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For immediate release: Sept. 3, 2003
Contacts: Bill Hackwell 415-269-7917
Richard Becker 415-821-6545
“From Iraq to Palestine, Only Ending Occupation Can Bring Peace”
Sept. 26-28: Anti-war protests around world
Sun., Sept. 28 San Francisco March to Demand: “End the Occupation! Bring the Troops Home Now! Money for Jobs & Human Needs, Not for War”
With growing casualties among U.S. G.I.s, Iraqi people and international aid workers, the call for an end to U.S. occupation in the Middle East is rising. Anti-war activists around the world are planning for the next round of protests this Fall. Here in the U.S., military families, veterans, students, labor groups and unemployed workers are joining in the organizing for mass marches in several U.S. cities on Sept. 28, the third anniversary of the Palestinian Intifada (uprising).
“Bush launched this war on lies, and now tens of thousands of military personnel are stuck in Iraq — they want to go home; the Iraqis want them out. Bush tells the media he cares about the troops, but at the same time he plans to cut veterans benefits and family separation pay,” said Bill Hackwell, Vietnam veteran and A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer. He added, “From Iraq to Palestine, only ending occupation can bring peace.”
“The occupation of Iraq alone is costing U.S. tax payers $150 million dollars a day! On top of that, the U.S. plans to give Israel $10 billion more this year, as it continues to construct an apartheid wall. When are they going to use some of that money for our economic crisis here at home? We need money for jobs, schools, and healthcare, not endless military spending on a war they can’t even justify. It’s time for the anti-war movement to get back in the streets!” said LeiLani Dowell, San Francisco State student and A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer.
September 26-28 have been set by anti-war coalitions around the world (including the European Social Forum, the Cairo Conference and A.N.S.W.E.R.) as international days of protest. The dates mark the third anniversary of the Palestinian Intifada, and marches in cities around the world will call for an “end to occupation, from Iraq to Palestine and beyond,” as well as demand “bring the troops home now.”
Buses from across Northern California will come to San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 28, gather at 12 noon in Dolores Park and march to Civic Center for a 2 pm rally. Protests will take place in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York and other U.S. cities on the same day.
For more information or interviews, please call A.N.S.W.E.R. at 415-821-6545.
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If you haven't already done so, log onto www.progressunity.org to make your donation to support future antiwar protests.
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