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News :: Peace |
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"Week of Peace and Resistance to War" Ends with Silent Vigil as Bush Swears in for Second Term |
Current rating: 1 |
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by NWFIMC |
21 Jan 2005
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"A Week of Peace and Resistance to War" came to an end on Inauguration Day with a silent vigil at Martin Luther King Plaza to mark the somber event. |
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"A Week of Peace and Resistance to War" came to an end on Inauguration Day with a silent vigil at Martin Luther King Plaza to mark the somber event.
Organized primarily by members of Patriots for Peace and Veterans for Peace, this week's goal was to give a voice to those angered by the war and President Bush. Another purpose was to show a visible opposition to the war in Iraq.
These goals were accomplished.
The week started on Saturday with an anti-war protest sponsored by Pensacola Veterans for Peace, a local chapter of a national peace group made up of military veterans and supporters (http://www.veteransforpeace.org). This protest brought many people from different walks of life together for what was billed as a "lively" event. Organizers counted over 100 people in attendance on the chilly afternoon in downtown Pensacola.
Other highlights of the week were a film screening of "The Fog of War" and a panel forum entitled "Democracy and America's New Imperialism", sponsored by the ACLU.
The night before the inauguration there was a reading of the names of every US service person killed in the war in Iraq. The names of over 200 Iraqis who had been killed since March 20, 2004, the one year anniversary of the war, were also read by a member of UWF's Muslim Student Association.
Thursday's silent vigil, sponsored by Pensacola Patriots for Peace, drew close to 50 people and was the close of the "Week of Peace and Resistance to War."
Organizers of the events said that a larger coalition of local peace groups will most likely grow out of these collaborations.
The events were co-sponsored and endorsed by Movement for Change and the Escambia County Green Party. |
See also:
http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/vfppcola
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This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: "Week of Peace and Resistance to War" Ends with Silent Vigil as Bush Swears in for Second Term |
by vfp
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
21 Jan 2005
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-This is from TV 3-
Protestors took to the streets of Pensacola today. Veterans For Peace organized the demonstration.
More than 50 vets and civilians stood on the corner of Palafox and Garden Street holding anti-war and anti-bush signs.
Most demonstrators believe the conflict in Iraq is unjust and some had relatives who've been injured in the war.
Coordinators say the peaceful protest was a way for people to show their opposition to the war, as well as their support for the troops.
Helen Hudson/Protestor: "I think some people are concerned about possibly not supporting the troops, or to be perceived as not being supportive of the troops if they oppose the war, but I believe opposing an unjust war is the best way to support our military."
Scott Satterwhite/Veterans For Peace: "We wanted to strengthen, strengthen the people that may feel isolated in this town, and make sure people know that their is a lot of people who are against what's going on in Iraq."
Veterans For Peace officials say they decided to hold the protest this weekend because President Bush's inauguration takes place on Thursday. |
