FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2003

Contact: Julie Callahan, (408) 374-2668, (408) 981-4134
Rob Molinar, San Jose Peace Center, (408) 297-2299

SAN JOSE TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST IRAQ WAR

ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 5,000 RESIDENTS EXPECTED TO MARCH FOR PEACE

On Saturday Feb. 15th, Bay Area residents plan to flood downtown San Jose to demonstrate their opposition to war on Iraq. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 am in Roosevelt Park (Santa Clara & 19th St.). At noon, protestors will march down Santa Clara Street to Market Street, ending with a rally in Cesar Chavez Plaza at which Dolores Huerta of the United Farm Workers will give the keynote address. Organizers anticipate that it will be the largest peace march in San Jose since 1991, with projected attendance of 5,000 or more.

Protesters in San Jose will be acting in concert with millions of people around the globe, as over 100 cities rally in what may be the largest worldwide anti-war protests yet. Anti-war sentiment has been especially strong in Bay Area communities, with a similar event last week in Palo Alto drawing 5,000 people according to police estimates. “From London to Los Angeles, Seoul to Seattle, people worldwide are rising up against this unjust war, “ said a Santa Clara resident. “It’s time to show that San Jose – the heart of Silicon Valley -- can mobilize too.”

The march is intended to draw a different, more representative crowd than just the South Bay peace activists who make the drive up to the big protests in San Francisco. Indeed, San Jose has a strong antiwar history, from activism during the Vietnam War to a 5,000-strong protest of the first Iraq war in 1991. “This is an opportunity for the South Bay to showcase both our incredible diversity and our unity in support of justice and peace, “ said one activist. “We are encouraging everyone in the community to participate, including seniors and parents with children. In a democracy, we must all speak out.”

In addition to Dolores Huerta, speakers at Cesar Chavez Park will include County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, veteran George Johnson, labor leader Rodney Gonzalez, and other community members. Local musicians, poets and spoken word artists will also perform.

Endorsers of the march include:

Bay Area United Against War
First Unitarian Church of San Jose
San Jose Peace Center
San Jose/South Bay National Organization for Women
Sierra Club
Socialist Action

South Bay Islamic Association
South Bay Labor for Peace & Justice
South Bay Mobilization to Stop War
The Interfaith Council (TIC)
United for Peace in San Jose
Women’s Int’l League for Peace & Freedom, San Jose

On the Web: http://www.sanjosepeace.org
Worldwide protests: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=725

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