Well it happened. Millions of people marched and protested for peace all over the world, specifically to stop the Bush administration—not America—from invading Iraq. This was the single largest world-wide peace protest in history. Is it the right thing to do? like I've said, I don't know. God knows we are all going to feel like a bunch of idiots if two months down the road Iraq turns around and surprises us or another country with an attack of some kind. But I doubt they will now. at least not for some time. it really appears that Osama bin laden and al queda are a bigger threat to all of us right now, especially here in the states. Why the focus on sadaam and not on trying to find bin laden? Who the hell knows? 

Today's protests en masse proved that it's a small world after all. Humanity is so connected now and information so readily available to everyone that we can mobilize in a matter of weeks even days to speak our minds. This isn't the sixties anymore. Things have changed. Things will continue to change. It is an exciting time to be alive.  

“In New York City, the people defied police refusal to grant a march permit by turning the upper east side broad boulevards into a sea of humanity. Hundreds of thousands filled First Avenue, Second Avenue and Third Avenue. On First Avenue the rally stretched from 52nd St. past 80th St. Second and Third Avenues, and even over to Lexington Avenue, were clogged with demonstrators who were prevented by police barricades and checkpoints from reaching the main assembly site. The police also used horses, clubs and pepper spray to carry out assaults against peaceful protesters. The National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee reports that over 320 people have been arrested, and that many are being held in tight handcuffs without access to water, food or bathroom facilities.

Demonstrations took place in scores of cities throughout the United States. In Los Angeles, 100,000 demonstrated in the largest anti-war protest in many years. 5,000 marched in Houston, 7,000 in Chicago, more than 7,000 in Sacramento, thousands marched in San Jose and Detroit. In San Francisco, the demonstration is taking place on Sunday, February 16.

Internationally, the demonstrations included some of the biggest ever. The original call for the February 15 demonstrations came from the European anti-war movement. In London, the demonstration was nearly two million according to march organizers. Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Australia all protested. Millions more marched throughout Europe -- in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam and throughout the continent. In Damascus, 200,000 marched. Tens of thousands marched in Buenos Aires. In Toronto, 80,000 took to the streets. 

Please send us reports and photos (to VoteNoWar@InternationalAnswer.org) about the actions in your town or city so that we can tell all the VoteNoWar members about each others' efforts.

Take it to the White House On March 1, there will be an Emergency Convergence on the White House in Washington DC. As George Bush evaluates whether he can defy the will of the people and plunge ahead with his criminal war plans, it is time for the people of the U.S. to take it back to the White House and make it clear that he can not proceed on this path. At the White House convergence on March 1, thousands of people will demand No War on Iraq. They will also call for George Bush to be impeached for crimes committed in planning and executing war abroad and assaulting constitutionally protected civil rights and civil liberties at home. Please help us to build this event.”