Please join us for what may be the most
important anti-war rally ever held in Upstate New York.

Active duty soldiers from Fort Drum in Watertown, NY, members of the only active-duty chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), approached the Syracuse Peace Council to help set up a region-wide demonstration in Syracuse against the war. This demonstration will take place on September 29th, 2007 in Syracuse, NY.

Syracuse is the closest large city to Fort Drum, and on any given weekend, there are many soldiers on leave there. Fort Drum has also suffered a larger number of casualties than any other base in the U.S. These soldiers will be joined by peace and justice loving people from Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Potsdam, Watertown, Utica, Binghamton, Ithaca, Chatham, Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga, Cortland, Belmont and many other Western and Central New York State Communities.

Since it is being initiated by active duty soldiers, this will be an historic demonstration against the Iraq war. Soldiers everywhere will learn about it. The demonstration will build prestige for the IVAW chapter at Fort Drum. It exposes as a lie the notion that the peace movement is anti-soldier. It says to the world that soldiers, too, are against the war. It is incumbent upon the peace movement that we make this rally a success.

The current agenda is:

* 1:00 - 2:00 pm Opening Rally at Everson Museum Plaza - 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse
* 2:00 - 2:30 pm Assemble for Peace March
* 2:30 - 4:00 pm Peace March to Syracuse University
* 4:00 pm Closing Rally at Syracuse University
* 6:00 - 7:00 pm Regional Networking
* 8:00 pm Panel Discussion at The Hendricks University Chapel with Dahlia Wasfi, Scott Ritter and Jimmy Massey

For additional details see the Syracuse Peace Council Website Also please download and distribute the flyers attached to this page below.

Click this link for information and to register for the Capital District NY State Thruway Caravan to Syracuse

Presented by: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Ft. Drum Chapter, Syracuse Peace Council, and The Upstate NY Antiwar Network, which includes: Military Families Speak Out, Upstate NY, International Socialist Organization, Interfaith Peace Network of Western NY, WNY Peace Center, Rochester Against War, Catholic Worker, Peace Action and Education Task Force of Metro Justice, The Storefront Antiwar Crisis Center on Monroe, Rochester Declaration of Peace, Syracuse Citizen Action, Utica Citizen Action, Schenectady Neighbors for Peace, Guilderland Neighbors for Peace, The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, New York State Green Party, Women Against War, Grannies For Peace, Muslim Solidarity Committee, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Upper Hudson Peace Action, Troy Area Labor Council, Citizens Environmental Coalition, 8th Step Coffee House, Saratoga Peace Alliance, Tom Paine Chapter of Veterans For Peace, Pax Christi of Western NY, Vets for Peace, The Social Justice Center of Albany, The Cortland Community For Peace, Southern Rensselaer Neighbors for Peace, Peacemakers of Schoharie County, Troy Neighbors for Peace, Northeast Peace and Justice Action Coalition, UU Peace Advocates of Rochester, The Social Action Council (SAC) of the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady and Voorheesville Neighbors for Peace.

Additional Background: During the first conference call of the regional planning meeting, four points of unity were reached: 1) unconditional withdrawal; 2) full health benefits for returning veterans; 3) reparations to the Iraqi people; 4) money for jobs, health care, education and community needs, not occupation.

In addition, it was decided that the emphasis would be on regional speakers with the possibility of one high profile speaker and that the groups represented would be soldiers, students, women, labor representatives, people of color, Muslims, and a representative from religious peacemaking groups. It was also thought to be important to balance speakers with music or other performances. Women Against War will be donating money to pay for Dahlia Wasfi's transportation expenses from Colorado to Syracuse and back.