The SFLP-endorsed Peace Vigil at the Unitarian Church last Sunday drew over
500 people and garnered substantial media coverage. Justin Raimondo spoke
during the program. Bill Simpich of the Iraq Moratorium, who hosted the
event, introduced Justin by saying that he regularly read antiwar.com -
even though it's run by libertarians. Cindy Sheehan, the featured speaker,
acknowledged that libertarians and Ron Paul supporters were helpful in
organizing the event and were useful allies in the opposition to US war of
intervention.
Justin wrote a column focusing on the event. You can read it at
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=12545. Chronicle coverage can be
found at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/17/BA6IVL4DR.DTL
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/17/BA6IVL4DR.DTL&h
w=iraq+war+fifth+anniversary+vigil+sunday&sn=001&sc=1000>
&hw=iraq+war+fifth+anniversary+vigil+sunday&sn=001&sc=1000.
Many thanks to Michael Edelstein and Mike Denny for attending. It's a shame
that more SFLP'ers didn't come and didn't staff a table, given the extensive
media coverage. I saw stories on Channels 7, 11 and 14 - with the last
(Univision) running interviews in Spanish with my wife Charo, both at 6pm
and 11pm. I believe that a number of other stations, including Channel 4,
covered it as well.
Despite the reduction in violence accompanying last year's surge, Bay Area
residents remain opposed to the Iraq War and other aspects of the so-called
War on Terror. The issue gives libertarians a chance to highlight our
opposition to intervention and our support for individual rights - which
are being violated by the Patriot Act and the extra-legal prison facility at
Guantanamo Bay. We can thus differentiate ourselves from Republicans and
Conservatives in the minds of our neighbors.
The next opportunity to speak out against the war will come when the 4000th
American soldier perishes. That day, there will be a vigil at 6:30pm in the
Civic Center organized by the American Friends Service Committee and
Veterans for Peace. With the toll at 3996 this morning, I'm sad to say that
this event is imminent. I hope you will take time to join me at it.