Lexington, KY: Observe the 3rd Anniversary of the Iraq War

(Courtesy of Rebecca Glasscock and Justicelist)

3/20 Observe the 3rd Anniversary of the Iraq War

WHAT:

Observe, mourn, protest
- the Third Anniversary of the Iraq War

WHEN:

4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Monday
March 20

WHERE:

Triangle Park
Corner of Main & Broadway
Lexington
Bring a sign and a flower.

DETAILS:

Honor the dead. Heal the Wounded. End the War.

The first anniversary of the war was observed in 319 U.S. cities. The second anniversary of the war was observed by over double that number of cities, 765 U.S. cities. Lexington and central Kentucky peace activists rallied on each of the first two anniversaries. We expect this year to be joined by many more cities. Maybe the politicians will finally get the word: the people want this war to end.

We must not abandon Iraq - they need neutral peacekeepers and billions of dollars in reconstruction aid. We must not abandon our troops - they need to be safe and out of harm's way. Their blood must not be spilt in an endless war that we cannot win - a war that a continued occupation can only exacerbate.

Join us as we observe, mourn, and protest on the 3rd anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We want to go beyond statistics. The statistics are numbing: 2,307 U.S. dead, 16,653 U.S. wounded, over 30,000 Iraqi civilians dead, and an unknown number of Iraqi insurgents dead.

From 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. peace activists will be reading the names of U.S. and Iraqis who have died in the award. After the activist reads the name, he or she will place a flower at the foot of a coffin covered with both U.S. and Iraqi flags. While the names are being read, other activists, holding signs and banners, will line the curbs on both sides of the streets that border Triangle Park.

At 5:30 p.m. the group will rally for a brief program. Anita Dennis and Missy Comley Beattie will speak. Dennis is the mother of Darryl Anderson, wounded Iraq veteran who has gone to Canada rather than accept a second tour of duty in Iraq. Beattie is the Aunt of Marine Lance Corporal Chase Comley who died in Iraq on August 6, 2005. Beattie, Chase's father Mark Comley, and several other families are members of Gold Star Families for Peace. On March 6, 2006, Beatty, Cindy Sheehan, also of Gold Star Mothers for Peace, Media Benjamin of Code Pink, and Rev. Patricia Ackerman were arrested at the UN after the U.S. delegation refused to accept a petition containing 100,000 signature calling for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. New York police arrested the women. They were treated very roughly. Sheehan's arm was bruised. The petition can be found at:

Women Say No To War

Women can still sign this petition.

Now is the time to come out. We need to show our political leaders that majorities oppose the war. We need to let them know that if they (finally) oppose the war, the people will back them.

SPONSOR:
Peace Action Task Group
Central Kentucky Council for Peace & Justice

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Mitchell
(859) 327-6277