March of the Dead today

These photos came from the action on March 19, 2008 - to protest the ongoing war and occupation of Iraq. Here is part of one person's account of the March of the Dead:

March 19 as a day of protest was unprecedented in many ways. First, we were more successful in having people come to Washington DC on a weekday while business was being conducted. I personally know many people, teachers, therapists, lawyers, artists etc. who took a Sick Of It Day to come to DC to join together in the streets. Second, this was a multi-generational effort both in the organizing for and participation in the day. We had hundreds of students, many taking their Spring Break coming from different parts of the country. The students formed the largest contingent, Funk the War, shutting down the streets in many places. Third, we asked that people come prepared to participate in creative direct action and we had hundreds ready to risk arrest. The authorities knew this might have resulted in the largest mass-arrest in DC since the invasion of Iraq and so they refused to arrest people even though many were shutting down streets, and others like the Vets had chained themselves to the National Archives in order to defend the Constitution. However now we have used the opportunity to form a larger network with many more people trained and ready to participate in direct action.

The link to the rest of the story is below.

Today, the Declaration of Peace is holding another March of the Dead. Here is a part of their email:

We pray for Peace in Iraq, Gaza, and Afghanistan, and in and among all lives. Let us all recommit to work together for Peace in 2009.

The March of the Dead - The Declaration of Peace endorses and encourages your participation in a dramatic nonviolent action as the U.S. Congress convenes in Washington, D.C., on 01/06/09.

To make apparent the true nature and impact of war and military occupation, The March of the Dead will proceed silently across D.C. to the halls of Congress on January 6, 2009. The March of the Dead is organized by the Activist Response Team.

See photos and an account from the March 19, 2008 March of the Dead at The Critical Voice website .

As you can see we are organizing for the opening of the 111th Congress. We think this will be a very celebrated moment, with lots of national, foreign and local media present that day. We think it is crucial that we be there too, in order to offer an image and message of the stark reality of the consequences of two brutal occupations and the destruction that further escalation will cause.

I am posting these photos and the email in honor of what these folks are doing today. I wish I could have joined them!