Say NO to three years of war today!

[katinmn]

Can you give an hour or two today to show that you oppose the war? The more of us that show up, the stronger message we'll send. Don't let this milestone pass by as just another day. If we don't show up, we're part of the problem!

There's so much to say about this administration's crimes against humanity, both here and abroad.

But I'll keep it simple. The Bush Government is killing and torturing in your name and in my name.



Relatives mourn near the bodies of children, reportedly killed in a U.S. raid, as they arrive in a hospital in Tikrit, 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, March 15,2006. Eleven people, most of them women and children were killed when a house was bombed during a U.S. raid north of Baghdad early Wednesday, police and relatives said. The U.S. military acknowledged four deaths in the raid that they said netted an insurgent suspect in the rural Isahaqi area, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital. (AP Photo/Bassim Daham)

[katinmn]

1. Iraq War Protests Attract Fewer People

This is international. The Minneapolis protest seemed a little larger than last year. Still disappointing numbers though.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_war_protests_9;_ylt=ArGu9idOyATxO8fwdUpnZ5bQ2wwi;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

LONDON - Thousands of people held anti-war demonstrations Saturday in global protests that marked the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq by demanding that coalition troops pull out.

But the demonstrations attracted less people than organizers had hoped.

In London, police said about 15,000 people joined a march from Parliament and Big Ben to a rally in Trafalgar Square, fewer than the 100,000 organizers had expected to attend.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I was there. The turnout was quite good, I thought,

but I'm terrible at estimating that sort of thing. There was a very encouraging aspect to this one, which was the large number of younger people. Most of these events have looked more like AARP conventions, but this time there was a good turnout of high school and college-age people. There was a sizeable group, maybe 75-100, I think mostly from one high school, all wearing yellow headbands. Maybe the kids have figured out that they are the ones who are going to have to live with the consequences of this clusterf*ck for a very, very long time -- and a draft could still happen. It was good to see.

But I'm still pissed off that after 35 years I still have to be protesting this crap!

[seg4527]

4. that was youth against war and racism

Us campus groups have been organizing with them for the citywide walkouts. They are really passionate, educated, and energetic kids. We got 2,000 students from High Schools and campus last November, and we think we might get double that this April.

I do think that my generation is waking up to this. I was standing by these other college kids, and somebody called him and wanted him to come to a party or something, and he said "I can't, I'm at this anti-war protest."

Sorry I missed you, Kat. It was kind of a weird place to have a rally.

[katinmn]

7. I watched for you. I met Ty of YAWR.

Sought him out even. He's doing a great job. He pointed into the crowd and said you were "over there" but couldn't find you.

I marched in the front behind the banner. Got some pics from the bridge by the Guthrie.

I, too, was impressed by the number of students today!
Good day.

Coming up to the bridge (overpass)

Looking the other way from the overpass

[seg4527]

11. ty is a workhorse

I'm pretty sure that he's a fulltime activist, but I'm not positive, that's just what I gather from other people.

Your pictures aren't showing up for me. Is there any way you could e-mail them to me? I'll pm you my address.

[HopeFor2006]

12. I wish I could have been there

And praying that it won't be necessary next year.

[seg4527]

3. i was actually surprised at how many people were there

because it didn't seem like a lot of organizing was done around it, although being on campus all of the time i sometimes get out of the loop of how the other groups are mobilizing.

we had a great youth bloc, I didn't really do a head count, but we had at the absolute least 50, and it wasn't publicized at all. We marched through Calhoun Square on our way to the main rally, which was really cool. Storming buildings is always fun.

They actually had more cop cars (that i saw) for the youth bloc than the for the bigger rally. Shows who they are scared of. ;)

The protest also seemed a lot more energetic than last year. I've heard good things coming from SF and NYC too elsewhere on DU.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Did you notice the little cluster of sorry-ass freepers

on the other side of the street in front of the old library? Maybe 5 or 6 fat white people. Wonder how they felt about being outnumbered by 400:1.
That one fat lady kept yelling "God bless George Bush." Sad.

[seg4527]

6. yeah, i saw them

At the walkout last semester there was a similar sized and looking group "guarding" the recruitment center from us (granted, we were a lot more rowdy than the protest was today, and some kids did attempt to take it over).

Did they actually give any crowd estimates in the church? I caught a bus home right after the march. And they just said "hundreds" on the news, which is misleading, because that can mean anywhere from 200 to 100,000 in media talk, and we obviously weren't either of those.

[katinmn]

8. Ho-humness accompanies news coverage - what's one more year?

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/315966.html
Worldwide protests as war enters 4th year
Demonstrations demanded that all troops be withdrawn.

In Minneapolis, protesters took up half of Hennepin Avenue as they marched from Lagoon Avenue in Uptown to the Basilica of St. Mary at the edge of downtown, waving signs with slogans such as "Impeach Bush" and "Support Our Troops. Bring Them Home Now!" Police estimated there were 3,500 marchers; march organizers put the number at about 4,200.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/14133434.htm
Protesters rail against Iraq warDemonstration marks war's third year

Organizers said about 3,000 Minnesotans rallied Saturday in Minneapolis to protest the U.S. war in Iraq, with many saying that as the third anniversary of the invasion approaches, apathy has become their second front.

[Zookeeper]

9. 4,000 is a very respectable number!

Mr. Z. brought the Strib to what felt like my deathbed this morning and I was thrilled to see such a big turnout. I wish I could have been there. (Zoodaughter came in, looked at me and said, "Mom, you look TERRIBLE!!!" Thanks, kid.)

[dpbrown]

10. More pictures of the Minnesota Protest

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/18/22474/4510

Way to go, Minnesota!!!!