Minneapolis, MN – Progressive activists from all over the country will attend an organizing conference here Feb. 9-10 to prepare for a national anti-war rally and march set for Sept. 1 – the first day of the Republican National Convention. The conference is hosted by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.

The message of the Sept. 1 demonstration will be: “U.S. out of Iraq now! Money for human needs, not for war! Say no to the Republican agenda! Demand peace, justice, and equality for all!” Nearly 100 organizations from across the U.S. have endorsed the call for the demonstration and the list is growing.

The Organizing Conference will bring together leaders from the anti-war, immigrant rights, labor and other progressive movements. Participants will continue working together after the conference to build a massive, united movement that challenges the Republicans in St. Paul and sends a clear anti-war message to the world.

National organizations planning to attend the conference include United for Peace and Justice, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, the Troops Out Now Coalition, the March 25 Immigrant Rights Coalition, Voices for Creative Nonviolence and Students for a Democratic Society.

“Many of the people attending the conference have organized demonstrations for tens of thousands in Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles,” said Meredith Aby of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. “We’re really excited to have so many experienced organizers in town to help us plan the Sept. 1 march.”

The conference will begin at Blegen Hall (269 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis) in room 10 on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m.

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