January Moratorium actions

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Ashland: Chequamegon Coalition for Peace and Justice sponsors Ashland's first Iraq Moratorium demonstration/vigil on Jan. 16, 3:30-5 pm at the Ashland Post Office, 615 Main St W. Dress warmly! Bring signs if you have them; some signs will be provided. Bring friends! Bring your own cup; hot tea will be provided. E-mail.

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!*

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Jan. 16, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come on teh third Friday or not, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail. *

Green Bay: The Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq in their chapel at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16. The chapel is located at 3110 Nicolet Dr., Green Bay. For more information, please contact Sr. Maria Drzewiecki, 920-468-1828, or E-mail.

Hayward: Peace North will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium vigil for peace on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm on the corner of Highway 27 & 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring a sign and a friend and some warm clothes! Good parking. Great people.

Janesville: (Updated!) Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the Third Friday of every month. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville with signs, including "Honk for Peace" signs. We are also offering an alternative because of the cold weather and encouraging people to do Mall Walking at the Janesville Mall wearing peace t-shirts. Email us for more info. *

LaCrosse: Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Madison: Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” East Towne Mall this month, West Towne on Saturday, Feb. 21. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, 4:30-5 p.m. , 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Third Friday of every month at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm. This is our sixth Iraq Moratorium event. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every Third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.*

Superior: Anyone who wishes to brave the cold this Friday for the monthly Iraq Moratorium vigil should meet at 4 PM at the corner of Broadway and Hammond in Superior, by the Red Mug Coffee House. Grandmothers for Peace initially decided to cancel their vigil due to temperature concerns, but later agreed that those who feel hearty enough are welcome to hold vigil as per the original plan. A photographer from the Superior Telegram may come, so it would be good to have some folks there. We may decide to shorten the time we are outside, and meet inside the coffee shop to warm up after.See you there! E-mail.

Viroqua: 1/16 Friday, 12 noon weekly peace vigil at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the War. Info :amz1357@frontiernet.net *

Waupaca: Friday 5 – 6 pm monthly vigil for peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium. All welcome. For more information, contact People for Peace at bonni@waupacaonline.net or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: 12 noon - 1 pm . Silent Prayer Vigil for Peace, Holy Family Church, in the small chapel. Contact: Sr. Ann Wittman at crossings@holycrosssisters.org . All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace.

Reports from the Field: December actions

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Include photos or video if available.

LaCrosse


Here is a picture of "SANTA" working to bring PEACE for CHRISTmas. This is the 3rd Friday of December, 2008, at the foot of the Cass Street Bridge at approximately 5:30pm. People of LaCrosse are supporting the WAR MORATORIUM and here is a perfect example of SANTA braving near zero tempuratures and 30 inches of snow to get the message across to the masses and our elected officials.

Menomonie, WI

Ten people attended the first Iraq Moratorium in Menomonie. We stood in the Veterans Memorial in downtown Menomonie, greeting the passing cars, and receiving waves and friendly honking from many. We also received the expected shouts from some passing cars that we should support our troops, which of course is exactly what we believe we were doing. Phone calls were made from the site to our representatives, and one of us took a spectacular fall on the ice, adding to the festivities. We are working on having a banner printed for January, and hope to have better attendance and organization for the next event.

Rice Lake

Iraq Moratorium Standing for Peace. The People for Peace in Rice Lake Wisconsin fielded a dozen hardy anti-war enthusiasts this afternoon for the monthly observance of Iraq Moratorium Day. We waved at motorists and called our Congressman and Senators asking them to start spending our tax dollars on health care and not warfare. We mourned the loss of life in Iraq from the several thousand coalition military personnel, to the likely hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. We prayed for peace this holy season, and we promised to be back in January.

Madison

After discovering that a Wisconsin manufacturer, Presto, makes weapons as well as Salad Shooters and Fry Daddies, two staffers from the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice , went on an anti-shopping spree for Moratorium day. They visited stores selling Presto products and followed these directions, using a flyer available here: 1) pick up box to admire Presto “Fry Daddy” or “Salad Shooter”, 2) replace box on shelf, with flyer discreetly tucked underneath, 3) repeat. For the whole report on Presto's involvement in producing 40mm cannon rounds, see Steve Burns's story here. That's Burns pictured with the flyers he designed.

Pickings were slim at Walgreen's, their first stop, as you'll see in the video, but he did find one Presto product and took appropriate action. Big box stores are probably better targets.

Milwaukee





Literally a foot of snow fell on Milwaukee between midnight and noon on Iraq Moratorium 16, prompting some discussion about whether to cancel the usual 5 p.m. downtown vigil. But we learned from last year's Good Friday/Iraq Moratorium snowstorm that you can't stop this event even if you wanted to.

Not only did 18 people of all ages, from college students to seniors, make it, but some of the campus crowd even showed up with hot chocolate, as you'll see at right. There's talk of a barbecue grill and tailgate party next month. (Maybe Cheeseheads?) This wasn't the coldest vigil we've had, with temperatures in the 20s. and although traffic was much sparser than normal, drivers -- including a city Dept. of Public Works truck with a plow and a parking meter checker -- leaned on their horns to support the cause. The effort was a joint production of Peace Action-Wisconsin, UW-Miulwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

LaCrosse organizing meeting Dec. 29

LaCrosse Vets for Peace & Iraq Moratorium organizers are hosting a town hall meeting at the Three Rivers/Ho-Chunk Lodge on Monday, Dec. 29, from 7 to 9 pm.

It will include discussion of troop withdrawal from Iraq/Afghanistan, a Health care not Warfare campaign, and other topics. Steve Carlson, an Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin oganizer from Trego, will address the gathering.

Email for more info.

UFPJ elects Wis. organizer to Steering Committee

Steve Carlson of Trego, in Washburn County, has been elected to the national steering committee of the nation’s largest antiwar coalition, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ).

Carlson was elected by delegates to UFPJ’s National Assembly in Chicago on Sunday as a representative of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, a statewide organization with 165 member groups.

Carlson, social worker and educator who is a member of Peace North in northwestern Wisconsin, has a long history of social justice and peace activism.

As a member of the national Iraq Moratorium core committee, he has organized events on the third Friday or every month in a number of northern Wisconsin communities to call for an end to the war, and is currently working to expand the movement into new areas in western Wisconsin under a “health care not warfare” theme.

Last fall, he worked with Wisconsin Citizen Action to help organize health care referendums in a number of counties and municipalities, all of which passed overwhelmingly.

Earlier, Carlson had worked as an advocate for the Ho-Chunk nation, and an instructor at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation. He also has worked with disabled people and the elderly.

At its weekend National Assembly, hundreds of UFPJ delegates laid out an action plan for 2009, a campaign of organizing and protest tentatively entitled "Yes We Can!...End the War!", leading up to a major mobilization in New York on the April 4 anniversaries of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s antiwar speech at Riverside Church in 1967 and his assassination the following year.

Carlson follows Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice staff member Steve Burns of Madison, who served on the UFPJ Steering Committee from June 2007 to December 2008. The UFPJ Steering Committee includes representatives of local, state, regional and national organizations working on peace and justice issues.

December Moratorium Actions

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DePere: St. Norbert Abbey will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. Please park in the north parking lot and meet in the Chapter Room at St. Norbert Abbey, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere. For more information, please contact Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem, 920-337-4345 or email

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Dec. 19, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come on teh third Friday or not, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail. *

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Email us for more info. *

LaCrosse: Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- Third Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Madison: Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” West Towne Mall this month, East Towne on Saturday, Jan. 17. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Manitowoc: Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Menomonie: Menomonie will hold its first Moratorium protest on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. in front of Menomonie Market Co-op, 521 Second St. E. Meet in the park in front of the Menomonie Market, corner of Crescent and 2nd St. We will also meet after the stand at the Acoustic Cafe to plan the next month\'s activities.
Bring signs. E-mail for info.

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Third Friday of every month at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Minocqua: Northwoods Peace Coalition, which had been holding Saturday vigils, will hold its first Iraq Moratorium vigil on Friday, Dec. 19, to coordinate with others across the country. It's from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p,m, at the intersection of Hwys. 51 and 70.

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, December 19, from 4-6 pm. This is our fifth Iraq Moratorium event and we're looking forward to our largest turnout to date. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! NOW is the time to let the incoming adminstration know that we want an end to war and the beginning of healthcare for all! Healthcare Not Warfare! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.

Superior/Duluth: Iraq Moratorium Picket Dec. 19, 4pm. Grandmothers for Peace and the Northland Anti-War Coalition will be holding a one hour picket on the corner of Belknap and Tower Ave. in downtown Superior. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Duluth: Northland Anti-War Coalition picket Dec. 19, 4:30-530 pm, at the corner of Mesaba Ave. & Central Entrance in front of the Coppertop Church. We'll be holding a one hour anti-war picket in which we'll be holding signs for passing motorists, and handing out leaflets to pedestrians. We'll have extra signs on hand, but feel free to make and bring your own!

Reports from the Field: Nov. 21 actions

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Hayward

Twenty some Moratorium vigilers took to the street corner in Hayward on Friday to continue their stand against the war in Iraq. The election may be over but the war and occupation continue, and so will we! We made a dozen or so calls to our Congressman and Senators and asked them to start spending our tax dollars on health care and not warfare. We also collected non-perishable items for our local food shelf, which has seen a 25% increase in requests since this time last year. With thousands of our soldiers dead, and perhaps over one million Iraqi's dead since the invasion and occupation began in 2003, we have a moral imperative to continue our efforts. Please join us in December. President elect Obama needs our/your help in bringing this great tregedy to an end, and in forging a new set of national priorities for America.

Rice Lake

Bitterly cold winds and a spate of local events conspired to drive the turnout down in Rice Lake on Friday, though almost 10 hardy souls came out anyway to stand for peace for a couple of hours. A half a dozen telephone calls were made to Congressman Dave Obey's office in Washington urging him to support health care and not warfare, and callers report they were very well received by the Congressman's staff. On to December and an end to this war!

Superior/Duluth

Grandmothers for Peace, Standing for Peace. Fifteen sturdy anti-war enthusiasts showed up for the Grandmothers for Peace first Iraq Moratorium event in Superior on Friday, including newly elected 73rd District Assemblyman Nick Milroy. Single digit windchills, frozen fingers and rapidly encroaching darkness didn't stop peace supporters from making a dozen telephone calls to 7th District Congressman Dave Obey's office asking him to support "Healthcare Not Warfare." The Grannies vowed to be back next month and every month afterwards, no matter the weather, until this war is over. If the Grandmothers can do it, SO CAN YOU! See you in December. In Duluth we held a picket at Pennell Park along the busy Central Entrance. A dozen hearty souls participated.

Eau Claire

Eau Claire had its first Iraq Moratorium event on Friday, Nov. 21. Thirty hardy souls braved 15 degree temps and gusty winds to show our opposition to the continuing Iraq occupation. Some people, whose fingers weren't frozen, made calls to Wisconsin senators and representatives to urge them to make bringing the troops home the first priority of the new administration. After the event a number of energized people retired to Woo's Pagoda restaurant to thank them for the use of their parking lot, to enjoy great Asian food, and to begin plans for the December event. More from Voices for Peace Institute.

Madison

Citizens in Madison Friday night, Nov. 21, were thinking about ending war and torture, not only in Iraq but throughout as hemisphere. The Iraq Moratorium event collaborated with a School of the Americas memorial service and rally this cold night in Wisconsin. Peace activists first gathered at the State Street corner of Capitol Square, and quietly processed around the Square -- in commemoration of all who have suffered from the military machine -- especially thinking of those in Central and South America tonight, where the SOA at Ft. Benning has trained soldiers from abroad in crowd control and torture techniques. We finished the rally with a memorial service in the United Methodist Church near the Square (pictured.) This weekend there is a massive gathering in Georgia, near Fort Benning, to protest this school, and our event was in solidarity with that event. "We remember you!" All wars against people must end - and this gathering tonight provided an opportunity to connect Iraq and Colombia..... Judy Miner, SOAW and Iraq Moratorium advocate.

Milwaukee

The return to Central Standard Time guarantees that it will be dark and cold for vigils in Wisconsin for the foreseeable future. Friday's 25-degree temperature didn't faze about 60 participants in a rush hour vigil, march and rally in the heart of downtown.

A large campus contingent from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society brought a lot of energy to the event, the 15th Iraq Moratorium observance sponsored by Peace Action-Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

People stood on all four corners of the intersection with flags, banners, and signs, interacting with drivers who honked their horns to show support for ending the war and occupation.

After half an hour, an SDS-organized march went three blocks north to a corner across from City Hall, with chants along the way and a short rally before the marchers headed back to the start, where a handful of people had stayed behind to keep the street corner vigil going. More in Fight Back! newspaper.

November 21 Moratorium actions

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DePere: The St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center will host an EcumenicalPrayer Service for Peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 21, Old St. Joseph Church (on the campus of St. Norbert College, De Pere). For more information, please contact the Peace and Justice Center, 920-403-3881, or email pjc@snc.edu

Dodgeville: Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil. Witness for peace with others who hold steadfast to "a vision of a world made new." (Eleanor Roosevelt) The vigil is followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!

Duluth/Superior: Northland Anti-War Coalition will be holding a peace vigil on Friday, Nov. 21 as part of our local contribution to the ongoing monthly Iraq Moratorium Project. From 4:30-5:30pm we'll be holding signs and handing out fliers at Pennel Park. Pennel Park is located on the corner of Central Entrance and Arlington Ave. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. We'll have extra signs on hand, but feel free to make and bring your own!

Eau Claire: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! Beginning this coming Fri., Nov. 21, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! An idea for you all to consider, whether you are able to come this Friday or not: On Friday, Nov. 21, consider calling your federal Wisconsin Senators and your Representative and letting them know you want them to bring our troops home from Iraq! E-mail.

Hayward: Peace North will hold a Vigil for Peace on Friday, November 21st, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in, what is likely to be, chilly downtown Hayward. We are determined to keep the Iraq Moratorium alive and growing so come on out and give us a hand. Dress warm, bring a thermos with a hot beverage, and stand with us for a couple of hours for the sake of peace. It's the least you/we can do! Bring a sign or use one of ours. Good parking. Great people. See you there! E-mail.

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month. The next event will be held on Nov. 21. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Email us for more info.

LaCrosse: Iraq Moratorium Vigil-- 3rd Friday of every month. Veterans for Peace, & other concerned patriots that support the US Constitution. Cass Street bridge, 5 to 6 p.m. Contact Duane Teschler or Cathy*

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Rice Lake: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, Nov. 21, from 4-6 pm. This is our fourth Iraq Moratorium event and we're looking forward to our largest turnout to date. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! NOW is the time to let the incoming adminstration know that we want an end to war and the beginning of healthcare for all! Healthcare Not Warfare! Join us! E-mail.

Ripon: Peace Vigil every third Friday on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! E-mail.

Superior: The Superior Chapter of Grandmothers for Peace will be holding our first "Iraq Moratorium Picket for Peace" on Friday, Nov. 21, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Tower and Belknap Sts, in front of the Superior Public Library. We are excited at the promise that the Iraq Moratorium holds for bringing all peace loving people together to show our opposition to war, and our support for a more just and peaceful world. Please bring a sign as ours are limited, and bring a loved one as well. Together we can make a united anti-war voice heard all the way to Washington DC! E-mail.

Waupaca: Nov. 21, Friday 5-6 pm Monthly Vigil for Peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium. All welcome. For more information, email People for Peace at or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly Friday witness for peace. Email for more info.*

Reports from the Field: Oct. 17 actions

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Include photos or video if available.

Duluth, MN/Superior WI

About 20 people attended the Northland Anti-War Coalition's October Iraq Moratorium. We held a one hour vigil on the corner of a busy intersection near the University of MN-Duluth. We held signs for passing motorists, and handed out leaflets to pedestrians. A large group of students from UMD's Students for Peace group attended, as well as some students from the College of St. Scholastica, a number of older peace activists. It was a very spirited vigil, and the response we got from the public was overwhelmingly positive!

Hayward

Hayward’s October Moratorium #14 event was slimmer than usual due to the Obama House party happening concurrently in a neighboring community, but we prevailed. Around 25 citizens and 2 dogs rallied and demonstrated on the busy corner in downtown Hayward. Cars and trucks passed by waving, clapping and thanking us for standing up, with relatively few thumbs down. Several vigilers called in pledges to WOJB 88.9 FM, our local community radio station’s fall fund drive while others spoke live on the radio (right) via cell phone. Some yummy brownies were available and the Wiscokidd played sing-a-long tunes! Pamphlets for the Progressive Democrats of America circulated highlighting their “Healthcare not Warfare” platform, as well as Iraq Moratorium pamphlets to those who had not heard about the “Every Third Friday” events nationwide.


Janesville

Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace vigil. Approximatel;y 12 people today, with "stop the war" and "honk for peace" signs. It was raining and cold, so the group was smaller than usual. Lots of honks and only a few negative gestures.

Rice Lake

Just over 30 anti-war supporters gathered in Rice Lake Friday to observe Iraq Moratorium Day #14. We were very glad to see a crop of new young faces at our event, having been joined by several high schoolers from the area. Spirits were high, passing motorists were supportive with honks and thumbs up, and enthusiasm for expanding the event is growing. We're all looking forward to a larger event on November 21st!

Milwaukee

Our usual 3rd Friday rally and vigil was bolstered by an increased presence of University of Wis-Milwaukee students, who also marched to the Federal Building and back. It seems impossible, but the response from cars driving by during rush hour was even more enthusiastic than it has been.

Madison

As an Iraq Moratorium event today, we held a special statewide organizing meeting in Madison to make plans to bring and keep our National Guard troops home: those who are currently fighting in wars abroad – and those with plans for being deployed in 2009! We need our Guard here – to deal with floods, and tornados, and supporting human needs within our state and region and nation….not abroad fighting in wars. We are developing flyers and petitions for the November and December Moratorium vigils. Watch for them on the WNPJ website.

This is part of a national campaign, endorsed by Veterans for Peace and more. The following states have active campaigns which have already introduced or will soon introduce state legislation: Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, our own Wisconsin and Oregon. A new "Bring the Guard Home" website will be up very soon, but in the meantime, go here for links to media releases, publicity fliers, articles and FAQs about the national campaign. And if you want to get involved in Wisconsin, contact Joy First at jsfirst@tds.net or 608-239-4327.

October 17 Moratorium actions

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Chippewa Falls: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 am Weekly Peace Vigil, in honor of the Iraq Moratorium. At the corner of Bridge and River. Contact Thomas Chisholm, Gaylord Oppegard and others at lagoclam@aol.com

Duluth MN: Northland Anti-War Coalition will sponsor a one-hour vigil at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 at the corner of Woodland Avenue and College Street. We'll be holding signs and leafleting. Last month's was the biggest yet. Let's keep building.

Green Bay: The public is invited to an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, West Side Moravian Church, 1707 S. Oneida St., Green Bay. For more information, contact Rev. Marian Boyle, 499-4433.

Hayward: On Friday, October 17, from 4-6 pm, Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chpater 153 will be holding a Vigil for Peace at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in downtown Hayward. The vigil is in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #14. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Good parking! Good people! All are welcome to attend!!!

Janesville: Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the 3rd Friday of every month. The next event will be held on October 17th. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville. We have signs. Contact: kholcombe8117@charter.net

LaCrosse: We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 17th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq. Contact: napeacefulwarior@yahoo.com

Madison: Saturday, Oct. 18, monthly peace vigils at the malls, for the Iraq Moratorium. West Towne mall this month: intersection of Odana Rd and Gammon Rd. The monthly peace vigils are an exciting and invigorating way to express your opposition to the "War on Terrorism." Help us count the honks for peace, over 400 an hour! Brings signs if you have them or borrow ours. Bring the whole family! The next vigil will be at East Towne Mall the third Saturday in November. For more information go to MadPeace.org or call Helena at(608) 249-2097 for details.

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Rice Lake: The People for Peace in Rice Lake will be standing for Peace from 4-6 pm, on Friday, Oct. 17, in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #14. We'll be at the corner of Knapp and Main streets on the north end of downtown Rice Lake. Bring a sign, a friend, a loved one, and let's continue to show our opposition to this war!

Woodruff: A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace. crossings@holycrosssisters.org

Reports from the field: Sept. 19 actions

Your event not listed? Please send us the details. Include photos or video if available.

Hayward

Encouraged by a recent letter to the editor in our local paper reminding readers that the Iraq Moratorium is for all and any groups opposed to senseless war, (and tireless networking and phone calling) the Iraq Moratorium continues to grow and succeed in the small town of 2100 in northern WI. 40 protesters crammed the sidewalk over the 2 hour vigil from 4-6 PM. That is the beauty of the Moratorium - it is an umbrella for all groups. Of course, in an election year, people are infused with the need for change in Washington therefore a number of Obama supporters were present with their signs. Everyone is welcome as must work together to make real change in our country. We will keep at it for a energy infused event in October.

Duluth, MN/Superior WI

The Northland Ant-War Coalition had our biggest Moratorium event ever last week (except for the 2007 Strike for Peace)-- 20 folks at a picket at Memorial Park on Grand Avenue in West Duluth. We'll had signs demanding "Bring the Troops Home Now!" and handed out fliers highlighting how much the war in Iraq is costing, and what that money would buy if it were put towards providing health care, or other social services. Still not as big as Hayward, but we're gaining on them! We had a lot of new folks from University of Minnesota-Duluth Students from Peace, some University of Wisconsin-Superior students, and some folks from the Network of Spiritual Progressives that we've been reaching out to more lately.

DePere

The Peace and Justice Center at St. Norbert College held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil for peace in Iraq on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. Photos submitted by Patti Cole.

Madison

Freeway Blogging on September 19

Larry, Judy, and Steve enjoying all the honks, waves, and peace signs from passing motorists!!

Rice Lake

Iraq Moratorium Stand for Peace. Almost 20 enthusiastic "People for Peace" came out to stand for peace at the corner of Knapp and Main streets in Rice Lake, in observance of September's Iraq Moratorium day. The highlight of the afternoon was when we were approached by two men who told us they were veterans, one from the Vietnam war and one from the Iraqi war. They were initially pretty upset at what we were doing and told us so. The Iraq war vet was wounded in action and said that seeing us out on the boulevard made him feel like what he did was for nothing.

Many of our group came over to talk with the two men, and thanked them for their service to their country. We told them we felt the best way to support the troops is to bring them home, and I told the young Iraq vet about how the Iraq Veterans Against the War marched in Denver to protest this war. By the time we were done talking we were all shaking hands, and they both said they'd look at the websites of Veterans for Peace and IVAW. This alone made the event worthwhile. If we can win over people even one at a time our efforts are worth it. See you in October!

Milwaukee

Beautiful weather for a street corner protest, and about 50 of us gathered in downtown Milwaukee, at a busy intersection during rush hour, to call for an end to the war and occupation. As usual, a very positive response from drivers and passersby. We were joined by folks from the Wheels of Justice, a bus tour with speakers on Iraq and Palestine, which is in Milwaukee for the weekend. As the vigil ended some of the participants, including a contingent from Progressive Students of Milwaukee, gathered for a group photo, above.

LaCrosse

Only two of us again. Will promote Iraq Moratorium at tomorrow's UN International Day of Peace event. The two of us will continue to do this through October; ct then we go south. See what happens during the winter and then??? Be safe, may peace, joy, and love fill your life - and those you love. do

September 19 Moratorium Actions

Your event not listed? Please send us the details.

Chippewa Falls: Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 am Weekly Peace Vigil, in honor of the Iraq Moratorium, at the corner of Bridge and River. Contact: lagoclam@aol.com

DeKalb (IL): Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Join us for a special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil at Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb. Friday, Sept. 19, 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Park, North First Street and Lincoln Hwy.

DePere:The St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center will host an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept.19. The service will be held in the oratorium of Old St. Joseph Church, St. Norbert College, 100 Grant St., De Pere. Parking is available in the lot across from the Church on the river side of the campus. For more information, contact the St. Norbert College Peace and Justice Center, 920-403-3881, email pjc@snc.edu

Duluth (MN): The Northland Anti-War Coalition will hold a picket on Friday, September 19 from 4:30-5:30pm at Memorial Park on Grand Ave. in West Duluth. We'll have signs demanding "Bring the Troops Home Now!" and handing out fliers highlighting how much the war in Iraq is costing, and what that money would buy if it were put towards providing health care, or other social services.

Fort Atkinson Rock River Peace Group vigil as part of the nation-wide Iraq Moratorium. Bring a friend if you can. Sept. 19, 5 to 6 p.m., Downtown, South 3rd & Main Streets. Info: email http://www.blogger.com/oggc@psly.net

Hayward: On Friday, September 19, Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 will observe Iraq Moratorium Day #13. We'll be gathering from 4-6 pm to stand for peace at the corner of Highway's 27 and 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Good times. Great parking. Come and join us!

Janesville: September 19, Friday, 4 pm Iraq Moratorium Rally and Vigil. Meet on the corner of Blackbridge Road and Milton Avenue. This area of town is very busy all the time, but more so on Friday afternoon. Sponsored by Rock Valley-Fellowship of Reconciliation. Our focus is ‘Stop the War’! We have signs but feel free to bring your own, but please join in our focus. Thanks. Sue Nelson at snelson@habiba.org.

LaCrosse. We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 15th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq.

Madison: Madison Pledge of Resistance will hold an action on Monday Sept. 15, at noon at the Federal Building at the corner of Doty St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. There will be a meeting prior to the vigil at 11:30 a.m. at Scott’s Pastry Shoppe, 19 W. Main St. on the Capitol Square. We’ll formulate our plans on who wants to do what, and then walk over to the vigil corner at noon to begin chalking and leafleting. Some individuals may be moved to risk arrest during this action. Signs relevant to the action are welcome. “We’ll be chalking the outlines of loved ones……—trying to put a human face on the pain and insanity of war.” Cassandra Dixon, turning 50 this week. Cassandra is one of the recipients of the 2008 WNPJ Peacemaker of the Year Awards. Contact Joy First, jsfirst@tds.net

Madison:Monthly Peace Vigils at the Malls, for the Iraq Moratorium. East Towne mall this month: Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.,intersection of East Washington and Thierer Rd. Call Helena (608) 249-2097 for details.

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, at 4:30 p.m., 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net

Milwaukee: Benefit concert for the Iraq Moratorium Sunday Sept. 14, 7:00pm at The Coffee House, 631 N. 19th St. Singer-songwriters David Kaye (with Chuck "The Electric Moustache" Floading) and Brett Kemnitz. Suggested $5. A good cause and a lot of fun, occasionally topical, occasionally silly music. Hope to see you there. http://www.the-coffee-house.com/

Milwaukee: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us as we start our second year. The universities will be back in session, which should swell the ranks. The Wheels of Justice bus tour will join us for the vigil, then hold a 7 p.m. event at Friends Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Pl., with eyewitness accounts from Iraq and Palestine. Info: Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com

Rice Lake: Come join the People for Peace in Rice Lake for our September Iraq Moratorium Stand for Peace. We will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main streets at the north end of downtown, from 4-6 pm, on Friday, September 19th. Please bring a sign if you have one. Everyone is welcome!

Viroqua: Peace Vigil in Support of the Iraq Moratorium, in Viroqua, at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the war. Friday, Sept. 19, Noon to 1 p.m.

Watertown: Watertown peace vigil will be joining in the Iraq Moratorium on Friday, Sept. 19, and will join all the other cities around to vigil. We will be at Main & Church Streets at 500 pm. Contact: Watertown peace committee

Woodruff:A silent prayer vigil from noon to 1 pm will be held in the small chapel of Holy Family Church, Woodruff. All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace. crossings@holycrosssisters.org

Reports from the Field: Aug. 15 actions

If yours isn't listed, please email your report,

photos, and videos.

LaCrosse

Again just two of us at the Moratorium at Cass Street bridge. We depart the northern climes in November, so there will be an activist moratorium for this event through October ... upon our return in April we shall see what has occurred during our absence:-)

Hayward

Ages ranging from a few weeks old to over 75 made up the nearly 30 diligent anti-war protesters rallied on the usual corner this past Moratorium event from 4-6 PM. We had new “Take the Pledge” flyers complete with the new logo to hand out to passers-by. Two of those gathered took a handful of flyers and walked down busy Main Street talking and sharing with tourists while a prominent local business owner stopped by with a two boxes of cookies for us as a treat. There were new signs voicing “Health Care Not Warfare.” This event is sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153 and we are anticipating a good turnout for next month’s Moratorium anniversary.

Waupaca

Waupaca had its first Iraq Moratorium action this month, a short vigil with signs and a banner on the square in the heart of downtown. The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which has nurtured and spread the Moratorium in Wisconsin, was holding its board meeting Friday in nearby Amherst. So a handful of "outside agitators" on their way to the meeting teamed up with a few members of Waupaca's People for Peace. Responses were generally friendly, although this is one of the state's most conservative counties. One family, a couple and child on their bikes, stopped to say that the father was headed for Iraq soon, but they were appreciative of ouor efforts. People for Peace is discussing moving its monthly action to the Third Friday to join those marking the Iraq Moratorium across the country. We're hoping they'll begin that next month.

Rice Lake

The People for Peace in Rice Lake held their first Iraq Moratorium event this afternoon from 4-6 pm. Just over 20 spirited activists gathered at the corner of Knapp and Main streets in the center boulevard among the petunias to wave at passing motorists and to demand an end to the war in Iraq. Unfortunately our photographer did not show, but we'll have two next month so that we have a back-up.

We were pleasantly surprised when a couple of young people pulled up next to the curb in a Jeep and handed us a bag filled with cans of soda pop and bottled water. Said the young woman behind the wheel, "We can't join you today but it looks like it's hot out here. We got you all something to drink!"

A couple of young men also came by and expressed interest in helping to organize next months event. It was a great start and we look forward to expanding our numbers next month!

Milwaukee

Milwaukee's 3rd Friday rally and vigil was very well-received, again. Lots of horn-honking, friendly waves and "V" peace signs. One of this month's highlights was "Puppy for Peace."

August 15 events: Iraq Moratorium #12

Your event not listed? Email us the information.

DePere. The public is invited to an ecumenical prayer service for peace in Iraq, Friday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Chapter Room, St. Norbert Abbey, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere, WI. For more information, please contact Br. Steve Herro, 920-337-4345, email steve.herro@snc.edu.

Duluth, MN: This month's Iraq Moratorium picket will be on Friday, Aug. 15. We'll be holding a one hour picket in Canal Park from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. We'll be gathering in front of the DeWitt Seitz Building on Canal Park Drive and Buchanan Street. Join us in holding signs and handing out fliers against the ongoing Iraq war. We'll have extra signs on hand, though feel free to bring your own. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! http://northlandantiwar.blogspot.com/

Dodgeville. Courthouse Vigil. The Grassroots Citizens for Peace, a group that has members from Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Spring Green and Barneveld, will hold its monthly vigil in front of the Iowa County Courthouse from 4 to 4:30 PM. The vigil will be followed by our monthly meeting to plan educational activities and intergenerational events.

Hayward. Iraq Moratorium Vigil for Peace, sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153, from 4 to 6 p.m. in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day #12. We'll be at the corner of Highways 27 and 63 in beautiful downtown Hayward. Please come, bring a friend and a sign as well, and lets continue to show our opposition to this war!

Janesville: 4 p.m. Rock Valley-Fellowship of Reconciliation and friends will gather on the corner of Blackbridge Road and Milton Avenue for an Iraq Moratorium vigil (#8 for us.) This area of town is very busy all the time, but more so on Friday afternoon. Our focus is Stop the War! We have signs but feel free to bring your own, but please join in our focus. Thanks. Sue Nelson snelson@habiba.org

LaCrosse. We will be meeting (vigil style) the afternoon/evening of the 15th from 5-6 on the corner of 3rd and Cass. Bring peace signs, wear arm bands against the war in Iraq.

Manitowoc. Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium. August 15, 4:30 p.m., 8th Stret & Maritime Drive.

Milwaukee. Peace Action Wisconsin, Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a vigil and rally at downtown's busiest corner, with signs, flags and banners. We leaflet pedestrians to tell them about the Iraq Moratorium and invite drivers to honk their horns in support, with a good response. Join us for all or part of the hour. Peace Action 414-964-5158

Rice Lake. The People for Peace in Rice Lake will stand for peace for two hours on Friday, August 15th, from 4-6 pm at the corner of Knapp and Main streets on the north end of town. The stand is in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day # 12.

Stevens Point. Weekly Demonstration, downtown, by the Shopko parking lot, 3:30 p.m., sponsored by Concerned Citizens of Stevens Point.

Waupaca. A first Iraq Moratorium event in Waupaca, on Friday, Aug. 15 from 3 to 3:30 p.m., across the street from Chez Marche at 108 S. Main. People for Peace and Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice board members, who are meeting later in Amherst,will vigil together. Contact: xofferson@wi.rr.com

Woodruff. Prayer vigil for peace, Pax Christi Northwoods. This is an hour of silent prayer for peace held weekly in a small chapel at the church. Noon to 1 p.m., August 15, Holy Family Chuch, Highway J.

Reports from the Field: July Moratorium

Your event not listed? Email us the information. Photos/videos, too.

Duluth

We had a spirited gang of 20 folks show up for a one hour vigil at the intersection of London Road and 21st Ave. E. in Duluth, MN. We got a great response from passing motorists!

Hayward

Almost 40 people turned out for Iraq Moratorium day #11 in Hayward. The event, sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter 153, featured a "No War With Iran" theme, which was called for by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, which is an affiliate of United for Peace and Justice.

In spite of a busy summer schedule people continue to turn out for public displays of opposition to the war in Iraq, and now a possible war in Iran. Once again motorists passing by stopped to express their appreciation and to join us for a few minutes while on their way home from work. The American people want and end to this war, so let's keep the pressure on in August!

LaCrosse


Our small but intrepid crew at the Cass Street Bridge.

Fort Atkinson

Rock River Peace Group in downtown Fort Atkinson, to protest the Iraq War and plans to attack Iran. In terms of future vigils we will be on hiatus in August to return in September. Looking forward to sharing a table with Walk Against War folks at 'Obamafest' in Lake Mills on July 24.

Manitowoc


Members of the Lakeshore Peacemakers have maintained this vigil every week since before the war began in March of 2003. We usually have about six of us on the corner from 4:30 to 5:30 every Friday. Last March we had over 30. We end each week by reading the names (top photo) of all of the Wisconsin young men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.



Janesville


Eighteen of us gathered for Rock Valley-FOR's Iraq Moratorium in Janesville. We moved from peace walking at the mall to a more lively set: Milton Ave. and Blackbridge Road at 4 p.m. Our “Honk for Peace” signs brought a ton of honks plus some new people. We agreed to continue outside for the coming months and evaluate the possibilities when the weather cools.

Milwaukee



It takes all kinds to end this war, so we mobilized a variety of people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and even the Prez himself and a self-styled cigar-smoking fat cat who stole someone's Harvard shirt. Perfect picketing/vigiling weather in Milwaukee for once, and lots of honking horns from cars, county buses, trucks, and even a bicycle bell.