Wednesday, March 15, 2006
By RON COLQUITT Staff Reporter
More than 100 peace activists from this area and across the nation left Mobile on foot for New Orleans Tuesday morning to protest the war in Iraq and what they say is inadequate aid for Hurricane Katrina victims.
The marchers came from California, New York City, Colorado and other states to join with locals who participated in the march. They began their trip to New Orleans following a brief prayer service near Mobile's Stone Street Baptist Church.
After resting at the memorial, Paul Robinson of Mobile and others who helped organize the march delivered brief speeches before resuming their walk along U.S. 90.
Robinson said the marchers planned to pitch their tents Tuesday night in the Irvington area of south Mobile County before continuing on their way to New Orleans -- a roughly 140-mile trip they hope to conclude by Saturday.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan plans to join the marchers in New Orleans, her sister, Dede Miller, said Tuesday during the march.
"Yesterday when I was at the airport, there were two units of Army guys ready to ship out to Iraq. And I couldn't help but have a broken heart knowing at least one of those kids would not come home," she said.
Miller said she regretted not getting involved sooner.
"So tell your friends, tell your family, don't wait," Miller said. "Don't wait until you get that rude wake-up call when three angels of death in (military) green come to your door and tell you that your lovely nephew is no longer part of your life."
Lynn Seewer, 41, of Mobile uses a wheelchair because of severe arthritis, but said she and her husband plan to complete the journey to New Orleans.
Her husband, 57-year-old Ernie Seewer, said he will push the wheelchair all the way if necessary. He is an Army veteran, he said.
"I just want to be able to participate even though I can't walk, so my husband is going to help me," she said. "This is a very worthwhile cause. ... A lot of people think the only way you can support your troops is to support the war, and that's not necessarily true."
Lisa Smith, 26, of Mobile was among those who watched the marchers go by and cheered them on.
"They are protesting against the war, and it's been going on too long, and it's time for it to be over," Smith said. "I agree with them, definitely."
Smith said she thinks it's "fantastic" that the marchers don't plan to stop until they get to New Orleans.
"I hope somebody, somewhere in the right place is listening and will take heed to what's going on," she said. "It's just ridiculous. There are just too many lives that have been lost in vain."
Robinson, the president of the Mobile Chapter of Veterans for Peace who helped organize the event, said he was pleased with Tuesday's turnout and expected hundreds more protesters will join the march along the way and when it arrives in New Orleans.
Taking his turn at the podium at Memorial Park, Robinson said, "With this administration, we thought that U.S. democracy was again prepared for the greatest of emergencies. Our democracy was found lacking."
The hurricane exposed a flaw in the federal aid system, especially when levees failed and New Orleans flooded, he said.
Robinson said the city was "ruined and lives were lost."
The disaster also exposed an underlying racial problem, he said.
"The disadvantaged were prevented from leaving due to the failure of our democracy," Robinson said.
Hurricane Victims Walk the Walk in Alabama, Independent Online, cape Town, South Africa
March 15 2006 at 01:52AM
Mobile, Alabama - Hurricane victims and war veterans set out on Tuesday on a march to New Orleans to protest against the war in Iraq and what they view as a lack of relief aid for storm victims.
Paul Robinson, the local chapter president of Veterans For Peace, said the 225km "Walking To New Orleans" march is scheduled to end on Saturday.
He said marchers, including several victims of Hurricane Katrina, are demanding not only an end to the war but also a large increase in resources to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives. He expected about 300 marchers to join in, some walking the entire distance and other joining at the end.
March to New Orleans to protest Iraq war, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 · Last updated 10:21 a.m. PT
He said marchers, including several victims of Hurricane Katrina, are demanding not only an end to the war but also a large increase in resources to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives. He expected about 300 marchers to join in, some walking the entire distance and other joining at the end.
Vets, storm victims begin 'Walkin' to New Orleans' protest march, The Clarion-Ledger
March 14, 2006
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan will join the marchers in New Orleans, her sister, Dede Miller, said Monday at a news conference.
"I'm marching because this will bring attention to the war and what's going on here in the South. It's outrageous," Miller said.
Maine Mother and Son Team Joins March to New OrleansCommon Dreams
PEAKS ISLAND, Maine - March 8 - The last time Annie and Perry O'Brien were on a peace march together, she was carrying him in a Snugli. From March 14 to 19, they'll be walking side by side from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans on the Veterans' and Survivors' March for Peace and Justice. The O'Briens, a mother and son from Peaks Island, Maine, are supported by more than 60 individuals who are sponsoring their walk.
Perry, a 23-year-old veteran of the war in Afghanistan where he served as a medic with the 82nd Airborne, was honorably discharged as a conscientious objector in November 2004. He has created a website to guide soldiers through the process of applying for conscientious objection ( Peace-Out ) and has been active with Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War since his discharge. He is currently a student at Cornell University.
The Veterans' and Survivors' March for Peace and Justice is an action of Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and other veteran and family organizations, in coalition with organizations supporting victims of Hurricane Katrina. Veterans of wars abroad along with the survivors of Katrina and Rita are joining together for this march and caravan to establish ties of material solidarity between those who oppose the war abroad and the social and economic costs for working people at home. It will arrive in New Orleans on the third anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Vets, storm victims begin "Walkin' to New Orleans" protest marchTimes Daily
Paul Robinson, the local chapter president of Veterans for Peace, says the 140-mile march is scheduled to end Saturday.
He says marchers include veterans of the Vietnam war, the war in Iraq and victims of Hurricane Katrina who are demanding not only an end to the war in Iraq but also a large increase in resources to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives. He says marchers will go by foot and in cars and at night will stay in tents, motor homes or their vehicles.
Mobile site of protest march to New OrleansKATC 3
MOBILE, Ala. Mobile, Alabama will be the starting point for a 140-mile march protesting the war in Iraq and the government response to Hurricane Katrina victims.
The march, which begins today (Tuesday), will end Saturday in New Orleans.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan is expected to join the marchers in New Orleans.
The march was announced yesterday (Monday) by the Mobile Chapter of Veterans for Peace.
Chapter president Paul Robinson said he expects 300 people to participate in the "Walkin' to New Orleans" march.
March To Protest Katrina Response, Iraq War
Jackson Channel.com, MS - Mar 14, 2006
MOBILE, Ala. -- Mobile, Ala., will be the starting point for a 140-mile march protesting the war in Iraq and the government response ...
March to New Orleans to Protest Iraq War
Salon - Mar 14, 2006
March 14,2006 | MOBILE, Ala. -- Hurricane victims and war veterans set out Tuesday on a march to New Orleans to protest the war ...
March to New Orleans to Protest Iraq War
Forbes - Mar 14, 2006
Hurricane victims and war veterans set out Tuesday on a march to New Orleans to protest the war in Iraq and what they view as a lack of relief aid for storm ...
Vets, storm victims begin "Walkin' to New Orleans" protest march
KLFY, LA - Mar 14, 2006
MOBILE, Ala. War veterans and hurricane victims set out from Mobile, Alabama today on a march to New Orleans to protest the war ...
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March in Freedom - Pablo Paredes
Latino Moritorium March:
On March 12, 2006 Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across a 240+ mile quest for peace that aims at raising Latino voice of opposition to the War in Iraq. The March will run from Tijuana, Mexico all the way to The Mission district of San Francisco making strategic, symbolic and ceremonial stops along the way. The 241 mile march is inspired by Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March protesting British imperialism and will serve as a loud cry for an end to the bloodshed in Iraq.
We need your help financially and logistically to make this a success. Click on the link and button below for donations and feel free to e-mail us at solidaritywithpablo@yahoo.com.
Howard Zinn: "This is one of the most significant actions taken yet to dramatize the movement against the war -- especially because it calls attention to the Latino population, the loss of Latino life in the war, and the unrecognized Larino opposition to the war."
Noam Chomsky: "According to US and British polls, the overwhelming majority of Iraqis want a strict timetable for withdrawal of the occupying armies, without delay. American citizens are the only ones who can fulfill their responsibility, both to the people of Iraq and to our own society. The 241-mile peace march led by four courageous Latino activists revives the spirit of Gandhi's famous salt march that helped liberate India from centuries of harsh imperial rule. We should do what we can to ensure that it achieves its vital and honorable objectives." Help Fund our March for Peace
Four influential Latino peace activists will lead a 240+ mile quest for peace!
Despite embarking on a very bloody and costly war with no just cause; President Bush insists on disrespecting Mohandas K. Gandhi memory by visiting his grave to lay down a memorial wreath. Fortunately, many in America do understand Ghandi's teaching of peace and non-violence. On March 12, 2006 3 young latino conscientious objectors and 1 parent of a fallen latino will lead a march for peace inspired by Ghandi's 241 mile salt march. The march will coincide with the anniversary of the war in Iraq, the anniversary of Ghandi's salt march and will end just as congress reviews key war related legislation. High profile activists such as Cindy Sheehan and Dolores Huerta will also support and participate in this effort.
This historic march will begin in Tijuana, Mexico as a sign of peace beyond borders and will have the formal blessing of the bishop of Tijuana. The march well then head across San Diego and into Escondido, CA...resting place of Jesus Suarez del Solar, one of the first fallen latino marines in the iraq war. The March will stage a major peaceful demonstration at Camp Pendelton, military base that has deployed many Marines to Iraq. The next stop in the march will be the city of La Paz, California, resting place of Cesar Chavez. After crossing Los Angeles and other key cities, the march will conclude in San Francisco, California with a blood drive and a memorial service for Jesus Suarez del Solar and all other fallen US military service people in Iraq.
Key milestones in the march are as follows:
03/12 (early AM) - Initiation of the march in Tijuana, Mexico.
03/13 - Escondido: Where Jesus was first recruited by the US military and where his body currently rests.
03/14 - Camp Pendleton
03/24 - La, Paz:La Paz means “peace” in English and is the resting place of Cesar Chavez
03/27 - San Francisco Grand Finale featuring a blood drive to benefit those in need in Iraq (civilian and Military) and a memorial service for Jesus. The blood drive will serve to demonstrate that despite their opposition to the war, they do support our troops and wish for them to come home now and end the bloodshed.
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