In the past two years, a U.S. soldier has died in Iraq on Sept. 21, a day that has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace.
Organizers of the nationwide Declaration of Peace coalition, which include antiwar activists here in Springfield, hope that this Sept. 21 is different.
The coalition gave Congress until today, Sept. 21, 2006, to not just devise but also pass a comprehensive strategy to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq. However, when Illinois Times went to press on Wednesday afternoon, no such legislation was near passage.
If no bill is passed by today’s deadline, coalition members plan to hold peaceful demonstrations, including marches, candlelight vigils, interfaith services, and peace concerts.
Locally, Pax Christi Springfield, the Mary Wood Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, and the Justice and Peace Office of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis have planned several such events for the coming days.
On Friday, Sept. 22, I Know I’m Not Alone, a documentary examining war issues, directed by musician Michael Franti, will be screened at the downtown Head West Sub Stop (530 East Capitol Ave., 217-789-9101). A discussion moderated by University of Illinois liberal-studies professor Eric Hadley-Ives will follow.
At noon the next day, Saturday, Sept. 23, a vigil will be held on the Statehouse steps, Second Street and Capitol Avenue.
One focus of the vigil will be the Springfield “Bring the Troops Home Now,” referendum, which will appear on ballots here and several other communities around Illinois in November.
Other activities were held earlier in the week. For more information about the Declaration of Peace coalition, go to www.declarationofpeace.org.
The death toll in Iraq has continued to climb since the United States invaded that country in March 2003. Nearly 2,700 American soldiers have been killed, and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died as well.
Contact R.L. Nave at rnave@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2006.
