Thousands of Chicagoans marched and rallied across Chicago on March 19, 2005, to commemorate the second anniversary of the beginning of Bush's war on Iraq, and to protest the continuing occupation and its lethal consequences at home and aborad. Feeder marches spanned the city, helping protesters get out a message that police fought to suppress in the central city. Protesters at Michigan and Oak faced a wall of riot cops -- part of the police policy to derail any opposition to the war in prominent public places, including a press conference. Besides pushing peaceful protesters west from Michigan, cops dispersed at least one feeder action with threats of mass arrests and designated Michigan Avenue a no-free-speech zone. Protesters got their message out anyway, through the neighborhood feeders and individual flyering by those able to dodge the police lines. A rally at the Federal Plaza was packed to overflowing. Independent coverage: Saturday, March 19, 2005 marks the 2nd anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It also marks a moment in history where the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) used heavy-handed tactics on peaceful people expressing their opinions in a public forum, once protected under the U.S. constitution.
A group of over 90 people marched from L.V. Blvd. and Sahara between 6 and 9 p.m. with plans to have a candlelight vigil in front of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
[ Read More... | Legal Defense Website | Legal Defense Fund Help Article | Review Journal Action Article | Counter-Recruitment Action | Pictures: 1 - 2 - 3 ]
Reports from the Hollywood march:
Photos from March 19th Anti War rally in Hollywood by punk rocker
March 19th Action by Andrea
2000 Mark 2nd Anniversary of Iraq Invasion by peter
Photos of March 19th rally in Hollywood by Cornelius Cardew
Anti-War Demonstration in Hollywood, California by manicatack
March 19th, 2005 by Southern California Anarchist Federation
More Photos from Hollywood March 3/19 by RadiDem
M19 Peace March by Marcus
2nd anniversary of Iraq invasion - Protest in Hollywood by Eric Balaire
Report from Santa Monica, March 17, 2005:
Santa Monica City College Students Protest Army Recruitment Center by A
Commentary on the Hollywood march: critique of 3/19 by activism
Back in the city, a variety of other groups seized the anti-war initiative. A Troops Out Now! march from Harlem to Central Park attracted thousands and culminated in a march Mayor Bloomberg's townhouse. [Photos and Story || Photo 1 || 2 || Video 1 || 2]
Meanwhile, the War Resister's League engaged in civil disobedience ouside recruiting stations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, staging die-ins and blockading entrances. [Press Release || Photos 1 || 2 || Video 1 || 2]
The morning saw a bicycle anti-war solidarity ride and, despite a significant police presence, no arrests. Anarchists staged their own last minute march, banners were dropped in New Jersey, and New Paltz saw 1500 protest.
Coverage from March 20, 2004 || Coverage From March 20, 2003
Global Coverage || U.S. Coverage
Photo: Fred Askew
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