The historic conference brought together the main centers of the anti-war movement, including the Troops Out Now Coalition, International ANSWER and United for Peace and Justice. These are the coalitions that have organized the largest anti-war mobilizations over the past five years.

The Conference was organized by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.

Videos:

Jess Sundin speaking for the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. Sundin is a founding member of the Twin Cites based Anti-War Committee. She has participated in or coordinated solidarity trips to Iraq, El Salvador and Colombia.

Leslie Cagan- coordinator of United for Peace and Justice, an anti-war coalition with more than 1400 member groups.

Sara Flounders representing the Troops Out Now Coalition. She is also co-director of the International Action Center.

John Beacham representing International ANSWER, a coalition of hundreds of organizations with organizing centers in scores of cites and towns across the country.

Carlos Montes of Latinos Against War and veteran leader of the Chicano and immigrants right movements.

Phyllis Walker- President of AFSCME 3800

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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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Washington, D.C. – Thousands of people from across the United States marched here, Sept. 29 against the war in Iraq and the pro-war policies of Congress. The crowd gathered in response to a call put out by the Troops Out Now Coalition. Many nationalities and all age groups were represented. The demands included support for the Iraqi people, the release of the Jena Six, ending the U.S. intervention in the Philippines, justice for Katrina survivors and an end to the occupation of Palestine.

Everyone participating was united in opposition to the policies of the Bush regime. Many expressed their frustration with the unwillingness of Congress to stop the war. Along the march route residents of D.C. showed solidarity with the demonstration through gestures of approval.

A large group of youth and students participated in the march. At the end of the march around 50 people, many who were members of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and FIST (Fight Imperialism Stand Together), engaged in civil disobedience, blocking traffic in the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution. The intersection was blocked for several hours.

Jess Handy of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte SDS participated in the civil disobedience. Describing the situation, she said, “It happened in a moment, we were running into the intersection, linking arms, our voices and our bodies united as one mass, in protest of the system that oppresses us. The sacrifice didn’t occur to me until [I was approached by another demonstrator] in the line and told that I would be arrested. In that moment I had to choose and I knew I couldn’t get up – I couldn't break the line.”

Erika Zurawski, an SDS member from the University of Minnesota, said, “With major elections coming up we’re at a critical point for the Bush administration. One of the most important aspects of the Sept. 29 demonstration was to make our voices heard that we are very dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking. We came together on the 29th to say no to the war in Iraq, and we also came together to oppose the entire Republican agenda. We are going to continue this pressure until the Republicans come to Saint Paul, Minnesota for the Republican National Convention in September of 2008 when we will once again appear at their doorstep en masse to oppose their destructive agenda. We are going to hold this administration and future administrations accountable.”

The Sept. 29 actions in Washington D.C. show the continued opposition from the public to the criminal war in Iraq and the willingness of those who want the U.S. out now to move from protest to resistance.

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