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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted March 17, 2004, updated March 18, 2004*   Text © 2004 Press releases from Copper Country Peace Alliance and Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice.  Photo © 2003 Michele Anderson.

Peace groups to hold Walks for Peace, video showings Mar. 20, 21

HOUGHTON, MARQUETTE -- Houghton and Marquette peace groups plan events on Saturday, Mar. 20, and Sunday, Mar. 21, to commemorate the American and Iraqi lives lost over the past year.

March 20th is the anniversary of the start of the war on Iraq. The Copper Country Peace Alliance is planning a walk and video showing to coincide with events happening around the world on this day. The public is invited to join the walk, which will start at noon at the Motherlode Coffee House in Houghton. At 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday, Mar. 20, and Sunday, Mar. 21, at the Motherlode, there will be a showing of the video "Iraq, Emerging Voices," a film produced by the Mennonite Central Committee.* A discussion of the film will follow. The video showing is free and open to the public.

About a year ago, on Mar. 22, 2003, carrying both black flags and the U.S. flag, Peace Walk participants held a moment of silence in Hancock for victims of the War in Iraq. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice will be holding a march on Saturday, Mar. 20, right after their regular weekly 11:30 a.m. post office vigil. Starting around noon or 12:30 p.m., they will walk down to the peace pole in Harlow Park, have a roadside vigil and then walk back. Some participants will be wearing black and pins containing the names of Iraqi children to commemorate this beginning of the invasion of Iraq.

March 20th is a Global Day of Action. According the the United for Peace and Justice Web site, Over 250 events are planned in the United States, in addition to protests in more than 50 countries. Over 500 groups have endorsed the call to action on this day.

Editor's Notes: *For a description of the film, "Iraq, Emerging Voices," visit the Mennonite Central Committee's Web site.

If you wish to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives on the issue of Iraq, visit the Congress Merge Web site to locate them. Visit also www.moveon.org for updates on the movement for peace in Iraq.

True Majority has set up a way for you to send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper calling for President Bush to be held accountable. Just click here: http://action.truemajority.org/ctt.asp?u=53600&l=391

Read why Peace Alliance members and supporters oppose war on Iraq in their December 2002 "Open Letter to our friends and neighbors."

Marquette Citizens Opposed to the War on Iraq rally every Saturday in front of the Marquette Post Office. Visit their Web site. 

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