The stakes in stopping illegal U.S. war and its consequences have never been higher.

This spring will mark five years since the U.S. invasion of Iraq – where brutal occupation continues with no end in sight. U.S. military aggression with high civilian casualties in nearby Afghanistan is expanding. Leaders in both parties are threatening to invade Iran and Pakistan. And the government continues to bankroll Israeli occupation of Palestine and the starvation in Gaza, as well as ongoing U.S. aggression against a host of other countries around the globe, from Colombia and Venezuela to Haiti and the Philippines.

Five years of U.S. occupation have left hundreds of thousands dead or maimed – at the cost of over a trillion dollars and growing. Those funds could have gone instead to support affordable healthcare and housing, rebuild New Orleans for thousands of Black residents who have been ethnically cleansed from their homes, provide veterans with decent benefits, fund quality education for our residents, and support a host of other human needs our leaders have sacrificed instead to the war machine and its profiteers.

At the same time, attacks at home on our civil liberties and constitutional rights have intensified, while the government continues to scapegoat immigrants and other disenfranchised communities as part of its tactic to divide and rule.

The response from leading presidential candidates in both parties? Support for more military spending and tacit approval of other poisonous policies – including torture – while job losses and skyrocketing mortgage payments threaten millions, and state and local governments around the country teeter on the brink of insolvency.

On the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, join us in a series of actions to give voice – and visible action – to the demand for peace with justice at home and abroad.

Wednesday, March 19 — Protest! 6 PM rally, Federal Plaza at Adams & Dearborn, then march from the loop to the "Gold Coast"

Thursday, March 20 — Resist! Participate in a day of creative actions throughout the downtown and metro area, followed by a permitted "Convergence" at 5 PM at Federal Plaza.

March 19-20 *** 5 Years of the Iraq War *** Call for Action Endorsers

Sponsored by Chicago's 5th Year Anti-War Coalition.

Endorsers (list in formation):
Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice * ANSWER Chicago * Chicago Area CodePINK * Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism * Chicago Labor Against the War * Chicago Progressive Alliance * Chicago Socialist Party * Chicagoans Against Apartheid in Palestine * Freedom Road Socialist Organization * Gay Liberation Network * HammerHard MediaWorks * International Solidarity Movement – Chicago * Labor Beat * Near West Citizens for Peace & Justice * Neighbors for Peace * Northwest Suburban NOW * Palestine Solidarity Group * Peace Pledge Chicago

Want to have your group listed as an endorser of Chicago's 5th Year actions? Here's what we're asking of endorsing groups:

1. Contribute a minimum of $30 (more if having a float in the march and/or a literature table at the rally). This said, the coalition does not want lack of financial resources to be a barrier to endorsement, and waivers/reductions in fees are available for those who need them;

2. Help publicize the march and rally through your list serve (stock verbiage will be available soon), snail mailings, and on your web site;

3. Take responsibility for putting up posters in businesses / schools / community centers and on bulletin boards in a SPECIFIC area of the city or suburbs; and,

4. Designate one of your members as a coalition worker on the days of the event, assisting in things like security, funds solicitation, demonstration facilitators (“marshalls”), etc.

To have your organization listed as an endorser of the March 19th / 20th events on the 5th anniversary of the U.S. war on Iraq, please send a message to contactform@m20coalition.net including the following information:

1) the name of your organization

2) your name

3) your telephone number(s)

4) your group’s fax number (if any)

5) your group’s website (if any)

* * * * * *

Here's how you can send your endorsement donation to support the M19/20 actions:

1) Make your check payable to "8th Day Center for Justice";

2) Write the name of your organization on the check;

3) Write "M19/20 endorsement" in the memo section; and

4) Mail it to:

CCAWR
4404 N. Magnolia, Suite 420
Chicago, IL 60640

Thank you!