March 19 marks the 8th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Join peace activists from all over the country to mark this occasion during an inspiring weekend of actions, training, and lobbying in DC. Find a comprehensive calender of events below and please check back for updates:
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Friday, March 18
5-8 pm: Veterans for Peace pre-event at Busboys and Poets (5th and K Streets, NW)
Featuring notable speakers, including Pulitizer Prize Winning war correspondent Chris Hedges, CODEPINK’s Medea Benjamin and author of War Is a Lie, David Swanson. Music will be provided by Deadwood, featuring Margaret Flowers, and by Watermelon Slim. $10 requested donation.
7-9pm: Walter Reed Vigil (http://www.codepink4peace.org/calendar.php?id=2205) at Walter Reed Hospital, 7150 Georgia Avenue, NW (at Horseshoe, between Dahlia and Elder)
A weekly vigil to raise awareness within our community and the media that our injured soldiers are brought to Walter Reed Hospital and we must not forget them. Fund the wounded, not the war! (The right wingers will be out in force so let’s support!)
The Vigil began in March 2005 following the second anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and has continued every Friday evening regardless of rain, sun, snow, ice, or right-wing hooligans.
9 pm: Iraq Veterans Against the War/ Civilian Soldier Alliance Fundraiser at RAS in Petworth, 4809 Georgia Avenue NW
Join Iraq Veterans Against the War (http://www.ivaw.org/) and Civilian Soldier Alliance (http://www.civsol.org/) for an evening of live music, delicious (Ethiopian) food, and social empowerment at the Ras Hall. Come support Operation Recovery (http://www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery) : Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops, a veteran-led campaign to win the right to heal. This is an ALL AGES event.
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Saturday, March 19
8am – 1pm: Pax Christi Metro DC Annual Assembly (http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2020/02/08/from-the-ruins-of-iraq-and-afghanistan-building-a-catholic-movement-to-end-war-and-build-peace/) at Gonzaga College High School, Lower Commons, 19 Eye Street NW
Building a Catholic Movement to end war and build peace. This event includes featured speakers Andrew Bacevich and Michael Baxter, panel presentations, and small groups dicussions. Find the full schedule and registration info here (http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/flyer.pdf) .
Registration is $35, $10 for students, and scholarships are available. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
11am – 12 noon: Women Say No to War Rally (http://codepinkalert.org/form.php?modin=132) at Lafayette Park in front of the White House.
Join CODEPINK for music, speakers, and inspiration for continuing the fight to end wars!
The Speakers Include: Terry O’ Neil: National Organization for Women, Dina Kennedy- Palestinian American Activst, Caroline Casey- Visionary Activist, Songrise: DC’s all women acapella group,
Carrie Biggs-Adams: Union Worker (Communication Workers of American), Linda Leaks: Empower DC,
A representative from ONE DC
12 noon: Veterans for Peace (http://www.veteransforpeace.org/) Rally (http://www.stopthesewars.org/?page_id=655) http://www.stopthesewars.org/?page_id=655and Action (http://www.stopthesewars.org/?page_id=655) at Lafayette Park and the White House
Resist the War Machine (http://www.stopthesewars.org/?p=492) ! Put your body on the line for peace and help make this the largest veteran-led civil resistance to the war machine in recent history! For more information, email stopthesewars@gmail.com (mailto:stopthesewars@gmail.com) .
Rally at 12 pm at Lafayette Park, H and 16th Streets NW
Speakers: Elliott Adams, Chantelle Bateman, Brian Becker, Medea Benjamin, Zachary Choate, Ryan Endicott, Ayesha Fleary, Chris Hedges, Kathy Kelly, Mike Malloy, Michael McPhearson, Caneisha Mills, Ralph Nader, Debra Sweet, Ann Wright, Kevin Zeese
Civil Resistance at 1 pm, White House
5-6 pm: Dinner at Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue Northwest (free, donation requested)
6-8 pm: Move the War Money, Save Our Communities (/node/4544) at Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue Northwest
The Washington Peace Center (/) and Military Families Speak Out (http://www.mfso.org/) , and United for Peace and Justice (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/) are collaborating on this forum exploring the effects of our over-inflated military budget on our local communities. Hear from local DC organizers on how the economic crisis is affecting DC and how we can work together across issues to change the situation.
Speakers include:
* John Feffer, (Co-Director of Foreign Policy In Focus (www.fpif.org (http://www.fpif.org/) ), Institute for Policy Studies),
* Kathryn Perry, (Member of Luther Place Memorial Church and N Street Village),
* Linda Leaks (Lead Housing Organizer of Empower DC),
* Chantelle Batmen (Field Organizer for Iraq Veterans Against the War), and
* A Representative from Save our Safety Net
This event is endorsed by the (http://www.bradleymanning.org/) Civilian Soldier Alliance (http://www.civsol.org/) , CodePink (http://www.codepink4peace.org/) , Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (http://www.cispes.org/) , DC Jobs with Justice (http://www.dcjwj.org/) , Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (http://dccatholicworker.wordpress.com/) , Empower DC (http://www.empowerdc.org/) , Iraq Veterans Against the War, (http://www.ivaw.org/) (http://www.ivaw.org/) Peace Action, (http://www.peace-action.org/) Luther Place Memorial Church (http://lutherplace.org) , Save our Safety Net DC (http://www.saveoursafetynet.com/) , SOAWatch (http://www.soaw.org/) , Stop These Wars (http://www.stopthesewars.org/) and others.
8-10: Soundtrack for Refusal CD Release Show at Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue Northwest
Musicians Ryan Harvey, Spoonboy and Jubilee will celebrate the work of Iraq Veterans Against the War (http://www.ivaw.org/) and Civilian Soldier Alliance (http://www.civsol.org/) . Join us for an evening of live music, delicious food, and social empowerment.
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Sunday, March 20
2 pm: Bradley Manning Action (http://www.bradleymanning.org/) at Quantico Marine Base, Main St. & Rt. 1 (Jeff Davis Hwy.), Triangle VA
Exposing war crimes is not a crime! Support accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower Army Pfc.Bradley Manning who has been held in solitary-like conditions for six months.
Last day to buy bus tickets from Union Station the Rally. Only $10 rountrip. Buses depart at 12:30 and return by 6pm. Click here (https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=40394) to buy your ticket.
This event is endorsed by the Bradley Manning Support Network (http://www.bradleymanning.org/) , Veterans for Peace (http://www.veteransforpeace.org/) , Courage to Resist (http://www.couragetoresist.org/) , CodePink (http://www.codepink4peace.org/) , and many other groups.
All day: Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Lobby Training
Come to Lobby Weekend! Join others to tour Washington, learn to lobby, understand political issues in greater depth, and make your voice heard in Congress! The primary issues we will be lobbying on will be the war in Afghanistan. This is a 3-4 day event, though paticipants are welcome for all or part of the event. You can find the preliminary schedule for the entire event here. (http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/events/lobbyweekend2011schedule.pdf)
Day 1: Issue-based Training- learn the ins and outs of the legislative issues you’ll be lobbying on. Find a summary of issueshttps://action.fcnl.org/events/lobbyday/spring_lobbyday/here (http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/about/SpringLobbyWkd2011.pdf) .
(https://action.fcnl.org/events/lobbyday/spring_lobbyday/) Don’t forget toregister (https://action.fcnl.org/events/lobbyday/spring_lobbyday/) for only $20. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and transportation. A list of lodging options can be found here (/masshousing) .
Participants must schedule meetings with their Congress members ASAP. Try for Tues, March 22, though you may have to be flexible. Find their contact info here (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/161/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=8413) .
This event is endorsed by Friends Committee on National Legislation (http://www.fcnl.org/index.htm) , (http://www.ivaw.org/) Peace Action, (http://www.peace-action.org/) Iraq Veterans Against the War (http://www.ivaw.org/) , and Military Families Speak Out (http://www.mfso.org/) . Contact Matt Southworth (mailto:matt@fcnl.org) for more information.
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Monday, March 21
All day: Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Lobby Training
Day 2: Lobbying, Media, and Organizing Trainings: strengthen old skills and learn new ones in these in-depth trainings covering lobying Congress, working with the media, and organizing in your community.
Note: See FCNL lobby training on Sun, March 20 (above) for information on registration and logistics, or click here (http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/events/lobbyweekend2011schedule.pdf) for the full weekend schedule.
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Tuesday, March 22
All day: Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Lobbying
Day 3: Lobby Day: spend the day lobbying your Senators and Representatives.
Note: See FCNL lobby training on Sun, March 20 (above) for information on registration and logistics, or click here (http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/events/lobbyweekend2011schedule.pdf) for the full weekend schedule.
6:30-8:30: Discussion and book signing with (http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781439109472) Malalai Joya (http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781439109472) at Busboys and Poets, 14th and V NW
Joya takes us inside her book, “A Woman Among Warlords The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice” to depict this massively important and insufficiently understood country, shows us the desperate day-to-day situations its remarkable people face at every turn, and recounts some of the many acts of rebellion that are helping to change it. A controversial political figure in one of the most dangerous places on earth, Malalai Joya is a hero for our times.
Co-sponsored by Afghan Women’s (http://www.afghanwomensmission.org/) Mission (http://www.afghanwomensmission.org/) . FREE & OPEN TO ALL!