[mgj-discuss] MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD PROTEST WAR ON IRAQ!!!

[Jencarr3 at cs.com]

FINAL COUNT FOR ANTI-WAR PROTEST WEEKEND EXCEEDS ONE MILLION IN THE UNITED 
STATES ALONE!!!  OVER 250 CITIES PARTCIPATE; MORE THAN 600 WORLD-WIDE!

UPCOMING ANTI-WAR EVENTS INCLUDE INCLUDE LOBBY DAY AND NATIONAL STUDENT 
STRIKE:  

More than one million people throughout the United States took to the
streets on February 15 & 16 to express their opposition to a U.S. war on
Iraq. In cities and towns from Jaspar, Texas to Bisbee, Arizona to New York
City, people participated in an internationally coordinated protest event
that made itself heard from Africa to Antarctica.

Recent tallies show that the U.S. component of the protest included at least
1,344,000 people. Some of the largest protests were in New York City
(500,000), San Francisco (250,000), Los Angeles (100,000), Seattle (55,000),
Austin (10,000) and Philadelphia (8,000). There were also sizable protests
in Chicago (6,000), Houston (5,000), Santa Barbara (5,000) Milwaukee (4500),
Detroit (4,000), Dallas (3,500), St. Louis (3,000), Salt Lake City (3,000),
and Colorado Springs (3,000). 

"I think an amazing part of this story is the small towns that had huge 
anti-war protests considering the size of their communities," said Andrea 
Buffa, a co-chair of United for Peace and Justice, the group that sponsored 
the protest in New York City. 

The worldwide participation in anti-war protests over the weekend is 
estimated to be eight
to ten million people. For a complete list see www.unitedforpeace.org.

"As the New York Times wrote this Sunday, another world superpower made
itself known this weekend: public opinion," said Bill Fletcher, a co-chair
of United for Peace and Justice, the group that sponsored the protest in New
York City. "It¹s undeniable that people in the United States and the world
are insisting that the Bush Administration open its ears to the fact that we
don¹t want this war."

The global weekend of anti-war protests included events in more than 600
cities around the world, including at least 250 U.S. cities and towns. "Bush
thinks the largest peace movement in history can be ignored and compared to
a focus group. His attitude shows a shocking contempt for democracy and the
consent of the governed," said Leslie Cagan, another United for Peace and
Justice co-chair.

Anti-war organizers have numerous events planned in the coming days, which
they hope will continue the momentum against a U.S. attack on Iraq.  

On February 26, the group Win Without War is coordinating a "virtual" march on
Washington that will involve thousands of people lobbying their
Congressional representatives and Senators regarding new initiatives that
would slow down the rush to war. 

On March 5, student and youth groups have called for a National Student 
Strike during which students would walk out of classes to express their 
opposition to war. On March 8, International Women¹s Day, the CodePink 
Women¹s Peace Vigil will spearhead a women¹s anti-war rally that will include 
women and men encircling the White House
for peace.

Additionally a Canadian group called Rooting Out Evil has organized an
international weapons inspection team that will enter the United States on
Saturday, February 22 with the intention of inspecting the Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center in Maryland on February 23. The international inspections
team is composed of prominent Canadian, American, British, Danish and
Italian parliamentarians, scientists, academics, faith and union leaders.
For more information see www.rootingoutevil.org. 

CONTACT:
Bill Fletcher (202) 223-1960 x113
Andrea Buffa (510) 325-3653
Leslie Cagan (646) 473-8935