Madison Area Peace Groups
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: Gather at 11:30am for a rally to mark the second anniversary of the Iraq conflict in Reindahl Park on the corner of Portage Rd and East Washington. Bring banners, signs and people.

Minocqua
DATE: Sunday, March 20
EVENT: 12 Noon to 1 p.m., Meet in the Intersection of Hwy.51 and Hwy.70 (Park in the lot by The Associated Bank and Hardee's). Bring signs stating that you want peace. And we will demonstrate by the highway in front of The Associated Bank and Hardee's.

Rice Lake
Woodland Women in Black,
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 11am -1pm, Holsum Park, Main Street (by bridge), make our message shown along the main street where the power of the people to protest war is most visible and needed.

Viroqua
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 2:30pm, Veteran's Memorial (Main St. and Terhune), a vigil will be held at the Memorial with workshops afterwards across the street

Wisconsin Dells
Bring Them Home Now Coalition
DATE: Saturday, March 19
EVENT: 6:00 PM, Main Street at the Essen House, 414

Market rights are human rights!

Goli Ameri was appointed by Bush as a delegate to UN Human Rights Commission. Ameri is a hard-core pro-war republican Iranian-American from Oregan who ran for Congress last year and lost. She is the founder of e-Tinium, a telecommunications market research firm.
On Saturday, among the bulk of emails from a mailing list, I saw an email, in which Ameri has announced the "honor" with which our community is blessed! Today, I read the letter a member of this list has sent to Ameri. I thought this person's questions were quite valid and that is why I am posting her letter to Ameri here.

[POST-SCRIPT: THE TRANSCRIPT WAS REMOVED PER AUTHOR'S REQUEST. AMERI'S PRESS RELEASE DOES APPEAR HERE, HOWEVER.]

Isn't it ironic the way human rights, interests of the market, and U.S. multi-culturalism are linked together?
Here is Ameri's email and press release:

"Dear Friends,
I am proud to present you this press release, which is an honor for the Iranian-American community and a testament to our civic involvement in this wonderful country. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Goli Ameri Appointed by President Bush as one of Three Public Delegates to the UN Human Rights Commission
March 10, 2005
Office: 503 968-8437

Goli Ameri has been appointed by President George W. Bush as one of three public delegates to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The 2005 meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights will take place March 14 through April 22 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The US delegation is headed by former Senator Rudy Boschwitz who has been nominated by the White House for the position of Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). Senator Boschwitz served in the US Senate from 1978-1991. Former Ambassadors to the UNCHR include Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick who served in the Geneva post in 2003.

"The United States wants the Commission to better fulfill its mandate to strengthen human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world. I am honored to have been appointed by the president and to represent the United States on the Commission," said Goli Ameri former Republican nominee for Congress in Oregon's first district. "I look forward to actively participating in the upcoming session."

The Commission's annual meeting is an opportunity to focus attention on countries where there are significant human rights problems. The US delegation is also committed to promoting democracy worldwide. In this regard, the United States plans to work with other countries to encourage discussion of ways that the Commission can foster reform in nations that are determined to advance democracy and human rights.

Ms. Goli Ameri is the first Iranian-American to receive a Presidential appointment to this post."

March 19th

As we approach March 19th, the 2nd anniversary of the attack on Iraq, I am going to post the events where Iranians will gather to participate in anti-war demonstartions.
Here is one:

Dear friends,
March 19th 2005, marks the 2nd anniversary of the military occupation of Iraq by the United States. In finding a united voice against this bloody occupation and the aggressive course of actions voiced by the Bush administration against Iran and the Middle East, ANSWER Coalition has organized a day of protest on Saturday, March 19th.
As Iranians living in the US in these troubled times, this march presents us with an opportunity to come together as a community to form an Iranian contingent with a united voice against war and military occupation.
Join the Iranian contingent by locating the following banners at Dolores Park (18th and Dolores, San Francisco)
Iranians Against Military Intervention And Occupation
U.S. out of the Middle East!
No to U.S. Aggression Against!
Iran's National Sovereignty!
No To Theocracy In Iran!
Date: March 19th 2005
Place: Dolores Park, San FranciscoTime: 11 am
Sent by-- Enayat Katouli

The art of managing the "criminal"

It seems like the U.S. has produced way too many criminals and as a part of the program to export "democracy," "criminals" from Guantanamo Bay are being exported as well. To where? To Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and other places where they "come from." Of course, these have to be countries with which we have good relations, or it won't work. Never mind the human rights abuses in prisons of these countries! I guess, if they torture them, then we don't have to worry about making up excuses the way we did in the Abu-Gharib case. It is their problem now!
Come to think of it, it all works out well. Because if these "renditions" mean that there is a slight chance that these prisoners may be released from prisons in other countries, then we have a guaranteed threat for life, without being blamed for inadequecy in our "security" systems... Which means that we can have an on-going "war on terror"! We can keep searching for them and post their images on the "most-wanted" lists, and when we think it is a good time to attack, we can "smoke them out" by bombing and occupying where we suspect these "enemies" of "democracy" may be hiding! What a brilliant plan. Kudos to the evil minds that are out there to fight "evil"!
Read about the management of 'criminals' here.

misplaced comments

I put Haloscan, but the comments show above the previous post. I have to leave the house now, but I will fix the problem soon. Sorry about the confusion!
Sima

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P.S.
O.K. It is fixed. Unfortunately, the blogger comments from before won't show any longer. But at least I have a functioning commenting system!

Why should soldiers die?

The following is a part of the letter that Cindy Sheehan, the mother of the 24-year old soldier, Casey Austin Sheehan who was killed in Iraq last year, has written to Truthout's William Pitt. Cindy Sheehan is the co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.
I think this letter shows that despite the attempts of American nationalism to limit women to subject positions of patriotic mother and wife, many women in the U.S. are actively participating in anti-war political activism that puts the myth of "one nation united against terror" in crisis.
The link is from truthout.org.

"And, most importantly and devastatingly, this war is based on lies and betrayals. Not one American soldier, nor one Iraqi should have been killed. Common sense would dictate that not one more person should be killed for lies. One of the people, my son, was more than enough for me and my family. I will live in unbearable pain until I die. First of all, because my first born was killed violently, and second of all, because he was killed for a neo-con agenda that only benefits a very chosen few in this world. This agenda and their war machine will chew up and spit out as many of our children as they can unless we stop them now...
In 1967 it was recognized by our government officials that Viet Nam was unwinnable...I don't even know how many more of our troops and innocent Vietnamese were killed before we finally pulled out in 1975. Please use your forum to expose the lies and the devastation this invasion/occupation is causing. We should not stay. We should not let Israel/USA invade Syria or Iran. The consequences of this would be too shocking to even contemplate.In addition, my family and my group are offended by hearing this administration say that our troops have to remain in Iraq and complete "the mission" to honor our loved one's sacrifices. First of all, no one can explain the mission to us and we don't want any more innocent blood spilled just because it is too late for our soldiers and our families."

commenting crisis

My last post generated so much response (43 comments!). The only problem is that all responses are from poor David, who tried to leave one comment and for some strange reason his comment ended up multiplying. I tried to delete them, but it takes for ever to go through them one by one. I think I may have to do what I did for my Farsi blog, which is to use another service. This means that comments from previous points will not show. But, I think I need to have a user-friendly commenting system here.
To David, I am sorry that you were the one who had to experience the bug in my system. I have responded to your comments- all 43 of them ;-) - via email.
It is very sunny and nice outside. A friend of mine came to visit from Los Angeles and was staying with me this weekend. I think she brought the sun and left it here. It is such a shame to stay indoors working when it is so beautiful outside.
In any case, it seems like Iran does not appear as much in the news these days. I think this may be related to a "classified" report that an intelligence panel is supposed to submit to Bush at the end of March. I have to admit, I am scared of what might come out of this manufactured report. But, let's hope for the best.

International Women's Day

It has been a long time since I have written for this blog. Since it is the International Women's day, I thought I cannot skip writing today. Frankly, it seems a bit odd to designate one day out of a whole year to women, as if the remaining 364 days belong to men. In a sense, this form of creating "special days" also creates "special" populations who stand outside the norm (but I also understand that they give visibility to the "marginalized").
In any case, since I have been pre-occupied with the issue of war these days, and since in the class I teach, we are discussing gender and nationalism tonight, I should introduce a great book that came out in 2004 (Palgrave MacMillan). I have assigned two chapters of this book as a part of tonight's discussion and highly recommend it to those of you who are interested in issues of nationalism and militarism. The book is called the Myth of the Military Nation: Militarism, Gender, and Education in Turkey. The author, Ayse Gul Altinay does a great job discussing the making of the myth of the "military nation" in modern Turkey and analyzes its role in the formation of gendered national identities. She shows that since the 19th century, feminism and nationalism (be it in the context of the Ottoman Empire or the Turkish nation-state) have worked together, and that militarization has been a disciplining, masculinizing, and nationalizing process in Turkey.
Speaking of militarization, I would like to post a piece that was circulated immediately after September 11, 2001 by a group of feminist scholars (some of whom are my former professors). This piece was initially circulated on-line, but was later published in the Meridians 2.2 Spring 2002. This is one of the best analyses I have seen on the "war on terrorism." If you have not read it before, you may find it very relevant to the issues we are facing today. Here is the piece called Transnational Feminist Practices Against War, by Paola Bacchetta, Tina Campt, Inderpal Grewal, Caren Kaplan, Minoo Moallem, and Jennifer Terry (October 2001). Click on the text to read the whole thing.


"As feminist theorists of transnational and postmodern cultural formations, we believe that it is crucial to seek non-violent solutions to conflicts at every level of society, from the global, regional, and national arenas to the ordinary locales of everyday life. We offer the following response to the events of September 11 and its aftermath:
First and foremost, we need to analyze the thoroughly gendered and racialized effects of nationalism, and to identify what kinds of inclusions and exclusions are being enacted in the name of patriotism. Recalling the histories of various nationalisms helps us to identify tacit assumptions about gender, race, nation, and class that once again play a central role in mobilization for war. We see that instead of a necessary historical, material, and geopolitical analysis of 9-11, the emerging nationalist discourses consist of misleading and highly sentimentalized narratives that, among other things, reinscribe compulsory heterosexuality and the rigidly dichotomized gender roles upon which it is based. A number of icons constitute the ideal types in the drama of nationalist domesticity that we see displayed in the mainstream media. These include the masculine citizen-soldier, the patriotic wife and mother, the breadwinning father who is head of household, and the properly reproductive family. We also observe how this drama is racialized. Most media representations in the US have focused exclusively on losses suffered by white, middle-class heterosexual families even though those who died or were injured include many people of different races, classes, sexualities, and religions and of at least 90 different nationalities. Thus, an analysis that elucidates the repressive effects of nationalist discourses is necessary for building a world that fosters peace as well as social and economic justice."