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Events Related to Fourth Anniversary of the
War in Iraq
Friday, March 16
Cooperstown 7 PM candlelight
vigil and silent procession, reading of names
This Friday, on the anniversary of four years of war in Iraq, there will
be a prayer service and candlelight vigil hosted by the Presbyterian Church in
Cooperstown. It will begin in the church chapel (corner of Church and Pioneer
Streets) at 7 PM with a prayer service, followed by a silent candlelight procession
through town. Some will remain in the chapel during the procession and
begin the reading of names of American soldiers who have died in the war, and
there will also be commemoration of the thousands of Iraqi dead. When the
procession returns, the name reading will continue. Church members have
said that some may remain in an all-night vigil at the church.
Sat, March 17
March on the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. - carpooling locally
to Washington (most people leaving Friday, returning Sunday)
Cherry Valley 11:55 AM gather
for vigil
Some people find it hardest to stand in their own town but we will be standing
with friends and as friends, not adversaries. If people are interested in talking
more about nonviolence we can find a way to start a discussion.
Sadly we are approaching the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war. We
will vigil on Sat March 17th in downtown Cherry Valley stretching from the traffic
light up Main Street. We will meet at 11:55 and start at noon, ending at about
12:15 or 12:30 depending on the how cold it is, and how many people we have to
stretch our line. . How much longer will we be at war? Until we recognize our
power to end it. Most of the young men and women who volunteered for military
service did it out of altruism. And some because of economic necessity. Our stand
is not to dishonor them, we will welcome them home with love. Please pass
this on.
Delhi Noon -1 PM vigil
on the square, downtown Delhi
Norwich Noon - 1 PM vigil
at the corner of Broad St. and Rt. 12
We will protest as usual on Sat., the 17th. when colleagues are at the DC march. All
events are staged downtown (Rt. 12/ Broad St.) along the street immediately along
the west park, center Norwich, in front of the Chen. Co. Courthouse. Please
join us for making these public peace community statements. Folks
who care to, go to lunch together for some comradery afterwards. Peace,
Chris Brunner 607-334-6095
Utica 1 PM
The “March 17 Mohawk Valley Coalition” plans to hold an outdoor peace
rally titled “March out of Iraq”on Sat March 17, 2007 at the Utica
Rec Center (intersection of Elm St and the Memorial Parkway) at 1pm. The
intent of this rally is to show solidarity with groups that are marching that
day in Washington to keep pressure on the Congress to bring troops home NOW. It
is also the 4th anniversary of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. Coalition
building and networking are encouraged -- join us – bring literature
and card tables. For more information contact Mary Cosgrove at 315-853-2366.
Sun, March 18
Oneonta Noon - 1 PM silent
walk starting at Main St Plaza
A silent walk in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war will
be held in downtown Oneonta this coming Sunday from noon to 1 PM. Those
who would like to participate are invited to gather on Main Street plaza at noon,
and the event will kick off from there. We will walk in silence on the
sidewalks of central Oneonta in commemoration of all who have died in this war
and call for the immediate and safe withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Walkers
will be carrying a large banner. All who are interested are welcome to
join. Please wear black or dark clothing if possible. For more info:
263-5817. The event has been organized by the Iraq/Iran group of the Coalition
for Democracy of Central New York.
Cooperstown 2 PM Town
Meeting at Templeton Hall
Group to Hold Town Meeting on the Impeachment of Bush and Cheney
Cooperstown, NY--The Cooperstown Peace Corps will sponsor a Town Meeting on the
question of the impeachment of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney on the
4th anniversary of the war in Iraq at 2 pm on Sunday, 18 March, 2007, at Templeton
Hall, 63 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY. The public is invited.
The group will present a resolution calling for the impeachment of the president
and vice-president and ask for supporting signatures. The resolution with
signatures will be forwarded to the two Representatives in Congress from Otsego
County, Michael Arcuri (24th CD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (20th CD). The
group will also ask for further signatures to an Open Letter to Arcuri and Gillibrand,
which recently appeared in local newspapers, urging them to take steps to stop
the war now. There will be an opportunity for public comment.
“Impeachment is the only way to make Bush and Cheney accountable for unleasing
an immoral and illegal war against Iraq,” said one organizer, Adrian Kuzminski
of Fly Creek, “and for their assults against constitutional and civil liberties
at home. Unless Bush and Cheney are impeached, future presidents and vice-presidents
will be able to rule as dictators, bringing our republic to an end. Here's
a chance for people enraged with the administration to send a message to Congress
to begin impeachment proceedings at once.”
The group hopes that the town meeting will allow for an exchange of constructive
opinions on impeachment and the war, according to another organizer, Hilda Wilcox
of Cooperstown. “Our community has become increasingly polarized
over the war and administration policies,” Wilcox said. “We
present the impeachment resolution and the Open Letter to end the war now as
a basis for dialogue to bring people together, not to drive them further apart. We
may not always agree, but free discussion and mutual respect are essential to
any healthy democracy.”
Impeachment has become an issue at the grassroots level. The Otsego County
Democratic Committee established a subcommittee at their February meeting in
Cooperstown to draft an impeachment resolution for consideration by the committee. A
number of impeachment resolutions have been passed at the local level across
the country, including in a number of Vermont towns. Although Democrats
swept to victory in last fall’s congressional elections in a widely perceived
mandate to end the unpopular war in Iraq, their inability to follow through has
led many antiwar activists to shift to a demand for impeachment.
The Cooperstown Peace Corps, formally the Cooperstown Alternative Voice, has
sponsored films and other public events in recent years, including marches and
rallies on the occasions of the second and third anniversaries of the Iraq war,
in 2005 and 2006, and last fall before the elections.
Norwich 7 PM Candlelight
vigil
There will be a candlelight vigil (see above for location) in Norwich at 7 pm
on Sunday evening, March 18th, marking four years too long of war in Iraq; bring
the troops home now.
Mon, March 19
Many events in New York City
Binghamton
Wake up America!
Rally to mark the start of the fifth year of an unjust, illegal war
Broome County Peace Action
After a smaller presence on several high-visibility street corners and a rally
on Binghamton University campus earlier in the day, a major community rally will
beheld in downtown Binghamton on Monday, March 19th. The rally begins at
4:00 PM with a gathering at the Federal Building at 15 Henry St. featuring The
Puppetistas (stilt-walking, world famous creative folks involved in sociopolitical
actions). We will have available an assortment of posters and banners proclaiming
our opposition to the Iraq war and to the all too-familiar signs of preparation
for another such war against Iran. Or, you can bring your own favorite
posters.
At about 4:30 there will be a noisy Wake up America march from the Federal building,
through downtown, past the government plaza on Hawley Street, winding back to
the Federal Building. People are encouraged to bring pots and pans with
spoons for banging on them, or drums or other noisemakers. Back at the
Federal Building we will have a microphone and invite the group to participate
in reading a litany of lies and crimes, with a call to end them. The rally is
expected to end about 5:30 PM. The Puppetistas will hold a workshop on
Sunday, March 18th, for anyone wanting to participate in the creation of large
puppets and/or other eye-catching visuals for use in the rallies. For details
you can call Ann Clune at 607 773-0246. Anyone willing to participate in
one of the small street-corner “human billboards” at a high-visibility
street corner sometime earlier in the day on Monday, March 19th to alert the
public and encourage people to come to the rally, should call Ann Clune at 607-773-0246.
Utica 7 PM candlelight
vigil
In front of the state office building on Genesee Street in Utica
207 Genesee Street
A bring your own candlelight vigil. We will light the way to peace.
Address: 207 Genesee Street
Location: Utica, NY 13501
This is a MoveOn organized event.
Tues, March 20
SUNY Oneonta 2 PM Upper
quad
Spread the word, Student's Alternative Voice will be holding an Impeach President
Bush Rally on campus at the Upper Quad on March 20th from 2-3pm.
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