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An overflow crowd packed the Sanctuary last Sunday as the San Francisco community gathered to call for an end to the 5-Year Iraq War.

Rev. Gregory Stewart opened and closed the program which included a broad range of Bay Area peacemakers. State Senator Carole Migden, Matt Gonzalez, Cindy Sheehan, Iraq Vet Joe Wheeler, and Vietnam anti-war icon Daniel Ellsberg were among those who spoke for peace.  Bill Simpich of the Iraq Moratorium Campaign was the MC of this program.

The commemoration began the 6 pm newscast on San Francisco's Univision KDTV Channel 14, it was the #2 story on Channel 2's 10 pm news, and was seen on other Bay Area stations.

Following the ceremonies, participants walked to the War Memorial Building on Van Ness. They read the names of the war dead as they marched, and the group lit candles and left flowers at the building.

From January 18

San Francisco Haight Ashbury

The Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil on Friday, January 18, 2008, drew a very enthusiastic crowd and reached out to a receptive audience of passersby....Great work!

We gather every third Friday on Masonic Avenue, between Oak and Fell Streets. The next dates are February 15th, followed by March 21st.

by Richard Ivanhoe, Cat Bell, and David

For more information: richardivanhoe@sbcglobal.net

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From December 21

San Francisco Union Square

On the third Friday of the month event for December, members of the IMC-SF appeared in
Union Square and then marched across the street to join shoppers in front of Macy's to bring
messages of Peace on Earth and Stop the War in Iraq to the public.

We sang traditional Christmas carols and antiwar songs for the last-minute shoppers and
handed out our palm-cards with information on how they can help stop the war.  

We were joined by members of the Freedom Song Network and the Labor Solidarity
Chorus who led us in singing.  We were well received by smiling passersby. 

It was quite exhilarating and we thank all those who participated. 

by Dolores Perez Priem

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From November 23

Benicia

In the morning, a couple of us sat at Cafe Voltaire in Benicia, attaching safety pins to black IM ribbons. This created a bit of interest, and we handed out several ribbons to curious onlookers along with our flyer. 

Then at noon, a group of us met at a downtown street intersection in Benicia (1st & D st., in front of Kinder's). For 30 minutes we spread up and down First St. in front of cafes. We wore black armbands or black ribbons, and held IM signs, and when people approached, we offered them a black ribbon to wear, and a flyer with congressional call numbers and a sample letter.

Most people were positive. We told them it was national IM Day with many actions across the country (none had heard of it; we told them to go to IM website).  We asked them to wear the black ribbon on every third Friday of the month and call or write Congress.  Some said they would.  Also asked them to tell friends and coworkers. (Next time we'll make more ribbons so people can take extra ribbons back to work.)  

We plan to repeat this action for Iraq Moratorium # 4 (3rd Friday, Dec. 21, Noon) Same location in Benicia, corner of First and D St. (in front of Kinder's, 333 First St.) 12:00-12:15 pm. 

Submitted by Norma Fox.  Contact: beniciavallejo@hotmail.com

Berkeley

About 30 members of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club did leafleting and ribbon distribution from 7-8 AM and 4-7 PM. We handed out 200 ribbons and distributed 1500 fliers that featured the Woolsey-Lee-Waters letter on redeployment.

Jack Kurzweil, jkurz@igc.org

Santa Rosa —  Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County

We have a vigil every Friday evening - we haven't missed a Friday since September 2001!

We're there to remind all those people who'd prefer to forget about the occupation/war. We send out some additional e-mails before the 3rd Friday each month - and we get a few more people. I know we'll have people there in December.

• Peace Vigil. 5:00PM, Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Call 575-8902.
• Peace Vigil. 5:00PM, Sonoma Plaza at Broadway. Contact Dale or Carol Todd, 935-0712.

El Cerrito

Distributed another 100 leaflets with black ribbons attached informing about the Third Friday Iraq Moratorium event and encouraging individual participation.

San Francisco — Downtown

40-50 people were present for the Mourning Papers event in Union Square, including the energetic performers. The theater performance was successful, and the participants plan to repeat the event in the future.

Other events in the Bay Area that have not been reported by other organizers include several neighborhood vigils in SF and Oakland, several leaflet actions at SF transit hubs, and the role of a variety of local Democratic clubs in a campaign known as "Resolution Peace" (resolutionpeace.org) to advance their legislative goal of prompt withdrawal from Iraq by leafleting in a big way on Iraq Moratorium days (resulting in transit hub actions in outlying areas such as Hayward and Dublin).

This illustrates how the IM can be employed by a variety of organizations to strengthen their own local coalitions and campaigns.

San Francisco City College Mission Street Campus and BART station

On November 16, one of my students and I  passed  out  about 75 palm cards with ribbons at the Labor and Community conference  at the Mission Campus (City College). I also, distributed about 100 palm cards (most in Spanish) with ribbons at the 24th and  Bartlett BART station  in the morning before 8 am.

Allan Fisher, afisher800@yahoo.com 

San Francisco — Bernal Heights Vigil

For the third Friday of November, about 15 enthusiastic Bernal Heights residents joined together for an evening candlelight/flashlight vigil and leafleting in our neighborhood. 

Judith Kurtz, jkurtz2@mindspring.com

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From October 27

San Francisco Peace Rally and March from Civic Center to Dolores Park

Thanks to Alex Suoto for a great job in leading the interfaith contingent and Annie Kelley and others for organizing BPF and meditation space. And thanks to you all for bearing witness with me!

from Sambhu

From October 19

South Bay

A great article in the San Mateo Daily News coverage, including an interview with Karen Meredith and others:
 http://sanmateodailynews.com/article/2007-10-20-scc-procession

from Karen Meredith
Proud Mom of Lt Ken Ballard- KIA 5.30.04

 

Benicia, CA

A group of us again stood at a downtown street intersection (1st & D st., all 4 corners) for 30 minutes in front of cafes at lunch hour; we wore black armbands or black ribbons, and held IM signs. When people walked by we offered them a flyer with congressional call numbers, a sample letter, and a black ribbon attached with a safety pin.

Most people were positive. Told them it was national IM Day with many actions across the country (none had heard of it, told them to go to IM website). Asked them to wear the black ribbon and call or write Congress on 3rd Fridays.  Some said they would. Asked them to tell friends and coworkers, and repeat on Fri., Nov.16. 

After the vigil, some used cell phones to call Congress.

from Norma Fox beniciavellejo@hotmail.com  

San Francisco State University

Wednesday, 10/17, we planted a banner on the lawn at SFSU and passed out palm cards until we ran out (100 or so?).  Students responded fairly well. 

Members of several student groups approached us and wanted to participate more. 

My friend is a very popular teacher there with several hundred students in his classes.  He wanted to pass out palm cards in his classes but I didn't have any more.

Intentions:

• To banner, or leaflet or both, once a week or every two weeks.
• To contact student organizations at SFSU.
• To contact other progressive organizations as appropriate.

from Ellen Yoshitsugu iitenki2@yahoo.com  

Iraq Moratorium Committee  and Watada Support Committee Vigil
San Francisco - Market and Post Streets at 5 pm

Peace!
Sambhu

We had 40 more or less people participating.  Especially appreciated the presence of Rev. Glenda Hope, Sambhu A., Jim Haber, Pat Hendricks, Bill Simpich, Ying Lee, Judy Khatapoush, Jeff Johnson, Ron Schmidt, Grace Shimizu and Grace Morizawa, Cindy Read, Karen Ande, Jo Lavrence, Jeff Paterson, Myra Bicknell, Bill Schwalb, Lynn Meldmann, Peter Yamamoto, Michael Tsukahara, Don Ino and his wife; Myra, Betsy, Ted, Anne, Stephanie, Wally C., the wonderful musicians from the Watada group, singer David Walsh who really wowed folks with his uplifting voice; folks from Canada, and many others I may have missed who participated. 

Bill and Ying spoke very well about the Ehren Watada case, which was continued on stay until November 9th. 

All this, despite the fact that it started to rain and Poet Jack Hirschman came down with the flu and was unable to participate! 

The music and dancing at the end was unique and so were the dancers! 

More pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolorespriem/ .

by Dolores Perez Priem

Interfaith Gathering – San Francisco 16th & Mission Streets

Despite rain and a cold wind 15 people took time out of their lives and stood up at the 16th St. Bart station for peace and the Iraq Moratorium.

We sang songs, held candles, read poems, letters and prayers. Organized under an interfaith theme we shared wisdom from different religious traditions and incorporated various practices into the ceremony. 

We plan on doing another Interfaith Peace Vigil on the next Iraq Moratorium Day.  

by BJ Scofield

Labor Events

East Bay

Helen Duffy/Mary Prophet worked with other teachers distributing ribbons and flyers at
West Oakland Bart  We distributed about 1100 black ribbons with palm cards and several
hundred leaflets for The October 27th San Francisco march against the  war.
In the afternoon we read the names of Iraqi and US war dead.  We met dozens of people wearing their ribbons from the morning.

On Saturday, a recorded message from the OEA president went out to all teachers and other members of the Oakland Education Association inviting them to march with the OEA on October 27th in San Francisco.

West Bay

Brian W. and Kathy L. distributed palms/ribbons at Civic Ctr. Bart (public workers) on
10/18-19

American Postal Workers Union:  Alice L. and others finished distribution palms/ribbons at
13 remaining post offices (from 9/21) so all 40 covered at least once.  

Letter Carriers/ San Francisco  --  Carl Bryant has 100 armbands and got out 50 to letter carriers;
has promised a digital photo to IMC web site. will continue to get out armbands.
His phone # is: 415-786-7530.

United Educators of S.F. - Union official Ken Tray got 1000 buttons ordered and distributed.  
Ellen Yoshitsugu (415-225-0752) . Distributed palms/ribbons at Teachers' Peace & Social Justice Mtg.

Local 1021, SEIU - Jerry Fillingim, Political Organizer took 50 palms/ribbons

Local 1021, SEIU-  Tonette Garcia, Organizer for RN's SFGeneral took 50 palms/ribbons

American Fed. of Teachers/Community College - Alan Fisher got out 250 palms/ribbons (also got palm translated into spanish)!   We will soon have Spanish palm on web site.

Local 1021, SEIU - ARC Chapter - Francesca Rosa got 100 palms/ribbons out.

Carpenters, S.F. - Ken Lukas took 75 palms for 11/16  (klukas50@netzero.com)

CHALLENGE:  TO GET SOME NEW  UNIONS INVOLVED EACH MONTH AND THEN TO ROTATE BACK TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SOMETHING.  ESPECIALLY NEED A BREAKTHROUGH WITH SEIU, 1021 IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.

Transit Hubs - BART Station Events

West Bay

24th St. Bart:  covered in a.m. by Pat H., Don W., Alan F.(alan did leaflet in espanol!)

Civic Ctr. Bart:  covered in a.m. 10/18 & 10/19 by Kathy L., Brian W. covered in p.m. by Janet B., Mary E.

Balboa Bart:   covered in a.m. by Barry H.

Glen Park Bart:  covered by Elizabeth B. in a.m., Carol Seligman 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

16th St. Bart and 24th St. Bart - vigils in a.m. (latter was Latinos Contra La Guerra)

Montgomery St. Bart – See Vigil - Watada Group report - palm ribbons given out.

East Bay

Rockridge Bart - am and pm covered by 15 people  - Wellstone DEMs each
time segment - delivered 2000 Oct. 27 leaflets and many ribbons

West Oakland Bart:  covered by Mary Duffy and members of Oakland Ed. Association:
1,100 palms/ribbons and Oct. 27th leaflets (want leaflets in Spanish)

submitted by Kathy Lipscomb@juno.com

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From September 21

Media Reports

• KPFA news report on Iraq Moratorium events (mp3 audio file)
• Independent Media Coverage

Event Reports

UnitariUnitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco / Watada Support Group

At 10:00 am, about 40 people gathered on the steps of the Unitarian Universalist church and Rev. Gregory Stewart (read Rev. Gregory Stewart's words), along with speakers Nooshin Razani, Jeff Paterson, Michael Tsukuhara, Bill Simpich, and Stephen Funk, and MC Amy Moses, Ministerial Student, gave spirited insights into the war in Iraq and announced the goals of the Iraq Moratorium. 

The names of the dead American military and Iraqi civilians were read and information on contacting our representatives was provided. 

by Dolores Perez Priemdoloresmp@gmail.com

Images of the public witnessing on the steps of the First Unitarian Universalist Church in San Francisco
(If your browser does not display the slide show, see the album online)

Pacifica, CA

Eyes Wide Open exhibit organized by the Pacifica Peace People

St Mary's College, Moraga 

The International Center organized a vigil for dedicating a multi-lingual peace poll for the campus. After prayer and a song, I was asked to share about the Iraq Moratorium Campaign. When the vigil ended all 20 of my ribbons with 1/4 sheets were taken by interested students and faculty. There was even more interest for them but I was out, so they took the 1/4 sheets and I got a number of email sign ups. I made a number of student contacts for future events and one invited me to come offer this information as an action opportunity after their Oct. 21st Peace vigil. Another faculty member suggested we set up a table on Friday's near where we were on campus to offer ribbons and share information about the Iraq Moratorium. It looks quite viable to have momentum building events on St. Mary's Campus!

by Eli McCarthy - eli_trinity@hotmail.com

Rockridge BART Station, Oakland

The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club had eight people at the Rockridge BART from 7AM - 8AM and fourteen from 4PM - 6PM. We distributed 1200 fliers, 150 ribbons, and around 100 wristbands. Three of the those attending came because they saw our event on the IM website.

Our club has endorsed the Oct 27th March so that when we do the Oct 19 IM, our fliers will include march info. We will be debriefing at our Peace Committee meeting early in October.

by Jack Kurzweil - jkurz@igc.org

West Oakland BART Station

A group of community members including West Oakland residents, Oakland teachers, and members of community, labor and religious organizations leafleted during morning and evening commute hours. They distributed about 500 black ribbons and 800 additional flyers calling on commuters to take action for peace. Several commuters who learned of the moratorium in the morning were wearing ribbons on their return trip and had called Congress during the day. There are plans to return to the West Oakland BART on Oct. 19. 

by Helen Duffy - hhhduffy@yahoo.com

Diablo Valley College - Pleasant Hill

As soon as set up the table in the Quad at this junior college, 4 people came over to look at the materials. All of them put down their contact info, and one of them even said he wanted to help us organize future events at DVC. We handed out a few hundred of those over the course of the day, and around 30 people put their names down to be contacted for the next Moratorium event, including 2 teachers. About an hour before we were planning to pack up and leave, 2 army recruiters walked by us, then did a double take and came back to talk to us. Surprisingly (to me), their main question for us is whether or not we supported the actual American troops in Iraq as people, and not why we were against the war in general. Both of them had been in Iraq themselves, but not in combat zones. About an hour later, we packed up. Overall, I think it went quite well. I think that next time we should definitely do more of an event, and maybe try to get some speakers and live music for it. I think that would draw a lot of people, especially if we got out the fliers relatively soon and got an article in the college newspaper. 

by Marc Lichterman - sarcasticfrench@gmail.com

Declaration of Peace - San Mateo

The Declaration of Peace-San Mateo County organized a peace vigil and march on the evening of Sept. 21st in San Mateo. About 120 people participated. The co-sponsors were three local churches, two religious/spiritual groups, two political party units, and two other peace groups. We began in Central Park with songs by the Peninsula Raging Grannies. There followed a short vigil that focused on the human cost of war. We read Archibald MacLeish's poem, "The Young Dead Soldiers" as a litany, interspersing the names of the Bay Area dead between stanzas. We also read names of Iraq children who have died. We then marched through downtown San Mateo, following a banner with the theme for the evening: "We the People Declare Peace." The march route returned to the park, where we enjoyed music by Atkinson Kincheloe, a local folk music group. Unfortunately, we had to end their playing a little prematurely due to the appearance of lightning -- we were all out in the open!

All the local media were notified. Only a photographer from the San Mateo County Times showed up, and we got one photo on page one, below the fold, in the Saturday editions.

This is the second time we have done an event like this; the first was last spring, on the fourth anniversary of the invasion. Both times the march was pretty quiet, peaceful, and respectful of all. We had emphasized the nonviolent nature of the event and included the need for nonviolent speech. People who normally brought signs to demonstrations that contain derogatory or demeaning language were asked to leave them at home. A lively and welcome addition to this march was the presence of about 20 high school students, members of peace clubs in two local high schools. 

by Anne Carey - abcarey41@comcast.net

Vigil at Senator Feinstein's Office - San Francisco

See a slideshow of more photographs

Caesar Chavez Street - San Francisco

We held a banner on Cesar Chavez Street (big off-ramp from the freeway) for 1 hour, saying:

No War, No Warming
iraqmoratorium.org

We chose that slogan because we think these two critical movements should merge. We're therefore doing 'no war, no warming' actions on Moratorium days. We also handed out arm bands in the geosciences department of SF State University (where we are affiliated).

by Karen

Bernal Heights Neighborhood - San Francisco

We had about 25 people on the corners of Cortland and Andover from 6-7 PM on September 21. The reception from passersby was extremely positive and we have exposed a fair number of them to the Moratorium concept. We also received a great deal of attention (friendly) from the police who were apparently having a slow day. We will do it again next month, exact time and place to be determined.

by Tom Gallagher - tgtgtgtgtg@aol.com

St. Leo & Plymouth Churches - Oakland 

Friday was great we had about 50 people, great signs, mostly seniors. We are considering for next month.

by Joan MacIntyre - jmmmmac@pacbell.net

West Oakland BART leafleting - El Cerrito

Passed out Leaflets and black ribbons at the El Cerrito Plaza Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station starting at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, Sep 21.

by Al Miller