Saturday
Oct. 11th
March & Rally
Boston Common
Beacon & Charles St.
Music starts @ 11 am
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October 11th Mobilizing Committee
Endorsers
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Update 10/12/2008:
Upwards of 1,000 March Against Wars Boston Concert and Rally Draws Young and Energized Crowd, Part of a National Day of Coordinated Anti-War Actions in Twenty Cities Across the Country Students from dozens of Boston area campuses joined with military families and veterans, and several hundred peace and justice activists from throughout New England for an all-day concert, rally, and march on Boston Common Saturday, October 11. United around a call to "Stand Up for Peace in the Middle East" and "Stop the Wars," the crowd gathered to mark six years since Congress voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq. Just weeks before the U.S. Presidential election, the demonstration gave voice to the growing public opposition to the occupation of Iraq, and vowed to continue organizing a sustained and powerful movement for peace and justice. Connecting the catastrophic costs of the wars, now estimated at more than $1 trillion, to the country's growing economic crisis, demonstrators led by Honkfest marched through downtown Boston chanting "They Want Bailout - We Want Troops Out." Speakers at the rally called for an end to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and highlighted both the human toll on and the growing resistance among active duty soldiers and young veterans. "In growing numbers, soldiers in Iraq are seeking ways to speak out about the realities of this disastrous occupation," explained Carlos Harris, former US Army specialist. "We had with us today several active duty soldiers leading the march and a former staff sergeant speaking out powerfully from the stage. Military personnel need to know they do have the right to speak out and the American public needs to hear what they have to say." The rally speakers, which also included City Council Chuck Turner and Gold Star parents Carlos and Melida Arredondo, were joined by more than a dozen performing artists spanning genres from folk to funk and hip hop. There was a positive mood throughout the day, with many families in attendance, and passersby stopping along the Boston Common Parade Grounds to pick up educational literature, sign petitions, buy buttons and bumper stickers, and get involved with the dozens of grassroots groups tabling at the festival. The event was peaceful with no problems or incidents reported. Links to other news coverage of the event: Boston Globe Boston Herald Boston Indy Media ---------------------------------------------- Stand Up for Peace in the Middle East BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! On October 11, 2002 Congress approved the "Iraq War Resolution" granting the Bush administration authorization to invade Iraq. Six years later, 1 in 3 Iraqis have been killed, wounded, or displaced. Over 4000 U.S. soldiers have been killed with tens of thousands more seriously wounded. How many more billions will be looted from vital social needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, disaster relief or libraries, firehouses, childcare, or Social Security? Join us to demand:
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