The committee organizing events in Grand Rapids for the third anniversary of the Iraq War is currently in the process of seeking endorsers and speakers for the March 18, 2006 protest. The third anniversary protests will include a march and rally organized by members of the Grand Rapids branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) followed by a teach-in organized by the West Michigan Justice and Peace Coalition (WMJPC). The March 18th Committee is asking that groups supporting the rally and march’s basic demands—stop the war, stop the war on the working class, justice for Hurricane Katrina survivors, an end to all occupations and torture, and to bring the troops home now—consider endorsing the events. All endorsers will be listed on the back the poster and are invited to speak at the march. Currently, the march has been endorsed by the Institute for Global Education (IGE), the Grand Rapids Peace Team, Grand Rapids Friends Meeting, Newaygo County People for Peace, Peace Presence, Peoples Tribune, and Speakers for a New America. Thus far speakers for the rally include Reverend Pinkney of the Benton Harbor Black Autonomy Network of Community Organizers (BANCO), Marian Kramer of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, Tyrone Bynum, County Commissioner Paul Mayhue, a Delphi worker, and Cole Dorsey of the Grand Rapids IWW. Nationally, both major antiwar groups, International ANSWER and United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) have called for local actions against the war focusing on the cost of the war, Iraqi deaths, and military recruiters. In Boston, activists have made plans for a spring of “resistance to the war machine” that promises a series of coordinated and sustained antiwar activity and offers a model worth emulating locally.

Those interested in endorsing the events can send an email to themarch18thcommittee@yahoo.com or call Cole Dorsey at 616-881-5263.