March 19th: Rochester Anti-War Movement Steps Up Resistance

<p> March 19th marked the six anniversary of the Iraq war. Over 150 people from a variety of groups come together, not only to show opposition to the war but to ratchet up resistance and create a new level of coordination and intensity in anti-war protest. Utilizing <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19882/">the Spokescouncil model</a>, groups planned events covering the entire day, starting at noon and going until the night and happening around in downtown Rochester. </p ><p> Part of what made the day a success was the amount of planning and critical thinking that the organizers put into it. Rochester Indymedia talked with the groups who held events on Thursday to let them explain their actions using their own words. </p > <div class="cleardiv"></div ><br /> <br /> <h2>12:00: Free Meal Share - Food Not Bombs<br /> Anti-war Speakout - Declaration of Peace</h2 > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/img_2210s.jpg" align="left"> <blockquote> Food not Bombs prepared a vegetarian meal at the Unitarian church on South Clinton. We used donated produce and made chili and had bread to serve at a speakout before the march, at noon at the liberty pole. <br /> <strong>- Caitlin Holcombe, Food not Bombs.</strong> </blockquote > <div class="cleardiv"></div > <blockquote> We have had this amazing speakout at the liberty pole. We combined this speakout, that was moderated by and mostly done by Ricardo Adams, with this great street theater. I was, I guess, the director of the street theater piece. What we had were six actors dressed in black. They had whiteface with tears pasted on the whiteface, which was to show the absolute frustration, sadness - I guess we would call them mourners - the sadness that we've all been feeling for so long with this 6 years of war. When Ricardo or others would speak the actors would strike a pose which was either sadness, anger, victory. It was quite effective; it kept people there. Getting that visual with the speakers made people sort of fascinated. <br /> <strong>- Cathy Castania, Declaration of Peace.</strong> </blockquote > <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/img_2194s.jpg"><br> <blockquote> AARM's position is not only ending the war, but what we can do for our people. The main focus is that the fight is not over there, it's here. In people's mindsets and how people are viewed and treated. We need to start a war here - that's the war we're working on. It's a movement. It's a movement propelling people of color and disadvantage people forward - they say "disadvantaged", but I don't feel that we're disadvantaged. For example, in the war blacks on minorities are on the front line. Here in the US we should be on the front line for a different reason. Setting the example, elevating instead of breaking down and building. <br /> <strong>- John Rouse, Activists Against Racism Movement (Rally Speaker)</strong> </blockquote > <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0492_%28modified%29.jpg"><br> <div class="cleardiv"></div ><br /> <br /> <h2>2:30: Funk The War - Students For a Democratic Society (SDS)</h2 > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0515_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left"> <blockquote> We're having a dance party in the streets against the war. What we're hoping to accomplish is to do something a little different this year than in past years. Every year it seems to be the same somber march on the sidewalks. And this year we'd like to have it a little more militant, a little more in the streets and a little more in your face.<br /> <strong>- Jake Allen, Students For a Democratic Society</strong> </blockquote > <p> Funk the war was a huge success and brought a ton of energy and militancy to downtown. The march brought a lot of visibility to anti-war resistance by being loud and militant and by occupying Main St. from Clinton Ave. to Exchange St. </p > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0525_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left"> <div class="cleardiv"></div ><br /> <br /> <h2>3:00: No More Business As Usual! - Parade and Rally - MoveOn, PIA, Rochester Against War, Iraq Veterans Against the War, PDGV</h2 > <blockquote> A lot of progressive groups got together because, collectively, we think the Iraq war was a particularly bad idea and has been prosecuted particularly poorly. March 19 is an obvious opportunity to commemorate the start of it and reflect on the effects it's had and how to extricate ourselves as quickly as possible. <br /> <strong>- Nicholas Wilt, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley</strong> </blockquote > <p> The two marches started from different locations, then converged at the intersection of Main and Exchange st. The combined march moved to the federal building, where people made speeches via bullhorn, then on to Genesee River Crossroads Park for a "Sentencing of Bush and Cheney" rally. </p > <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0544.jpg"><br> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0558_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left"> <blockquote> Our group is all members of the military since September 11th, 2000. Today we helped organize the march that met up with the SDS group and got things going from the beginning. <br /> <strong>- Ken Braley, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)</strong> </blockquote > <div class="cleardiv"></div > <br /> <br /> <h2>5:00 - Funk the War Continues</h2 > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0567_%28modified%29.jpg" align="right"> <p> After the rally, the more militant members of the crowd started marching in the streets again, led by Students for a Democratic Society. The marchers again occupied the streets moving from the park to the Liberty Pole. People downtown really got into the march, taking pictures, showing support and, in some cases, joining it in the streets. At the liberty pole, marchers started dancing to chants of "Get Up. Get Down. There's an anti-war movement in this town." At this point, a huge number of people hanging out downtown joined in, making it crystal clear that opposition to the war is wide-spread and that loud actions are appreciated and needed. </p > <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0569_%28modified%29.jpg"><br> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0574_%28modified_%282%29%29.jpg"><br> <div class="cleardiv"></div > <br /> <br /> <h2>Other Events:</h2 > <ul> <li><h3>Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace - Sacred Heart Cathedral</h3 ></li > <li><h3>War Made Easy (Film and Discussion) - First Unitarian Church</h3 ></li > </ul >

<p> March 19th marked the six anniversary of the Iraq war. Over 150 people from a variety of groups come together, not only to show opposition to the war but to ratchet up resistance and create a new level of coordination and intensity in anti-war protest. Utilizing <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19882/">the Spokescouncil model</a>, groups planned events covering the entire day, starting at noon and going until the night and happening around in downtown Rochester. </p> <p> Part of what made the day a success was the amount of planning and critical thinking that the organizers put into it. Rochester Indymedia talked with the groups who held events on Thursday to let them explain their actions using their own words. </p> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <h2>12:00: Free Meal Share - Food Not Bombs<br /> Anti-war Speakout - Declaration of Peace</h2> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/img_2210s.jpg" align="left" /><br /> <blockquote> Food not Bombs prepared a vegetarian meal at the Unitarian church on South Clinton. We used donated produce and made chili and had bread to serve at a speakout before the march, at noon at the liberty pole. <br /> <strong>- Caitlin Holcombe, Food not Bombs.</strong> </blockquote> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <blockquote> We have had this amazing speakout at the liberty pole. We combined this speakout, that was moderated by and mostly done by Ricardo Adams, with this great street theater. I was, I guess, the director of the street theater piece. What we had were six actors dressed in black. They had whiteface with tears pasted on the whiteface, which was to show the absolute frustration, sadness - I guess we would call them mourners - the sadness that we've all been feeling for so long with this 6 years of war. When Ricardo or others would speak the actors would strike a pose which was either sadness, anger, victory. It was quite effective; it kept people there. Getting that visual with the speakers made people sort of fascinated. <br /> <strong>- Cathy Castania, Declaration of Peace.</strong> </blockquote> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/img_2194s.jpg" /><br /><br /> <blockquote> AARM's position is not only ending the war, but what we can do for our people. The main focus is that the fight is not over there, it's here. In people's mindsets and how people are viewed and treated. We need to start a war here - that's the war we're working on. It's a movement. It's a movement propelling people of color and disadvantage people forward - they say "disadvantaged", but I don't feel that we're disadvantaged. For example, in the war blacks on minorities are on the front line. Here in the US we should be on the front line for a different reason. Setting the example, elevating instead of breaking down and building. <br /> <strong>- John Rouse, Activists Against Racism Movement (Rally Speaker)</strong> </blockquote> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0492_%28modified%29.jpg" /><br /><br /> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <h2>2:30: Funk The War - Students For a Democratic Society (SDS)</h2> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0515_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left" /><br /> <blockquote> We're having a dance party in the streets against the war. What we're hoping to accomplish is to do something a little different this year than in past years. Every year it seems to be the same somber march on the sidewalks. And this year we'd like to have it a little more militant, a little more in the streets and a little more in your face.<br /> <strong>- Jake Allen, Students For a Democratic Society</strong> </blockquote> <p> Funk the war was a huge success and brought a ton of energy and militancy to downtown. The march brought a lot of visibility to anti-war resistance by being loud and militant and by occupying Main St. from Clinton Ave. to Exchange St. </p> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0525_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left" /><br /> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <h2>3:00: No More Business As Usual! - Parade and Rally - MoveOn, PIA, Rochester Against War, Iraq Veterans Against the War, PDGV</h2> <blockquote> A lot of progressive groups got together because, collectively, we think the Iraq war was a particularly bad idea and has been prosecuted particularly poorly. March 19 is an obvious opportunity to commemorate the start of it and reflect on the effects it's had and how to extricate ourselves as quickly as possible. <br /> <strong>- Nicholas Wilt, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley</strong> </blockquote> <p> The two marches started from different locations, then converged at the intersection of Main and Exchange st. The combined march moved to the federal building, where people made speeches via bullhorn, then on to Genesee River Crossroads Park for a "Sentencing of Bush and Cheney" rally. </p> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0544.jpg" /><br /> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0558_%28modified%29.jpg" align="left" /><br /> <blockquote> Our group is all members of the military since September 11th, 2000. Today we helped organize the march that met up with the SDS group and got things going from the beginning. <br /> <strong>- Ken Braley, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)</strong> </blockquote> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <h2>5:00 - Funk the War Continues</h2> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0567_%28modified%29.jpg" align="right" /> <p> After the rally, the more militant members of the crowd started marching in the streets again, led by Students for a Democratic Society. The marchers again occupied the streets moving from the park to the Liberty Pole. People downtown really got into the march, taking pictures, showing support and, in some cases, joining it in the streets. At the liberty pole, marchers started dancing to chants of "Get Up. Get Down. There's an anti-war movement in this town." At this point, a huge number of people hanging out downtown joined in, making it crystal clear that opposition to the war is wide-spread and that loud actions are appreciated and needed. </p> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0569_%28modified%29.jpg" /><br /> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/dscn0574_%28modified_%282%29%29.jpg" /><br /><br /> <div class="cleardiv"></div> <h2>Other Events:</h2> <ul> <li> <h3>Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace - Sacred Heart Cathedral</h3></li> <li> <h3>War Made Easy (Film and Discussion) - First Unitarian Church</h3></li> </ul>