Message to the Iraqi People

Portlanders who gathered on Monday March 19, 2007 in the steady rain to show their opposition to US policy sent a giant message to the Iraqi people, exactly 4 years after the US invasion of Iraq. The message, "Peace, Salaam, Shalom, Solh: End the Occupation--Iraq for Iraqis Now"* was held by dozens of volunteers who revealed the message in various choreographed maneuvers using four foot squares of painted cardboard. In addition to media coverage in Portland, the message will be transmitted via numerous websites to ensure the people of Iraq see the sentiment of peace and solidarity.

*Salaam, Shalom, and Solh are Arabic, Hebrew and Persian for Peace.

 
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    Photo credit: Harold Hutchinson, Ackroyd Photography, Inc.


Download a .pdf Flyer here

Download quarter page leaflets here

Cosponsors and endorsers of Monday March 19 event
   (21 groups as of 3/14/07)

Volunteer information for Monday March 19 event

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Monday March 19 event

 

Information on Sunday March 18 event
   (being organized by American Friends Service Committee and other groups)

 



Peace and Justice Works
  Iraq Affinity Group
  PO Box 42456
  Portland, OR 97242
  (503) 236-3065 (Office)
  pjw@pjw.info
  http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html


EVENT: "No More Invasions, No More Wars:
The Occupation of Iraq, Four Years Later"
Dual-opportunity visibility action
Monday, March 19, 2007
Terry Schrunk Plaza
12:00 noon-2 PM: Lunchtime Demonstration
4 PM-6:30 PM: Evening Visibility Action and Message to the Iraqi People

Portlanders will gather to show their opposition to US policy and send a giant message to the Iraqi people on Monday, March 19, 2007, exactly 4 years after the US invasion of Iraq. Two actions will take place that day at Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Madison. The first will go from 12 noon to 2 PM to gather the lunchtime crowds together. The evening event will run from 4 PM to 6:30 PM and will culminate with an oversize message to be transmitted to the Iraqi people. The day is being titled "No More Invasions, No More Wars: The Occupation of Iraq, Four Years Later" and is being coordinated by the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group.

The Message to the Iraqi People will be organized with several dozen volunteers between 6:15 and 6:35 PM and should be visible from the ground and from the air.

The noon demonstration will feature speakers connecting the occupation to the various US foreign and domestic policies reflected in the subthemes of the day's events, such as spending money for human needs, not war, and restoring civil liberties. The evening event will feature representatives from about a dozen ongoing peace actions in the greater Portland area who will talk about their actions to end the war and occupation in Iraq. There will also be music at both events and a handful of literature tables from peace and social justice groups organizing the event.

The subthemes for the Monday, March 19 events are:

--Bring all the troops home now!
--Money for jobs, health care, education, housing and the environment--not war.
--End the US occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the US-supported Israeli occupations of the West Bank and Gaza
--Reject the "Long War on Terror" and say no military action in Iran, Syria, North Korea, Somalia, or anywhere else under that banner
--Close the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and end the assault on civil liberties at home

For more information contact the PJW Iraq Affinity Group at 503-236-3065 or iraq@pjw.info.

This event is cosponsored by KBOO 90.7 FM, Women in Black, Families for Peace, American Iranian Friendship Council, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom/Portland, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Oregonians Against the War, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Metanoia Peace Community, and others. It is endorsed by Northwest Veterans for Peace, Portland Jobs with Justice, East Timor Action Network/Portland, Back 2 the WALL, Oregon Wildlife Federation, Friends of Sabeel-North America, War Resisters League-Portland, No War Drum Corps, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, and others.

Check back here for updates on planned activities for the 19th, cosponsors and endorsers, and other information .

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Page posted January 18, 2007, last updated March 23, 2007
(Some links archived May 9, 2008)