Green Activities and Logistics for Sept 29 Antiwar Demo
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 Schedule for September 29
Here is the basic schedule for Greens. It's updated from the one I sent last week.
A map of the meeting place and rally can be viewed here.
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 second traffic light and turn left. Gary's house is on the left in the first block. It's the only occupied residence on the block.
Solidarity,
Howie Hawkins
315-425-1019
hhawkins@igc.org