Over 2,500 people marched through the streets of Syracuse, NY on September 29th to call for Immediate Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Billed as, 'Soldiers and Civilians Speak Out!', members of Iraq Veterans Against the War lead the march.

This march was unique, not only because it was the largest in upstate New York since the Vietnam War, but because it brought soldiers, students, labor and the mainstream city groups together in a way not seen enough in today's antiwar movement. Groups like Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, the Green Party and SEIU 1199 came together to demand Immediate Withdrawal of US troops, funding for vets when they get back, reparations for the Iraqi people, and funding for healthcare.

Initiated by the Ft. Drum chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, organizing involved 10 cities, and many individuals, over a 2 month stretch, through weekly conference calls, a website hosted by the Syracuse Peace Council and a face-to-face meeting at Rochester's Antiwar Storefront. The result was mobilization from all parts of New York state and a great openness to not only discuss the war, but the health care crisis, the devastation of our inner cities, the poor treatment of our veterans, and the racist scapegoating of Arabs and Muslims here in the US. Read the full article here.

RIMC photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Links: Syracuse Peace Council September 29th website