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On Saturday, March 28 Patriots for Peace and Humanists for Peace led a mass march calling for a transformation of America ’s pro-war foreign policy away from militarism. The statewide mass march, endorsed by many Florida groups, was held in solidarity with national protests on March 21 in Washington DC (ANSWER Coalition) and April 4 in New York City (United for Peace and Justice).

Media coverage of the event:

"Marchers seek to focus on home; Peace rally demands an end to war, more money for domestic issues," Florida Today, March 31, 2009 Photo Gallery, Florida Today, March 31, 2009 Photos from Progressive Democrats of Indian River Photos from St. Augustine for Peace & Justice "Organizers insist war isn't the way," Florida Today (3-27-09) "March for Peace in Melbourne March 28," Hometown News (3-27-09) “Peace--Following in a Humanist Tradition” Humanist Network News (March 18, 2009) “Gainesville's Veterans for Peace will participate in march” Independent Alligator (March 17, 2009)

COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRTS ON SALE $7.00

Review of Florida March for Peace
By Jim Sanders, member of Broward AntiWar Coalition
Monday, March 30, 2009

On Saturday, March 28th, 120 to 150 activists from across the state marched through downtown Melbourne against US wars and interventions. These include the occupation in Iraq, the escalation in Afghanistan, attacks against Pakistan, our support of Israel’s aggressions against the people of Palestine, and others.

A rally was held at the end point at Melbourne City Hall. A diverse collection of speakers and performers from across the state addressed the crowd. Food Not Bombs did what they do best and shared food with anybody who was hungry. Raging Grannies sang songs against profiteering and the ludicrous escalation planned in Afghanistan. A radical minister spoke of the need for revolution. A couple of long-time activist spoke of the need to support freeing the Cuban 5. A speaker from the Miami Mayday Alliance called on the crowd to join the upcoming May 1st action in Miami.

The rally was organized by the Brevard County based Patriots for Peace. Broward AntiWar endorsed this action along with 66 other groups from across the state.

After the march and rally, a group of about 30 to 40 of us gathered on the balcony of a local bar to form the Florida Peace Congress. We hope that in forming this organization we can offer better communication and support for peace and social justice events throughout the state. The first act of the new group was to endorse the Mayday event in Miami.

It was a great day for the peace and justice communities in Florida. Not only did we boisterously and enthusiastically march and rally against wars and injustice, we laid the groundwork for uniting for greater work in the future.

Original flyers/information:

FLYERS (PDF/128K; 7 pages)
11x17 "PEACE MARCH" FLYER (PDF/20K; 1 page 11x17)

The March 28 protest will bring together a variety of activists and their peace and social justice issues. Protestors demand that the Obama administration and Florida ’s Senators and Congresspersons:

1. Bring an end to U.S. foreign wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
2. Stop attacks inside Pakistan – diplomacy not warfare
3. Close all U.S. operated military prisons around the world
4. Utilize diplomacy to relieve tension with Iran and Latin American nations including Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela
5. Pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory
6. And reduce military spending in favor of domestic spending on health, infrastructure, education and jobs.

SPEAKERS:

1. Terry Buckenmeyer: member of  St. Augustine People for Peace and Justice, Vets for Peace and the IWW activist for the past 40 years.
2. Michele Paccione: peace activist, former president of Brevard NOW, and recently elected city council woman for City of Palm Bay (the city is not an endorser of the march)
3. Tom Baxter: Doting father, loving husband, VVAW, 1970, Veterans for Peace, 1985, ACLU, 1972, Tallahassee Network for Justice and Peace, 2001.
4. Jeff Nall: Florida March for Peace coordinator, founder and spokesperson for Patriots for Peace and Humanists for Peace, humanist minister, academic, and author of Perpetual Revolt: Essays on Peace & Justice and The Shared Values of Secular, Spiritual, and Religious Progressives www.perpetualrevolt.com
5. Dr. Stephen Blythe, family physician and 2008 Democratic candidate for Congress (FL-15) whose current project is UninsuredinAmerica.org  
6. Tom Guelcher: President of the Fort Myers based non-profit Environmental and Peace Education Center.
7. Brian Moore: 2008 Socialist Party USA candidate for president, Co-Founder, NatureCoast Coalition for Peace & Justice; recently appeared on Colbert Rapport, CSPAN and Fox News http://www.votebrianmoore.com
8. Carol Thomas: mother, grandmother and long-time civil rights activist. Involved in struggles around tenants rights, affordable housing, anti-war, single-payer health care.
9. Connie Canney: mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, artist and long-time activist. Actively involved with civil rights issues, anti-war, anti-U.S. intervention in Central America and the Caribbean since the early 60’s.
10. Lt. Col. Robert M. Bowman, Ph.D. USAF, ret.: the Primate Archbishop of the United Catholic Church, retired military officer and disabled combat veteran who spent 22 years in the Air Force, Bowman is currently head of The Patriots. http://thepatriots.us/
11. The South Florida Raging Grannies, performing two songs

Volunteer and donation opportunities
Contact Jeff at sabletide@yahoo.com for more info/details

1. BRING FOOD DONATIONS - We will be accepting donations of fresh or packaged rice, beans, and vegetables to aid Food Not Bombs' efforts to serve the hungry and homeless. Canned food will also be accepted. Additional items needed by Food Not Bombs include: large spoons, ladles, pans; Reusable plastic plates and cups; large collapsable tent/awning to set up under when it rains (6' by 6'); Clothes.
2. DISTRIBUTE FLYERS & POSTERS - Share copies of the 8x10 flyer or post 11x17 posters; post details of the march on various calendars, facebook, myspace and elswhere
3. HOST A SIGN MAKING PARTY If interested we can arrange a sign making party prior to the event. Or, if you prefer to make your own - we are addressing a wide range of issues at this event all connected to demilitarizing the national budget in favor of more just international, social and economic policies. HUMAN NEEDS NOT WAR, HOUSING NOT WAR, FOOD NOT BOMBS, GREEN JOBS NOT WAR, END WAR-YES WE CAN, END ALL OCCUPATION-NOW, OUT OF IRAQ-NOW, OUT OF AFGHANISTAN-NOW, and more.
4. Film and/or photograph this event; create youtube video of march
5. Volunteer to be a member of the “peace keeping” folks who will be on hand to defuse any potential problems among marchers or between marchers and passerby. (We’ve never had a serious problem in the past, but we’d rather be prepared just in case.)
6. Assist Food Not Bombs in bringing healthy foods to share
7. Use creative theatrics, art, photography to dramatize opposition to U.S. militarism and/or poverty among many other issues
8. Help fund Radio advertisements on local stations. The public radio station is currently putting together a PSA.
9. Purchase a case or more of water to give out to marchers
10. Buy or allow us to use your canopy so that children and the elderly can be sheltered from the sun at City Hall