March events in WNC against Iraq occupation

The big week is here - the week that is the fifth anniversary of the illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq by the bush/cheney administration and their lackeys in DC. WE HAVE DESTROYED THE COUNTRY OF IRAQ and that is an evil we will likely never live down. Hopefully, we will one day be forgiven for it, but we don't deserve forgiveness at this point because we are still doing it!

This is also the fifth anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie. She is a hero of mine.

This is the fortieth anniversary of the massacre of My Lai. I guess that shows that we have not learned a damn thing in forty years.

Drive by Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville and look at the flags that commemorate the deaths and injuries that this occupation has caused.

Here are the local events against the continuing occupation of Iraq - grab your signs and get out on the streets! And call or visit your local representatives offices in Asheville and Hendersonville this week, and share your opinions and viewpoints with them. They NEED to hear from you!

Friday, March 14 – Monday, March 31: Congressional Easter recess – Rep. Shuler in home district.

03/16/08 Anti-war protest in Greenville SC at 7:30 in the evening. See their website for more information: http://www.greenvilleantiwarsociety.com/

03/17/08 to 03/21/08 - FIVE DAYS OF ACTION BY THE WNC PEACE COALITION TO MARK FIVE YEARS OF OCCUPATION – LOCAL ACTIONS

03/17/08 WNC Peace Coalition will host a movie night at Pack Library at 6 PM. The movie will be “The Dreams of Sparrows’. This film was finished in June 2004, and in somber self-interviews made after the production, the filmmakers reveal the dramatic changes in their belief caused not only by the situation in Iraq, but also the process of documenting it. Free, donations accepted, there will be pot-luck vegetarian snacks, and discussion in the lobby afterwards.

03/17/08 Operation First Casualty (or another event) will be held at 12:35 PM on the Quad at UNCA. This action is sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society at UNCA.

03/18/08 Veterans for Peace will read the names of US military killed in Iraq. This will start at sunrise (7 AM) and be held at Veterans for Peace billboard (Veteran’s Peace Park) at the corner of Lexington and Hilliard. This will be carried during the day at WPVM. This will go on all day. If you can volunteer to read some names, please contact James at trusteejamesl@charter.net. At 5 PM, there will be a massive rally at Pack Square.

03/18/08 WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility will meet at Unitarian Universalist Church in Asheville at noon in classroom #4. Please bring brown bag lunch. The program will include the film “Nuclear Weapons and the Human Future” and a diorama demonstration on global warming. Program runs until 2 PM. Contact Lew at patrie.wncpsr@main.nc.us or call 828-299-1242 for more information.

03/18/08 WNC Peace Coalition meeting at Unitarian Universalist Church at 7 PM. Please enter from the north side, at the basement level.

03/19/08 Vigil in Transylvania for the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war at NOON at County Courthouse at Main and Broad.

03/19/08 WNC Peace Coalition will hold a short rally at First Congregational Church in downtown Asheville at 5 PM. We will have a speaker from Iraq Veterans Against the War and a Raging Grannies performance. After this short rally, we will take to the streets and bridges of downtown Asheville to protest five years of occupation of Iraq. We will do this through out rush hour traffic.

03/19/08 Rally at 7 PM at City-County Plaza. This is organized by MoveOn, and is open to all. Wednesday, March 19 is the 5th anniversary of the tragic invasion and occupation of Iraq. Though the war has receded somewhat in the U.S. media, MoveOn’s candlelight vigils around the country on the 19th will illuminate the human and economic cost of the war at home and abroad.

03/19/08 Mass Nonviolent Civil Disobedience in Washington DC. United for Peace and Justice has initiated the planning and organizing for what will hopefully be the largest non-violent civil disobedience action yet against the occupation of Iraq. They are also encouraging people to organize local actions.

03/20/08 Student at UNCA will gather at 3:30 PM to march downtown for a rally at 5 PM at Pack Square. There will be speakers from No More Victims, WNC Peace Coalition, Iraq Vets Against the War, and Vets for Peace, and Students for a Democratic Society. This is organized by Students for a Democratic Society. There will be music and tabling.

03/21/08 Women in Black stand from 5 to 6 PM at Pack Square. We are asking all activists to make a special effort to join them this particular week. Women in Black stand in silence, and they ask that political signs stand across the street from the Women in Black banner.

03/22/08 Anti war rally in Charlotte. No further information at this time.

03/23/08 Removal of the Iraqi Civilian Flags from the lawns of UU church in Asheville at noon. Please join us if you can.

PEACE VIGILS and WEEKLY EVENTS

Sunday, 5:30 to 6 PM All Souls Episcopal Church [Biltmore Village]
Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:30 PM Vets for Peace Vigil [Vance Monument]

Wednesday, 4:30 PM Haywood Neighbors for Peace at Waynesville Post Office

Wednesdays, 5:30 PM Votive Mass for Peace at St. Mary Episcopal Church in Asheville

Friday, 5 to 6 PM Women in Black Vigil A’ville [Vance Monument]

Friday, 12 to 12:30 PM Women in Black Vigil H’ville [Main St at Old County Court House]
Saturday, 12 to 1 PM Transylvania County Vigil for Peace [County Courthouse]

Other: Tuesday, 6 PM Run for Peace; Run for Impeachment at Vance Monument

Other: Food Not Bombs: 3:30 on Saturday at Pritchard Park. Info at 303-929-9713

Other: The Street Action Group (SAG) will hold meetings to plan actions, hold a potluck, and to work on projects every Sunday at 3 PM. Contact Kindra at impeach_now@bellsouth.net for location.

Other: Asheville COP WATCH meets at 6:30 PM at St. James AME Church at 44 Hildebrand Street in Asheville on Wednesday.

Other: Veteran’s Voices on WPVM at 5 PM on Wednesday. 103.5 FM or www.wpvm.org

AND one more thing:

Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive in honor of our fallen soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. On March 18th we will read the names of all our fallen brothers and sisters at Peace Park, located on the corner of Lexington and Hilliard downtown. The Blood Drive will last March 18th-March 21st at the Red Cross donation center.

Blood donations are taken at the Asheville Blood Donation Center at 100 Edgewood Road (just off of Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville). Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments will be honored first. Hours of operation are:
Mondays 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays 3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Thursdays 1:30 to 8:00 p.m.
First Saturday of the month 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information about Veterans for Peace or Iraq Veterans Against the War, contact Kindra 828 -696-5218 or email impeach_now@bellsouth.net