| March 19, 2008 |
Photos courtesy of Anita Stewart, Joo Lee & Marianne Huber |
250 People Rally in Tampa, FL
Tampa streets came
alive with people that the US government and controlled
media can no longer consider "fringe." The majority of American people
don't support the war and insist that our government bring U.S.
soldiers back from Iraq. After 5 years of war, it was again time for
this message to be heard by our leaders. READ MORE
A meeting was scheduled with Senator Nelson
to let him know that his decisions and votes do not represent the will
of the people. The Senator's assistant was fully engaged in the
conversation, took notes, asked questions and assured us that she would
make sure the Senator would know what we discussed and that the
questions we had for him would be followed up.
People of many faiths, the old, young, college students, families, even
doggies for peace (one had a sweater embellished with ALL WE NEED IS
LOVE!) were all there. "V”, a Bush-masked protester with
blood on his hands, Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, members of CAIR and
the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Pax Christi, and other participating
organizations were also present.
Some of the young people chalked the sidewalk in front of the federal
courthouse then moved across the street to chalk up a huge wall, the
length of the city block with some very cool graffiti. There were
singers and guitarists, chanting, drumming and people just communing
with one another in peace, love and fellowship. Photographers dashed in
and out of the crowd trying to get their perfect shots. Organizers
chanted on the bullhorns and got the others chanting back and forth. At
one count there were 250 people lined up on both sides of the street.
Some of the older children, covered in fake blood, laid down as if dead
on a makeshift memorial to demonstrate the human cost of war. As
Citizens for a Legitimate Government stated, “The British polling
firm Opinion Research Business (ORB) asked 1,720 Iraqi adults last
summer if they had lost family members by violence since 2003; 16% had
lost one, and 5% two. Using the 2005 census total of 4,050,597
households in Iraq, this suggests 1,220,580 deaths since the invasion."
This number doesn’t include the almost 4,000 American
soldiers (official count) of those who died in battle. For the real
American body count, one would have to include the numbers of the
wounded who died later and those who committed suicide as a result of
the emotional and mental trauma they suffered. The numbers of the dead
the mainstream media give us are skewed!
You and your family are paying dearly for this war! As of right now,
this war has cost EACH AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD $16,000! It is time that the
truth about this war is told to the American people. If the media will
not do it, WE WILL by becoming the media ourselves. Spread the word
about this unjust war to your family, friends, and colleagues. Blog,
email, join online forums and stay busy expressing your views to anyone
that will listen. Never give up! We can DO THIS! |
75 People Rally in Brooksville, FL
Citizens
from around the Tampa Bay area gathered at the office of Rep. Ginny
Brown-Waite in Brooksville to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the
war and occupation of Iraq.
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VIEW AS SLIDESHOW
As mainstream media gives about 3% of
their time to the war in Iraq, we the people were compelled to bring
awareness to our fellow citizens of the true cost of the war in Iraq.
Boots and children’s shoes were placed on the courthouse steps to
symbolize the loss of American and Iraqi lives. A representation of a
slaughtered Iraqi family with Bush and Cheney hovering over them with
signs that read “Mission Accomplished” and
“Collateral Damage: 1.2 Million” reminded the public that
Bush is commander in chief of deception, death and mayhem.
About 75 Demonstrators informed the public that more than a million
Iraqis have died, 4.3 million are displaced, 5 million children have
been orphaned and nearly 4000 American lives have been lost. Peace
activists shared the sidewalks with a small group of pro-war
demonstrators. Brown-Waite’s office gave no comment on the peace
demonstration or the 5th anniversary of the war, but did give the
pro-war demonstrators bottled water. After the demonstration people
gathered on the courthouse lawn for lunch then headed to Tampa for a
similar demonstration in front of Senator Nelson’s office at the
Federal Building.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS
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On March 19, 2003 the United
States launched an illegal and unjust war against the sovereign nation
of Iraq. This war has killed more than 1,000,000 Iraqi men, women, and
children by some estimates, and has displaced more than 4,000,000.
Almost 4,000 American soldiers have lost their lives, and at minimum
29,000 have been injured in an occupation that has lasted longer than
World War II, and could end up bankrupting the United States with an
estimated cost of over $3 trillion.
Around 70% of
Americans agree we must end this war, yet most of our elected officials
are turning a blind eye to the wishes of the American majority and the
plight of all Iraqis. It is our duty as citizens of the United
States to demand an end to the war and occupation of Iraq.
We Must Act Now
Join vets, military families, clergy, groups and individual citizens
from greater Tampa Bay as we rally in the streets/speak with government
officials and media in solidarity with citizens across the country and
around the globe on this tragic 5th anniversary of the invasion of
Iraq. Two locations:
- March 19, 11am-1pm. Outside of Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's office, 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville. (map). We will be placing men's boots and childrens shoes on the steps of the Brooksville Courthouse
to symbolize the loss of American and Iraqi lives. We need as many
pairs of boots and children's shoes as possible. Clean out your closet
and donate those old boots and children's shoes that haven't been worn
in years, or stop by a thrift store and pick up a pair or two. Also, bring a brown bag lunch to the action
and we will share a meal on the courthouse lawn after our
demonstration. It will be an opportunity to meet and network with other
activists, and rejuvenate ourselves for the action in Tampa. Cold
drinks and sandwiches to go are also available across the street from
the courthouse. Free parking available:
behind the courthouse (N. Broad Street); City Hall at W. Fort Dade and
N. Orange; Public Library on Howell; free parallel on both sides of the
street in front of the courthouse and along E. Fort Dade Street.
- March 19, 4pm-6pm Outside Sen. Bill Nelson's office at the Samm Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave, Tampa. (map). There
is ample street and garage parking around the courthouse.
There will be plenty of signs and banners available but feel free
to express yourself however you'd like. After the
rally, people will be getting together at Four Green Fields Irish pub (205 W. Platt Street - driving directions from rally) for dinner and beverages.
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Do you want to volunteer
to help organize? Or does your group want to be involved in the events
of March 19? Please contact info@5yearsofwar.org.
Otherwise, please RSVP to the same address if you're planning on
attending as an individual, and keep your eyes peeled on this website
for up to the minute details.
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THE ACTIONS IN THE TAMPA AREA WERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH ACTIONS
AROUND THE WORLD
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