4 Days Until March 20 Global Day of Action

Tue, 16 Mar 2004 http://www.VoteNoWar.org  

From New York to Madrid and Everywhere, People Will Be in the Streets March 20

Rapid Response in Defense of Free Speech Floods NYC Mayor and City Council

Where to Go on Saturday: 200 Regional and Local Demonstrations in U.S.

Logistical Information - Stickers and Flyers

Funds Urgently Needed: http://www.VoteNoWar.org/donate.html  

Dear VoteNoWar Member,

Opposition to the Iraq war and occupation is deep and it is global. It stunned the war-makers that the people of Spain, having experienced a horrific terrorist attack on civilians, could three days later resist the right-wing pressure applied by the pro-Bush Aznar government and turn that government out of office. This incredible upset was a focused repudiation by the people of the government's cooperation with Bush and Blair in carrying out the aggression in Iraq. That was a remarkable political development which will have widespread repercussions. The people of Spain will be in the streets on March 20th. So must we.

March 20 will be a powerful manifestation of the people in the United States and around the world who are demanding "Bring the Troops Home Now" and "End Colonial Occupation from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti and Everywhere." It will be the first massive outpouring since the October 25, 2003, demonstrations when 100,000 people came into the streets of Washington DC.

In response to the call from VoteNoWar.org and the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, New York City Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council received more than 5,000 e-mails and letters demanding that they uphold the free speech rights of demonstrators who have a permit to march and rally in the heart of mid-town Manhattan on Saturday. Thousands more are showing their support and rejecting the efforts of the government to intimidate people from coming, by buying bus tickets and making plans to come out into the streets. For the regional action in New York, buses, vans, car caravans and trains are bringing people from as far south as Richmond, VA, and North Carolina to as far north as Burlington, VT. Currently there are over 20 cities organizing transportation to New York City.

Momentum is growing on a local, regional, national and international scale. There are now more than 200 regional and local demonstrations in 36 states taking place across the United States. On this global day of action there are coordinated demonstrations in over 45 countries. For information how to plug into one of the over 200 demonstrations being organized across the U.S., see below for links.

You can help make this Saturday a powerful success! There are many ways that you can help out in this last week. Here are a few:

1) MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION - Funds are Urgently Needed

We urgently need your help - please make a financial contribution to help us cover all of the vast expenses in this last week. If you have made a contribution before, we urge you to consider supporting this effort again. If you have never contributed, now is the time.

At a minimum, we must raise $25,000 in the next few days towards meeting the expenses of the demonstration. We cannot do it without the generous support of VoteNoWar members. Please make a contribution now online through our secure server by going to http://www.VoteNoWar.org/donate.html  , where you can also get information on how to write a check.

2) HELP SPREAD THE WORD

We have versions of flyers in English, Arabic and Spanish for New York City, San Francisco, Sacramento (buses to San Francisco), Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC (buses to NY), Boston (buses to NY) and Philadelphia. We also have stickers for New York City, Washington DC and Boston. For downloadable flyers and stickers go to: http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/resources/index.html    

3) GET ON THE BUS to NYC, San Francisco or Other Regional Demonstrations or join a demonstration in Your City

Find out what's happening in your region or city this Saturday: For information about transportation to the regional demonstrations and for information on how to plug in to one of the 200 local demonstrations taking place across the U. S, go to: http://www.internationalanswer. org/campaigns/m20/m20transp.html

*New York City: 11:30 a.m., 23rd and Madison Avenue. We strongly encourage people to come early to the New York demonstration. The best way to gain access to Madison Avenue and the rally site may be by entering Madison Avenue from 34th St. and walking south. 212-633-6646 or 202-544-3389.

For updated logistical information for NYC (directions, public transportation, housing, parking and more)go to: http://www. internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/logistics. html

*San Francisco: 11 am at Dolores Park (18th St. & Dolores St.) with a march to Civic Center. 415-821-6545

*Los Angeles: 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine. 213-487-2368

*Chicago: Gather at 12 noon. March step-off from Michigan & Pearson, one block north of Chicago Ave. 1:30 PM Rally at Federal Plaza, Dearborn & Adams. 888-471-0874

If you are ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION to a regional event,to post information so others can join you, go to: http://www.internationalanswer. org/campaigns/m20/transportation.html

If you are ORGANIZING A LOCAL OR REGIONAL EVENT, to fill out a form and get the word out about your activity go to: http://www.internationalanswer. org/campaigns/m20/event.html

4) TAKE ACTION TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH RIGHTS on March 20!

The police and the government are working to disrupt the large mass assembly at the permitted opening rally in New York City by illegally breaking the crowd into segmented areas within each city block in an attempt to impede free exercise of the First Amendment right to association and assembly. The whole antiwar movement must unite to reject this message and tactic of intimidation.

In rapid response to the call we sent out, more than 5,000 activists have accessed the free and easy-to-use system VoteNoWar.org has set up to send a customized message to the New York City Mayor and City Council. To send an email message or letter today to Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Council demanding that they uphold the free speech rights of March 20 demonstrators to gather in a mass assembly opposing the Bush administration's policies abroad and at home, go to: http://capwiz.com/votenowar/issues/alert/?alertid=5323021  . Let's keep the pressure on!

And please make a contribution today to help with all of this important work - to donate online through our secure server, go to: http://www.VoteNoWar.org/donate.html  .

All Out March 20!

All of Us at VoteNoWar.org