The West Michigan Justice and Peace Coalition has announced plans for an antiwar rally on March 20th in Grand Rapids. The rally will be held in conjunction with over 200 other protests organized in response to United for Peace and Justice's call for demonstrations on the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.

While the March 20 actions have been called as a way of reawakening the energy of the February 15, 2003 antiwar protests, they are also bound by the same limitations. Most of the plans call exclusively for rallies, which President Bush admits have no influence his opinion and are, consequently, relatively ineffectual in countering the occupation of Iraq. Activists in San Francisco and Pittsburgh have recognized this problem and are organizing direct actions that will connect the occupation of Iraq to their local communities. In San Francisco, there will be a direct action highlighting ways in which money spent on the Iraq war could have been better used while the Pittsburgh action will focus on Carnegie Melon University's military research and development projects.

Quick Facts on the invasion and occupation of Iraq:

• At least 8,000 civilians were killed by the United States military in Iraq.
• The United Nations has publicly stated that 500,000 Iraqi children under the age of five died as a result of sanctions imposed largely at the will of the United States
• As is the case in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch has documented human rights abuses in Iraq since its "liberation." It is also worth noting that at least 3,000 civilians were killed during US military actions against Afghanistan.
• Many of the corporations that have received reconstruction contracts in Iraq have donated extensively to the President Bush's campaigns.
• The invasion and occupation of Iraq has cost approximately 105 billion dollars.
• 552 US soldiers have been killed and 2,743 wounded in Iraq.