Peace Rally and March Marking 8th Anniversary of US Invasion of Iraq

Peace Network - Portland, Oregon / 503.888.7455

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

EVENT: Peace Rally and March Marking Eighth Anniversary of US Invasion of Iraq
DATE: Saturday, March 19, 2011
TIME: 12:30pm Music / 1:00pm Rally / 1:30pm Peace March
PLACE: Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill & Broadway, downtown Portland, Oregon

CONTACT 1: Dan Handelman
Peace and Justice Works
(503) 236-3065 (Office)
pjw@pjw.info

CONTACT 2: William Seaman
Portland Peaceful Response Coalition
(503) 888-7455 (cell)
wills@pdxjustice.org

For Immediate Release

Eight Years in Iraq - Nine Years in Afghanistan: How is the War Economy Working for You?

MARCH AND RALLY TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF 2003 IRAQ INVASION

On Saturday, March 19, 2011, there will be a peace march and rally to mark the 8th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, tying the nation's failing economy to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. "Eight Years in Iraq--Nine Years in Afghanistan: How is the War Economy Working for You?" will take place at Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW 6th and Yamhill) in Portland, Oregon, featuring music, speakers, and a march through downtown Portland. The rally is set to begin at 1:00 PM with the march at 1:30 PM; music will begin at 12:30 PM.

"Our wars and our over-blown war machine don't make us safer, and they don't make us healthier, better educated, or happier either, said Curt Bell, a retired scientist and a volunteer with the Peace Action Group of Portland's First Unitarian Church, one of the many organizations planning the March 19th action. "People need to stand up and say NO to our war machine and how it misuses our precious resources."

Topics to be covered by the event include:

. End the Wars and Occupations - Bring the Troops Home Now
. Fund Jobs, Healthcare and Human Needs, Not the War Machine
. Stand for Civil Rights at Home and Abroad
. Take Action!


The growing list of cosponsors and endorsers for the March 19th action now includes Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group (503-236-3065), Portland Peaceful Response Coalition (503-344-5078), Portland Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Peace Action Group - First Unitarian Church Portland, Military Families Speak Out-Oregon, Portland Labor for Peace and Justice, Portland Area Rethinking Schools, Alliance for Democracy - Portland Chapter, East Timor Action Network/Portland, pdxjustice Media Productions, KBOO 90.7 FM Community Radio (kboo.fm), Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church, Living Earth , Augustana Lutheran Church, People's Activist Cafe, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Portland Branch, Families for Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Portland Jobs with Justice, Freedom Socialist Party, Veterans for
Peace Chapter 72, Iraq Veterans Against the War-Oregon Chapter, War Resisters League-Portland, Metanoia Peace Community-United Methodist Church, Northwest Veterans for Peace, Little Light of Mine Friends Worship Group, Women in Black, International Socialist Organization, No War Drum Corps, Sisters of the Road, Jewish Voice for Peace, Flying Focus Video Collective (media endorser), Shelly's Garden, Oregon Wildlife Federation, Back 2 the Wall, Recruiter Watch PDX, Mirador, Five Star Cleaners, Al-Nakba Awareness Project, and others. For an updated list of cosponsors and endorsers, please visit: http://www.pjw.info/march1911cosponsors.html

For more information or for organizations to get involved, please contact Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065. To arrange for interviews with event organizers or speakers, please call (503) 888-7455.