www.TroopsOutNow.org

Momentum grows for a united march on Central Park on March 19 Labor, community groups, and antiwar organizations join to say, "Troops Out Now!"

On the weekend on March 19-20 , 2005, the second anniversary of the beginning of "shock and awe," the global antiwar movement will be in the streets to oppose the ongoing criminal occupation of Iraq, which has cost more than 100,000 Iraqi lives.

In New York City, a coalition of antiwar, community, labor, and International solidarity organizations is planning for a massive march to Central Park on March 19, where they will rally under the slogan "Out Now." The second meeting of this coalition took place on Thursday, January 7, with representatives from more than 30 organizations present.

The list of endorsers for this march and rally is growing daily. A partial list of endorsers is included below.

The Million Worker March movement has also issued a call for a united demonstration on March 19 to include antiwar, veterans, labor, and other progressive organizations. This provides an important opportunity to join in opposition to the war and to highlight the plight of working people who are under attack by the Administration.

Bush is about to ask Congress for another $80-100 billion to fund the war against the people of Iraq, on top of the $147 billion that has already been spent. Meanwhile, jobs are disappearing, unions are under attack, and budgets for healthcare, housing, and education are being slashed. It is vitally important for antiwar, labor, and community organizations to join together to stop the war against Iraq and the war against working people.

The regional coalition in New York- the Out Now! Coalition- is demanding the immediate, unconditional, and complete withdrawal of occupying forces from Iraq. The phony elections scheduled to take place on January 30 have nothing to do with "democracy;” their only function is to provide a facade of legitimacy for the U.S.-appointed occupation regime. An election that takes place under U.S. occupation, supervised by U.S. troops, and open only to U.S.-approved candidates is not an election, it is a charade.

The ongoing resistance to the occupation makes it clear that the people of Iraq do not want a phony democracy imposed at gunpoint. The only political solution that truly reflects the will of the Iraqi people is the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Troops Out Now! Money for Jobs & Education, not for War and Occupation! End the Occupation of Iraq, Haiti, Palestine, and Afghanistan!

Updated List of endorsers

Endorsers include: Million Worker March; International Action Center; Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition; Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle; Artists and Activists United for Peace; Dr. Luis Barrios, John Jay College*; Casa de las Américas; Central New Jersey Coalition for Peace and Justice; Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General; Committee to Support the Iraqi People; Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST); Teresa Gutierrez, NY Committee to Free the Cuban 5*; Roberto Guzman, FMLN of El Salvador, NYC*; Haiti Support Network; Harlem Tenants Council; Jersey City Peace Movement; Korea Truth Commission; Dennis Kyne - Veterans for Peace*; Gina Magloire; Alex Majumder, Venceremos Brigade*; Dorothea Mendoza, National Co-Chair, Gabriella Network*; Mexican American Workers Association (AMAT); Movement in Motion Arts Collective; Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP); New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine; Nodutdol for Korean Community Development; NY Committee to Defend Palestine; NYC Labor Against the War; Gloria Pacis, Mother of Stephen Funk; People Judge Bush; People’s Organization for Progress (POP); People's Video Network; Queers for Peace and Justice; Brenda Stokely, President, AFSCME District Council 1707*; Stonewall Warriors, Boston, MA; Support Network for an Armed Forces Union; Chuck Turner, Member of Boston City Council; Ali Zaidi; Howard Zinn

*Individual Endorsement, Organization for reference

Support the Right to Assemble in Central Park!

Last year, during the weeks leading up to the Republican National Convention, the Bloomberg Administration and NYPD denied antiwar activists the right to assemble in Central Park.

We must not allow this decision to stand--Central Park belongs to the people, not to Bloomberg. Our First Amendment Rights are non-negotiable, and the antiwar movement must never surrender them again.

Join us in demanding the right to assemble in the Park--our rights are non-negotiable!

Call/Write/Fax Mayor Bloomberg and demand the right to Rally in Central Park!

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg PHONE 212-639-9675 FAX (212) 788-2460 E-MAIL: nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

How to help build March 19

1) Endorse: www.TroopsOutNow.org/endorse.shtml2" rel="nofollow">www.TroopsOutNow.org/endorse.shtml2

2) Forward this call widely

3) Help get the word out -- downloadable flyers are available at www.TroopsOutNow.org" rel="nofollow">www.TroopsOutNow.org