Update on March 19
March 7, 2005--The Troops Out Now Coalition has won an important victory by securing rallies in Marcus Garvey Park and Central Park's East Meadow on March 19.
The day will begin at 10:00 am in Harlem, with a rally at Marcus Garvey Park, located at 5th Ave. between 120th and 124th Streets.
Following the rally, we will march to the military recruiting station, one of the busiest in the U.S., on 125th St., where we will protest the economic draft.
Then we will march to the East Meadow in Central Park (97th St. & 5th Ave) for a major noon rally.
At 3:00 pm, we will march to Mayor Bloomberg's mansion mon 79th St. to demand "FUND CITIES NOT WAR!"
Activists are coming from all over the country to take part in the rally. Buses are coming from as far away as Saint Paul, MN. Buses, vans, and car caravans, are being organized from all over the eastern U.S., and new organizing centers are being added daily--check the updated list at http://troopsoutnow.org/orgcents.html .
All over NYC and the surrounding area, antiwar groups, churches, unions, and community organizations are preparing to take to the streets on March 19. Some are organizing feeder marches; others on Long Island, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey are organizing "Peace Trains"--see http://troopsoutnow.org/trains.html for more information.
We need your help with the enormous expenses of this protest-- You can donate online at http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.html .
Support the Right to March
Although we have secured our right to rally in Marcus Garvey Park & Central Park, the City is attempting to deny us the right to march 11 blocks on 5th Ave to Mayor Bloomberg's house at 79th St. off 5th Ave.
Below is a letter to Mayor Bloomberg asserting our right to march on 5th Avenue. You can add Your Name to the List of Signers at: http://troopsoutnow.org/statements/marchon5th.html
A CALL TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE ON 5TH AVE AGAINST THE WAR ON MARCH 19 March, 2005
To Mayor Michael Bloomberg:
On March 19, after joining the Harlem community in a pre-rally and march, tens of thousands of people from all over New York City and the surrounding region will rally in Central Park to call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. We will also call for our tax dollars to be spent on healthcare, education, food stamps, job programs, and other human needs, not war. March 19 marks the second anniversary of the start of the war. Activities will occur on every continent. Across the U.S., people will mark the day with protests with the same message: "Bring the troops home, Funds for cities, not war."
The Troops Out Now Coalition—a grassroots coalition of over 400 labor, community, and human rights groups—plans to march down 5th Avenue after a rally in the East Meadow in Central Park, to your residence on 79th Street, a distance of about 11 blocks. The police have told organizers that they will not issue a permit to march on 5th Avenue because they have declared a "moratorium" on marches there.
Banning protest marches on 5th Avenue is wholly unwarranted and unreasonable. It is also inconsistent with the Constitutional right to free speech and assembly. We call on you Mayor Bloomberg, to lift the ban on protest marches on 5th Avenue, and let the country and the world see free speech on 5th Avenue on March 19.
President George Bush recently proclaimed that his primary mission is to spread freedom all over the world. What message does it send when one of the most important cities in the U.S. does not allow a peace march on its most auspicious avenue?
On March 19, the people of France will march down Champs Elysee, in London at Hyde Park. Around the world, people will gather and march in the centers of major cities and capitals. How can 5th Avenue be declared "off-limits" to the peace movement?
No issue is more central in the country today then the war and occupation of Iraq. The economic and personal stakes in the debate over the war are tremendous. People are losing loved ones in Iraq; cities are losing funds for desperately needed services to the war. This is apparent in our city where the gap between the wealthiest New Yorkers and the poor or working and unemployed people has never been greater.
The major peace coalition during the Vietnam War was headquartered in New York City. It was called the Fifth Avenue Peace Parade precisely because it wanted the world to know that the peace movement was not marginal but central to society. This was a good idea 40 years ago and it is a good idea today.
Unfortunately, the post-September 11 climate has been used to challenge civil liberties time and time again, particularly in this city where a major protest last year was not allowed to rally in Central Park during the Republican National Convention. On Feb. 15 2003, when millions marched against war around the world, protesters were denied that right in New York. It is vitally important that the government at every level refrain from using spurious excuses to impair or limit free speech or freedom of movement.
The undersigned call upon you Mayor Bloomberg to guarantee that a permit will be issued for a march on Fifth Avenue.
Initial Signers:
Action 21, Jersey City, NJ Action Center for Justice Action for Community Empowerment Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle All People's Congress, Baltimore American-Iranian Friendship Committee Arab American Civic Organization Artists and Activists United for Peace Association of Mexican American Workers (AMAT) BAYAN-USA Central New Jersey Coalition for Peace and Justice Committee to Support the Iraqi People Cuba Solidarity New York Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST) Harlem Tenants Council Hawai'i Solidarity Committee International Action Center International Concerned Friends & Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal International Socialist Organization Jersey City Peace Movement Korea Truth Commission Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine No Draft No Way Not in Our Name (NION) New York NY Committee to Defend Palestine NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines NYC Labor Against the War People Judge Bush People's Organization for Progress (POP) People's Video Network Progressive Democrats of Illinois Queers for Peace and Justice Support Network for an Armed Forces Union Veterans for Peace Western Mass. International Action Center Women's Fightback Network Workers World Party
Individual Endorsers
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General Anne Pruden, 1199 SEIU* Dr. Luis Barrios, John Jay College* Brenda Stokely, Pres. AFSCME District Council 1707* Gloria Pacis, Mother of Stephen Funk Teresa Gutierrez, NY Committee to Free the Cuban 5* Brian Barraza, AMAT Gina Magloire, Fanmi Lavalas* Kim Rosario, mother of GI in Iraq Leslie Feinberg/Co-Chair/LGBT Caucus/National Writers Union* Mike Gimbel, Local 375, AFSCME / NYCLAW Bill Doares, Million Worker March NY/NJ Sharon Black, Million Worker March, Baltimore/DC Ken Stern, Vets for Peace* Kahlil Khan, Movement in Motion Billy Martin / Spiritchild, Movement in Motion Artists & Activist Collective* Samia Halaby, Defend Palestine Martha Grevatt, Pride At Work - Northeast Ohio* Susan E. Davis, President, External Organizing, United Auto Workers, Local 1981* Steve Gillis*, President, USWA L. 8751 - Boston School Bus Drivers, Boston, MA
*For I.D. purposes only
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