We Are Not Alone

We know it’s easy to feel isolated for being against the war in a sea of war-mongerers. So, to inspire you and let you know you’re not alone, we’re including a list of some of the many anti-war events that have already taken place in such a short period of time!

  • Sydney, Australia: anti-war, anti-scapegoating rally =”No Retaliation”
  • Chicago: local Direct Action Network called a organizing meeting, 200 in attendance to plan vigils.
  • Minneapolis: “Black ribbon” campaign started, where people are tying black ribbons around trees instead of the traditional yellow ones.
  • Houston: 60 anti-war demonstrators gathered Friday, Sept. 14 at the Federal Building, asking to “end the cycle of violence.”
  • Bar Harbor, Maine: 70 people marched with banners at an anti-war rally at local college, against the attack on civil liberties.
  • New Brunswick, NJ: several activist organizations are planning demos, including the local Food Not Bombs, who has released a statement reagarding the current threat of war.
  • St. Louis: Food Not Bombs put an anti-war theme on one of their servings. A pro-war passer-by alerted some cops who ordered banners and chalk messages removed per local “no signage” ordinance. The busybody objected further, so the cops shut the serving down completely. The whole crowd moved a block east and was able to continue serving.
  • DC: Hundreds participated in an anti-war vigil Friday, Sept. 14.
  • Philly: First meeting of Concerned Students Against Discrimination Thursday, Sept. 20, where 120 Penn State students, primarily people of Middle Eastern descent. Emphasis of the meetings has been the personal safety of students on campus due to recent racially-motivated attacks, as well as holding the mainstream media accountable for its misinformation.
  • London: Peace vigil outside Downing St., about 300 in attendance. Also a smaller rally met outside the Parliament building. There was heavy police presence there, and one protester was assaulted by a cop. The rally then joined up with the larger rally at Downing St.
  • Atlanta: 200 anti-war protesters met downtown Saturday, Sept. 15 at Woodruff Park, including workers’ organizations, monks, and revolutionary knitters. Also 100 people gathered for a peace vigil outside Martin Luther King, Jr.’s tomb.
  • Montreal: Lots of organizational meetings, vigils planned for every Friday, defense groups formed to protect people from racially-based attacks. Also an emergency rally is planned for if/when the US attacks another country.
  • Toronto: Close to 300 attended meeting of concerned citizens to discuss and organize against the war hysteria and recent racist backlashes. Six working groups formed to take collective action.
  • Portland: 3000 anti-war demonstrators rallied and walked around the block. It was a self-directed peaceful march with very little police presence.
  • Concord CA: 300 attended a peaceful vigil downtown organized by a local youth group.
  • Fresno CA: 400 attended a March for Unity, beginning at a church and ending at a mosque. Anti-war and anti-racist, pro-social and economic justice.
  • Austin: 750 demonstrators held an anti-war protest Thursday, Sept. 20 although the mainstream media reported that there were “close to a hundred” there.
  • Boston: 1000 people attended an anti-war vigil Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Copley Square. Hundreds marched afterwards to Harvard Square. Also peace vigil at Harvard the next day.
  • Urbana, IL: 100 people met at the Urbana-Champaign IMC office to discuss anti-war thoughts and strategies.
  • NYC: Several anti-war rallies and teach-ins, including a march on Sept. 21 from Union Square to Times Square.
  • New Orleans: anti-war vigil took place Saturday, Sept. 15. More vigils planned.
  • Quebec: Two anti-war student walk-outs took place Wednesday, Sept. 12 (that’s less than a day to organize!!!), one at a high school and one at a women’s college.
  • Troy, NY: Local Quaker, Catholic Worker, and pagan communities organized a peace rally Saturday, Sept. 15 with 200 in attendance, near an Uncle Sam statue. Banners and flowers a-plenty.