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Public Employee Press
Join April 29 protest against Iraq war
By ALFREDO ALVARADO
American anti-war activists are gearing up for what they hope will be
one of the largest marches to date against the unpopular U.S. war in Iraq.
Scheduled for April 29 in New York City, the march will mark the third
anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Organized by the anti-war coalition United for Peace and Justice, activists
will be demanding an end to the war and the return home of all U.S. troops
in Iraq.
Santos Crespo, executive vice president of Dept. of Education Employees
Local 372, introduced a resolution in support of the march at the February
delegates meeting, which received unanimous support.
AFSCME, DC 37s national union, the AFL-CIO and many other unions
oppose the war, and the April 29 protest has been endorsed by the National
Organization for Women, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, U.S. Labor Against
the War, Veterans for Peace and hundreds of other groups.
While President George W. Bush has asked Congress for another $72 million
for the Iraq war, a study by the National Priorities Project has found
that the cost of the war has skyrocketed to $205 billion through fiscal
year 2005. The study also found that war-related expenses were higher
than anticipated and that the Dept. of Defense transferred money appropriated
for Afghanistan to the war
in Iraq.
A recent poll also showed that a staggering 72 percent of U.S. troops
in Iraq oppose President Bushs stay-the-course strategy and favor
pulling out within a year. The LeMoyne College/Zogby poll interviewed
944 troops from all services.
Marchers will gather at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Broadway and
Herald Square. For more information on the march and other anti-war activities
go to the United for Peace and Justice Web site at www.unitedforpeace.org.
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