We huddled our umbrellas and listened to a collection of speakers/singers.

On March 19th in the Eastern Massachusetts region displayed a tremendous outpouring of activity against the Iraq war. There were at least 44 vigils and standouts in the Greater Boston region marking the 5th year of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. Winter Soldier packets were delivered to our Congresspeople’s offices. Meetings were held at Congressional offices. There were direct action and arrests.

VIGILS AND STANDOUTS
---United for Justice with Peace held a vigil on Boston Common. Military families, veterans and members of the peace and social justice movement gathered to say: "5 YEARS TOO MANY! Bring the Troops Home Now - to a Society that Works for Everyone". It was a good event – bobbing with umbrellas in the cold wet rain by Brewer fountain! About 150 people. Military family members and veterans, and UJP members – read the names of Iraqi children who have been killed, with their ages; and MA service people killed in Iraq, and their hometown. This memorial was followed by a singing together of Amazing Grace... Then strong and heartfelt talks by members of MFSO and Gold Star families, by a Harvard student (part of a group which had marched from Harvard Square) and others!. We addressed the war abroad and the war at home. The Raging Grannies had some wonderful songs. Chuck Williams provided music, too – and when he had to put away his guitar due to rain, others volunteered to lead us in song...Across the street at the military recruiting center, 5 protesters were arrested shortly before our vigil began.
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A condensed version of the Boston Common Vigil, a recording which was featured on WZBC-FM's Truth and Justice Radio last week, is now posted at:
http://www.492cafe.org/audio/events/2008_03_19-Iraq5th
It runs thirty minutes, and features a stereo reworking of the reading of names

Media coverage: There were media hits in all the major Boston print outlets - Herald, Globe, Metro, and Boston Now, plus channels 5, 7, and fox and NECN

---MoveOn in Boston organized concurrent vigils at the major roadways in and out of the city. "

---The following towns held vigils on the 19th; special vigils or standouts: Acton, Andover, Arlington, Concord, Bedford, Belmont, Brookline, Easton, Gloucester, Groton, Hyannis, Ipswich, Jamaica Plain, Lowell, Marblehead, Marlborough, Medford (Cong. Markey’s office), Milford, Milton, Nahant, Natick, Newburyport, Newton Center Green, Reading, Scituate, Sharon, South Boston, Stow, Waltham, Waltham-Brandeis, Watertown (2 vigils), Wayland, West Newbury, Worcester (list not complete)

CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES

---On the 19th - following Saturday’s hugely successful live broadcast in Harvard Square of the Winter Soldier hearings, Winter Soldier packets were delivered to most of our MA Congresspeople and Senators. There were meetings at the offices of Congresspeople Capuano, Markey, Lynch, Tsongas and Delahunt offices . MA Peace Action writes: “We have heard already back from a more senior staffer at Delahunt's office who was very appreciative of the Winter Soldier material, had been watching over the weekend, and listened to our CD today…Kennedy's and Kerry's offices were quicker "drop off" visits but we did speak to aides at both to make our demands clear. Kerry's aide said they have been getting a lot of calls about winter soldier.”

DIRECT ACTION

----A small group of us successfully shut down the Military Recruiters on Tremont St near Park St station during a civil disobedience yesterday, March 19 on the 5th anniversary of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq.

links to photos:
http://teeksaphoto.org/RecentPhotos/ArmyIraqAction_3_20_08/index.html
http://jonathanmcintosh.smugmug.com/gallery/4546822_rLWus

---In Chicopee, police arrested eight protesters who were blocking the entrance to Westover Air Reserve Base yesterday

---In Hyannis there were four arrests at Congressman Delahunt’s office as members of Cape Codders for Peace and Justice and Veterans For Peace occupied the Congressman’s office, urging him to pledge a ‘No” vote on any bill which included funding to extend the war in Iraq.