{news} Fw: GREEN ADVISORY Greens to join Global Day of Protest against Iraq war, Mar. 19

Thu Mar 17 11:24:00 EST 2005

GREEN ADVISORY Greens to join Global Day of Protest against Iraq war, Mar. 
19
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
 http://www.gp.org

 For Immediate Release:
 Thursday, March 17, 2005

 Contacts:
 Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
 cell 202-487-0693, mclarty at greens.org
 Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
 nallen at acadia.net

 GREENS PLAN AND JOIN RALLIES AND ACTIONS ACROSS
THE U.S. IN THE MARCH 19 'GLOBAL DAY OF PROTEST'
AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR

 Military threats against Iran and Syria risk a
greater war between the U.S. and Middle East,
warn Greens.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members across
 the country will participate in the 'Global Day
 of Protest' against the U.S. invasion and
 occupation of Iraq, planned for Saturday, March
 19, the second year anniversary of the invasion.

 "The Green Party of the United States took a
strong position against the invasion from the
very beginning," said Rebecca Rotzler, Deputy
Mayor of the Village of New Paltz, New York (see
event listing below).  "We opposed the vote by
Democrats and Republicans in Congress to
surrender the legislative branch's power to
declare war to the White House, warning of
massive violation of national and international
law."

"Two years after the invasion, with 100,000 Iraqi
civilians and 1,500 U.S. troops killed, evidence
of White House deception about WMDs and collusion
between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, pleas from
the Iraqi people for the U.S. to get out, and
worldwide anger at the U.S.'s aggressive military
policies, the Green Party demands an immediate
end to the occupation," added Ms. Rotzler.

Greens also plan to speak out against the growing
danger of military action against Iran, including
recent revelations that Israel is planning a
bombing campaign with approval or acquiescence
from the Bush Administration.

"President Bush's threats against Iran and Syria
indicate a willingness to risk expanding his
so-called War on Terrorism and invasion of Iraq
into a greater war in the Middle East in order to
secure U.S. control over land, oil, and other
resources," said Justine McCabe, member of the
party's International Committee and of the
Connecticut Greens, who are co-sponsoring a march
and rally in Hartford on March 19
<http://www.ctunitedforpeace.org>.  "These
actions, along with approval for Israel's illegal
occupation of Palestinian lands, are part of the
Bush plan for a political makeover of the
region."

Many Greens intend to join a major demonstration
led by military families and veterans on March 19
in Fayetteville, North Carolina near Fort Bragg.
 In Washington, D.C., some Greens will answer the
'National Call for Nonviolent Resistance to the
Continuing War in Iraq' issued by the National
Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance
<http://www.iraqpledge.org>, joined by military
families, veterans, religious and peace groups,
and many others, with actions planned for March
17.

 Greens have planned rallies and other events in
rural areas as well as cities.  Some noteworthy
examples:

==> North Carolina, Friday, March 18: The Campus
Greens at North Carolina State University will
hold a press conference in Raleigh and then ride
their bicycles to Fayetteville for the anti-war
march the following day, in order to raise
awareness about the environmental impact of war
(including the effects of depleted uranium) and
the destructive and destabilizing effect of
fossil fuel dependence.  Military Families Speak
Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and many
other organizations will also march on Saturday.
Contact: Attila Nemecz, 919-559-7594
 http://www.ncgreenparty.org/
 http://www.ncpeacejustice.org

 ==> Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, March 19: Park
 Slope Greens and War Resisters League will hold a
 solemn processions with coffins ending with civil
 disobedience at a military recruiting station.
 Gather 10:45 am at two locations: Brooklyn Public
 Library (on Flatbush Avenue near Grand Army Plaza
 and Prospect Park) and Brooklyn Borough Hall.  At
 11:30 am, two solemn processions with coffins
 will begin: one along Flatbush Avenue from the
 library and the other through the Fulton Mall
 from Borough Hall.  At 12 noon leafleting and
 civil disobedience begin at the military
 recruiting offices at 41 Flatbush Avenue (near
 Lafayette Avenue).
 Contact: Dani, Park Slope Greens, 718-788-2260

 ==> New Paltz, New York, Saturday, March 19: The
 March 19th Coalition of New Paltz has organized
 an antiwar rally on March 19, cosponsored by the
 New Paltz Greens and the Dutchess Greens and
 featuring Jason West, Mayor of New Paltz (Green);
 former Green presidential candidate Dr. Joel
 Kovel; New Paltz Deputy Mayor Rebecca Rotzler,
 co-chair of the Green Party's Peace Action
 Committee.  This is shaping up to be the biggest
 anti-war commemoration in the state outside of
 New York City.  1:00 p.m. rally at Hasbrouck
 Park, followed by a parade through downtown New
 Paltz, ending at SUNY New Paltz (all events
 permitted)
 Contact: Steve Greenfield, 845-255-2516,
 bicyclesax at earthlink.net
 http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/03/01/protest0.htm

 ==> Seattle, Washington, March 19: Rally and
 March: War Cost, Who Pays? Bring the Troops home
 now!  Green Party of Washington State in
 coalition with over 20 other organizations at the
 Seattle Center.  60,000-70,000 people marched in
 the Seattle antiwar protest on February 15, 2003.
 http://www.wagreens.us/

 For more state and local Green events, click on
 the calendar at
 <http://plus.calendars.net/greenpartyus> or on
 state sites at <http://www.gp.org/states.html>.

 MORE INFORMATION

 The Green Party of the United States
 http://www.gp.org
 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
 Washington, DC 20009.
 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
 Fax 202-319-7193

 Green Party Peace Action Committee
 http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/

 United for Peace & Justice
 http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2688
 D.C. Anti-War Network http://www.dawndc.net/

 "Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear
 plant"
 The Sunday Times (U.K.), March 13, 2005
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1522978,00.html

 2004 Cobb/LaMarche Campaign: News on the recount
 efforts http://www.votecobb.org

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