The War Moratorium (Formerly Iraq Moratorium)

Hundreds of protesters turned out in Milwaukee on Friday, March 19, and in Madison on Saturday, March 20, to protest the continued war in Iraq and the escalation of the war in Afghanistan.    The Milwaukee event was sponsored by the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace, and featured David Newby, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. Union members, veterans, students, and peace activists marched from Federal Plaza to City Hall to protest the war, layoffs, and cutbacks in education.

 

 

 

 

In Madison, David Newby addressed the noon rally on the UW Library Mall on behalf of the State AFL-CIO and U.S. Labor Against the War, of which the State Fed is an active member. The South Central Federation of Labor endorsed the rally and a good number of union members turned out.

 

Later that afternoon, Newby and Sue Ruggles (AFT Local 212 at Milwaukee Area Technical College and, along with Newby, a member of the Steering Committee of U.S. Labor Against the War) led a workshop on "The Impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars on Wisconsin Working Families". Since 2001, Wisconsin residents have paid $16.7 billion to finance these wars-more than twice as much as our state budget deficits in these years. The teach-in was co-organized by AFT-W retiree Adam Schesch, pictured with David Newby.

The workshop that followed, "The Ground War in Afghanistan: The Reality" was led by Afghanistan veteran Mathew Justice and IVAW member Todd Dennis.

(Thanks to Sue Ruggles for pictures and report)