The event, organized by
Not In Our Name,
A.N.S.W.E.R., and
Afghan Women's Mission, came off without a hitch. Demonstrators listened to moving speeches, heard incredible spoken word artists, and danced to the beats of a wonderfully eclectic group of musicians. It marked the spirited beginning of many events planned in the future to oppose the U.S. occupation of Iraq, and its involvement in countries like Afghanistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Columbia, and many others.
The speakers list included Ron Kovic, Kelly Hayes Raitt, Jodie Evans of Code Pink, Hamid Khan of South Asian Network, Barb Johns of Voices in the Wilderness, and Sonali Kolhatkar of Afghan Women's Mission, among others. Jennifer Martin, mother of Sherman Martin Austin, webmaster of RaisetheFist.com and soon-to-be political prisoner, mesmerized the crowd with her recounting of the case against her son, and moved them with her newly found courage to speak out. Protestors cheered to the revolutionary cries of spoken word artists D'Lo, Mona, and Mark Gonzales. The Federal Building itself was rocking and rolling with music from Direct, Resistant, Nonconformist, Sangeet Indian Ensemble, Aztec Dancers, Bobot Adrenaline, and Killradio.
See Photos. Listen to Ron Kovic or Kelly Hayes Raitt.
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