Organizers Hope March Will “Energize and Expand” War Opposition
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 — More than 100,000 people are expected to gather Saturday on the Mall alongside the White House for a rally and a march that organizers say they hope will make the government more aware of growing anger over the war in Iraq.
An umbrella group called United for Peace and Justice, representing more than 1,300 groups nationwide, organized the weekend’s events. Bill Dobbs, the group’s media coordinator, said the goal of the march is to “raise a loud cry in front of the White House and to Congress: ‘End the war in Iraq, bring the troops home now.’ ”
Dobbs said he also hopes the protest will “galvanize, energize and expand opposition to the war, so people will go back home and work harder to end it.”
The rally and march on Saturday will be the most visible event in a weekend of activism and training for antiwar advocates from all over the country. The rally, which will feature numerous speakers, will begin at 11:30 on Saturday, followed by a march around streets near the White House at 12:30. Later in the afternoon, there will be a concert that will include musicians Steve Earle and Joan Baez and activist Cindy Sheehan.
Sunday will consist of training in nonviolent resistance, organizing and lobbying, in preparation for demonstrations and meetings on Monday. Dobbs said 500 activists will meet with about 300 members of Congress from 39 states to lobby them to do what they can to stop the war.
“Congress is very important because they gave Bush the money to wage this war,” Dobbs said, “We have to hold them accountable.”
“In the aftermath of Katrina, even more people are wondering why we continue to spend money and lives on a senseless war,” he said.
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