FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 16, 2004

Contacts: Shishir Thadani 408-998-8504, Bill Ferguson 408-219-1472
For Spanish-speaking media: Raul Cabrera 408-928-2405
www.southbaymobilization.org

SAN JOSE TO JOIN GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION ON ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. ATTACK ON IRAQ

ON MARCH 20TH, 1,000 RESIDENTS EXPECTED TO MARCH AND RALLY TO DEMAND AN END TO U.S. OCCUPATION

On Saturday March 20th, Bay Area residents will march and rally under the banner of "End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq; Money for Jobs, Education, Health Care, Housing, Not War". The event is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM in Roosevelt Park (Santa Clara & 19th St.) in San Jose. At 1:00 PM, protestors will march down Santa Clara Street to San Jose State University, returning to Roosevelt Park, where Professor As'ad Abu Khalil will give the keynote address.

Protesters in San Jose will be acting together with people in 175 U.S. cities and over 50 countries around the globe, who will call for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Bush's militaristic foreign policies, and highlight the linkages between the occupations of Iraq and Palestine.

Jon Britton, an activist with the South Bay Mobilization, stated "Bush lied about the weapons of mass destruction and now claims it doesn't matter because the people of Iraq are better off. But over 10,000 Iraqi civilians have died, 655 US and coalition soldiers have lost their lives, and over 3,000 have been wounded. The war and occupation has devastated Iraq and is bankrupting our country. We want everyone who feels strongly about the wrong direction our country is taking to come out on March 20th and make their voices heard."

In addition to Professor Abu Khalil, speakers at Roosevelt Park will include Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Executive Director of the South Bay Labor Council, and other community members. Local musicians, poets, and spoken-word artists will also perform.

On Friday, March 19, sponsoring organizations will hold a press conference from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the San José Peace Center, 48 S. 7th St., San José.

More than 30 local Endorsing Organizations:

South Bay Mobilization, Peninsula Peace & Justice Center, San Jose Peace Center, Students for Justice, Silicon Valley Debug, Not In Our Name, United for Peace and Justice in San Jose, South Bay Labor for Peace & Justice, SEIU Local 715, First Unitarian Church of San Jose, Green Party of Santa Clara County, Veterans for Peace, American Muslim Voice, Pakistan American Alliance, Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM), Arab American Democratic Caucus, Justice for Palestinians, Mountain View Voices for Peace, United Muslims of America, Americans for a Palestinian State, Jewish Voice for Peace, Filipino Community Support (FOCUS), South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, Santa Clara County Democratic Party, Labor Party San Jose Local Organizing Committee, Barrio Defense Committee, WILPF (Women Int. League for Peace & Freedom), CAIR SFBA, SIREN: Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, Bagong Bayan, Californians for Justice, Muslim Community Association Social Justice Committee, Plumbers and Fitters Union Local #393, Comite for Cesar Chavez, Iranians for Freedom and Democracy, International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition--S.F. Bay Area.

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