[Peace] The World Erupts in Hope (fwd)

[patton paul]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: SUN, 16 FEB 2003 04:55:31 -0400
From: VoteNoWar at InternationalAnswer.org
Reply-To: Info at VoteNoWar.org
To: ppatton at uiuc.edu
Subject: The World Erupts in Hope

Dear VoteNoWar Member:

People around the world defied their borders, defied false
divisions, and defied the Bush administration's demands for
obedience, to join together in city after city as millions
marched around the world today to say "No War Against Iraq."
As the day began in the earliest time zones, hundreds of
thousands took to the streets in a wave of protest that
spanned the entire world throughout the day.

     (Photo: http://www.votenowar.
org/img/ap_shawn_baldwin_2.jpg)

It is one of the great ironies of recent history that the
Bush administration's efforts to seize the world by force,
its arrogant, bullying and dangerous efforts to wage a
catastrophic war of aggression against Iraq, are now the
catalyst to a global anti-war movement unlike anything that
has existed for three decades -- that is, since the close of
the Vietnam War. The extremist policies of Bush, in service
of his corporate backers, are now engendering a global
resistance movement that is stepping forward to demand an
end to militarist domination and asserting the right of
people to live in peace with justice and self-determination.
And the sheer mass of people deciding that this was their
time to speak out is a message of hope that is embraced by
all.

Large anti-war demonstrations took place in most of the
major cities of the world. All told, more than 600 cities
and towns were the scene of vibrant protests. In the United
States, most of the major anti-war coalitions fully
mobilized for the February 15 actions.

     (Photo: http://www.votenowar.
org/img/ap_shawn_baldwin_1.jpg)

In New York City, the people defied police refusal to grant
a march permit by turning the upper east side broad
boulevards into a sea of humanity. Hundreds of thousands
filled First Avenue, Second Avenue and Third Avenue. On
First Avenue the rally stretched from 52nd St. past 80th St.
Second and Third Avenues, and even over to Lexington Avenue,
were clogged with demonstrators who were prevented by police
barricades and checkpoints from reaching the main assembly
site. The police also used horses, clubs and pepper spray to
carry out assaults against peaceful protesters. The National
Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee reports that over 320
people have been arrested, and that many are being held in
tight handcuffs without access to water, food or bathroom
facilities.

Demonstrations took place in scores of cities throughout
the United States. In Los Angeles, 100,000 demonstrated in
the largest anti-war protest in many years. 5,000 marched in
Houston, 7,000 in Chicago, more than 7,000 in Sacramento,
thousands marched in San Jose and Detroit. In San Francisco,
the demonstration is taking place on Sunday, February 16.

Internationally, the demonstrations included some of the
biggest ever. The original call for the February 15
demonstrations came from the European anti-war movement. In
London, the demonstration was nearly two million according
to march organizers. Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle
East, and Australia all protested. Millions more marched
throughout Europe -- in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin,
Rome, Amsterdam and throughout the continent. In Damascus,
200,000 marched. Tens of thousands marched in Buenos Aires.
In Toronto, 80,000 took to the streets.

Please send us reports and photos (to
VoteNoWar at InternationalAnswer.org) about the actions in your
town or city so that we can tell all the VoteNoWar members
about each others' efforts.

--->Take it to the White House
On March 1, there will be an Emergency Convergence on the
White House in Washington DC. As George Bush evaluates
whether he can defy the will of the people and plunge ahead
with his criminal war plans, it is time for the people of
the U.S. to take it back to the White House and make it
clear that he can not proceed on this path. At the White
House convergence on March 1, thousands of people will
demand No War on Iraq. They will also call for George Bush
to be impeached for crimes committed in planning and
executing war abroad and assaulting constitutionally
protected civil rights and civil liberties at home. Please
help us to build this event. To make a tax deductible
donation by credit card online, or to make a contribution by
check, visit http://www.votenowar.org/donate.html .

Congratulations to all the VoteNoWar members who did their
part to make the February 15th international day of actions
such an historic event.

In Solidarity,

All of Us at VoteNoWar.org

--> The pdf flyer for the March 1 Convergence on the White
House is now available!
The front side of the flyer is at:  http://www.votenowar.
org/pdf/0301flyer.pdf
The back side of the flyer is at: http://www.votenowar.
org/pdf/m1back.pdf


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