CHICAGO/TORONTO: CPTers commemorate fifth anniversary of Iraq War
March 24th, 2008
CPTnet
24 March 2008
CHICAGO/TORONTO: CPTers commemorate fifth anniversary of Iraq War
CPTers around the world marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war (19 March 2008) in individual and group actions calling for an end to war and occupation.
Huntington, Indiana
CPTers joined a group of nineteen at a vigil in front of the courthouse. Two women with family members in Iraq shared stories of how the war has affected their families. Others read letters from veterans who had been in Iraq or Afghanistan. CPTers uplifted concerns for Iraqis and one CPTer shared about his experience in Baghdad as the bombs started falling five years ago.
Goshen, Indiana
A CPTer had been attending a weekly vigil at noon throughout March and on the anniversary of the war joined a church candlelight vigil with 300 others.
Chicago, Illinois
CPTers attended neighborhood vigils, joined massive marches of thousands of people, and committed civil disobedience. See http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/81773/index.php
Washington, DC
Earlier in the month, CPTers joined the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on 7-8 March. Participants worshipped together and rallied near the Senate buildings. About twenty participated in civil disobedience at one of the congressional office buildings.
London and Hastings, England
A CPTer took part in a large demonstration in London, and then days later took part in a hometown vigil in the centre of Hastings.
Brussels, Belgium
An Italian CPTer joined about 1000 people from seventeen European countries who went to the NATO headquarters in Brussels to join an international nonviolent action called "NATO GAME OVER." The action took place ten days before the Bucharest NATO summit. See http://www.vredesactie.be/index.php?lang=en
Athens, Ohio
Two CPTers who have served in Palestine and Iraq participated in two local vigils to commemorate the anniversary. Later, they both spoke at a local public forum about peace in the Middle East.
Brownsville, Texas
Along the US-Mexico border, a CPTer joined a vigil, prayer and march through town. See
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sections/video/
Amarillo, Texas,
A CPTer joined a silent, walking, prayer vigil for peace. Participants walked around the downtown area, stopping at various corners, their congressional representative's office, and at a "tank memorial" to put flowers on it as a sign to turn weapons into plows, or tanks into flower holders.
Portland, Oregon
A CPTer joined thousands of others who took to downtown streets, through rain and hail. One young boy stood at an intersection holding a sign that said, "This war is older than me." Another young child was riding in a red wagon with a rainbow umbrella and a sign saying, "War leaves every child behind."
San Leandro, California
A lone CPTer stood for two hours at the central intersection of his hometown with a large sign "Love Thy Enemy" and a photo of Tom Fox, a CPTer killed in Iraq in 2006. He explained, "I have come to believe that witnessing for peace as a group of one is more effective than in larger groups. We can cover many more intersections or towns, we are more approachable, and the vulnerability of standing alone carries a message of clarity, conviction and courage."
24 March 2008
CHICAGO/TORONTO: CPTers commemorate fifth anniversary of Iraq War
CPTers around the world marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war (19 March 2008) in individual and group actions calling for an end to war and occupation.
Huntington, Indiana
CPTers joined a group of nineteen at a vigil in front of the courthouse. Two women with family members in Iraq shared stories of how the war has affected their families. Others read letters from veterans who had been in Iraq or Afghanistan. CPTers uplifted concerns for Iraqis and one CPTer shared about his experience in Baghdad as the bombs started falling five years ago.
Goshen, Indiana
A CPTer had been attending a weekly vigil at noon throughout March and on the anniversary of the war joined a church candlelight vigil with 300 others.
Chicago, Illinois
CPTers attended neighborhood vigils, joined massive marches of thousands of people, and committed civil disobedience. See http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/81773/index.php
Washington, DC
Earlier in the month, CPTers joined the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on 7-8 March. Participants worshipped together and rallied near the Senate buildings. About twenty participated in civil disobedience at one of the congressional office buildings.
London and Hastings, England
A CPTer took part in a large demonstration in London, and then days later took part in a hometown vigil in the centre of Hastings.
Brussels, Belgium
An Italian CPTer joined about 1000 people from seventeen European countries who went to the NATO headquarters in Brussels to join an international nonviolent action called "NATO GAME OVER." The action took place ten days before the Bucharest NATO summit. See http://www.vredesactie.be/index.php?lang=en
Athens, Ohio
Two CPTers who have served in Palestine and Iraq participated in two local vigils to commemorate the anniversary. Later, they both spoke at a local public forum about peace in the Middle East.
Brownsville, Texas
Along the US-Mexico border, a CPTer joined a vigil, prayer and march through town. See
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sections/video/
Amarillo, Texas,
A CPTer joined a silent, walking, prayer vigil for peace. Participants walked around the downtown area, stopping at various corners, their congressional representative's office, and at a "tank memorial" to put flowers on it as a sign to turn weapons into plows, or tanks into flower holders.
Portland, Oregon
A CPTer joined thousands of others who took to downtown streets, through rain and hail. One young boy stood at an intersection holding a sign that said, "This war is older than me." Another young child was riding in a red wagon with a rainbow umbrella and a sign saying, "War leaves every child behind."
San Leandro, California
A lone CPTer stood for two hours at the central intersection of his hometown with a large sign "Love Thy Enemy" and a photo of Tom Fox, a CPTer killed in Iraq in 2006. He explained, "I have come to believe that witnessing for peace as a group of one is more effective than in larger groups. We can cover many more intersections or towns, we are more approachable, and the vulnerability of standing alone carries a message of clarity, conviction and courage."