Soldiers and Civilian Speak Out, Sept 29, Syracuse

Soldiers and Civilian Speak Out, Sept 29, Syracuse

MARCH AND RALLY DEMANDS ARE:
---Immediate, complete, unconditional US withdrawal from Iraq (including private contractors)
---Full health benefits for returning veterans
---Reparations to the Iraqi people
---Money for jobs, education and health-care, not occupation and warfare

The demonstration was initiated by Ft. Drum Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War and has been endorsed by at least 55 groups in upstate New York, including the Green Party of New York State.

The speakers program and march will feature the Iraq vets and other vets and military families against the war. There will also be speakers from peace, community, and labor groups, and the Green Party

Who Is Coming from the Greens

I've heard from Greens across the state who are organize to send a contingent: Cattaragaus, Allegheny, Genesee, Steuben, Delaware, and Chenango counties and the towns and cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, New Paltz, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.

Greens will be playing prominent role in the day's activities. Rebecca Rotzler is speaking at the Green Party slot at the second rally. Jessica Maxwell is introducing rally speakers. Joe Lombardo is moderating the evening panel. Gary Bonaparte may be speaking for Syracuse neighborhoods at the first rally. A number of local Greens are working as volunteers behind the scenes making the events happen. Bob Gumbs, Green candidate for Congress in Harlem and other Green, community, and labor activists will be speaking at Green rally as we gather for the Green feeder march into the first main rally.

Green Party Presidential Candidate Jared Ball will be speaking at the Washington D.C. rally, which will be emceed by GPUS Co-Chair Sarah "Echo" Stiener.

Green Schedule for Sept. 29

Here is the basic schedule for Greens. It's updated from the one I sent last week.

A map is attached, or if it won't go on this elist, go to www.howiehawkins.org.

Friday, September 28

For those coming in early and staying overnight:

7-9 pm: Open house and informal gathering at Greens’ office, 2617 S. Salina St., Syracuse

Saturday, September 29

12:00 noon: Greens Gather and Rally - Gary Bonaparte’s House, 206 Gifford St.
Where your Green t-shirts and buttons. Bring you local Green banner.
If you want to say a few words to the rally for your local Green group, contact Howie Hawkins.

12:35 pm: Green Feeder March to Rally (10 minute walk)

1:00pm: Rally - Everson Museum Plaza, 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York
Green tabling and leafleting

2:30pm: March to Syracuse University (1 hour; rides for those who can't walk)

3:30pm: Rally at Walnut Park
Green tabling and leafleting. Rebecca Rotzler speaks at 4:45 pm

5:00pm: Greens eat and network at Harry’s Bar, 700 S. Crouse Ave

6:00 pm: Networking Meetings (Green reps to meetings of Veterans, Students, and Regional Organizers)

7:30pm: Panel Discussion at Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University (Scott Ritter, Dahlia Wasfi, Jimmy Massey)

Housing Friday and Saturday night:

Sleeping bags -- up to 20 at Gary Bonaparte's house. Call Howie Hawkins to reserve a spot.

For motel rooms, Howie can recommend a place.

Parking:

Street parking around Gary's house is free.

It's a 30 minute walk back to the Everson Museum from Syracuse University at the end of the day. There are also public buses. We can also coordinate some walking back to get cars while others wait at Harry's Bar to be picked up.

Food:

Eat a good meal before noon. If you're starving, there's a business district with restaurants near Walnut Park during the second rally. At 5:00 pm when the second rally is over, Greens will head over to Harry's Bar, which has pizza, wings, sandwiches, and salads.

Driving Directions:

To the Greens office Friday night:

Take Exit 17 off Interstate 81. Go straight one block west (the only way you can go) and T into S. Salina St. Turn right north onto S. Salina St. The Greens office will be on your right at 2617 S. Salina St.

To Gary Bonaparte's house, 206 Gifford St. at 12 noon on Saturday.

Take exit off Interstate 690 onto West St. going South (the only way you can go). Take West St. to the end at W. Onondaga St. (You will pass Gifford St., but it's one way going the wrong way to get to Gary's house and you have to go around.) Turn left on to W. Onondaga St. Go past one light and take a 270 degree hard left at the next block right before the railroad overpass on to Gifford St. Gary's house is on the right in the second block. It's the only occupied residence on the block.

Solidarity,

Howie Hawkins