Public Employee Press

Join April 29 protest against Iraq war

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

American anti-war activists are gearing up for what they hope will be one of the largest marches to date against the unpopular U.S. war in Iraq.

Scheduled for April 29 in New York City, the march will mark the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Organized by the anti-war coalition United for Peace and Justice, activists will be demanding an end to the war and the return home of all U.S. troops in Iraq.

Santos Crespo, executive vice president of Dept. of Education Employees Local 372, introduced a resolution in support of the march at the February delegates meeting, which received unanimous support.

AFSCME, DC 37’s national union, the AFL-CIO and many other unions oppose the war, and the April 29 protest has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, U.S. Labor Against the War, Veterans for Peace and hundreds of other groups.

While President George W. Bush has asked Congress for another $72 million for the Iraq war, a study by the National Priorities Project has found that the cost of the war has skyrocketed to $205 billion through fiscal year 2005. The study also found that war-related expenses were higher than anticipated and that the Dept. of Defense transferred money appropriated for Afghanistan to the war
in Iraq.

A recent poll also showed that a staggering 72 percent of U.S. troops in Iraq oppose President Bush’s stay-the-course strategy and favor pulling out within a year. The LeMoyne College/Zogby poll interviewed 944 troops from all services.

Marchers will gather at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Broadway and Herald Square. For more information on the march and other anti-war activities go to the United for Peace and Justice Web site at www.unitedforpeace.org.