Neighbors for Peace and Justice

We still believe that the war on Iraq is immoral and unjust.
It is more than symbolic that U.S. troops guarded the oil fields while allowing the Iraqi national museum to be ransacked of humanity's treasures. This is an imperial profit war. U.S. corporate control over oil and petrodollars is not worth the sacrifice of a single human life. Too many people have already suffered and died for it. Have you seen the pictures of the children?

For the Iraqi people -- and therefore for us -- this war is far from over.
Millions are without electricity, clean water, food, health care, and other necessities of life. Unexploded bomblets are a danger to civilians. Depleted uranium will contaminate the land indefinitely. Fighting continues, and given the tensions amongst U.S. troops, the Shiite and Kurdish militias, armed groups of Baath Party loyalists, and Turkish troops at the border, it may not end soon. The threat of terrorism in the region has increased. Are we really safer now?

We oppose the U.S. occupation
of Iraq.
The United States' "reconstruction" plans serve the interests of the largest US corporations, not the Iraqi people. They will channel Iraqi oil wealth into the coffers of Bechtel, Parsons, Halliburton/Brown & Root, as well as Exxon-Mobil, Texaco-Chevron, and other US companies. The plan for a new Iraqi government is about as "democratic" as the Florida 2000 election. Is Empire compatible with Democracy?

We are "preemptively" opposed to the extension of the war.
The Bush Administration, with bipartisan support, makes it clear daily that Iraq is only the beginning. This could be a period of endless war -- even world war, some warn. Will Syria be next? Iran? North Korea?

This country's foreign policy is intimately connected with the abysmal neglect of domestic programs.
All the military technology is paid for with our tax dollars. Every single bomb is a child neglected, a health need that is not covered, a bridge that is not fixed. The violence of U.S. military intervention abroad is reflected in the violence pervading our own communities. Who can believe Bush's promises for health and education in Iraq when schools and clinics here are cut back and starved for funds?

Our elected officials are not speaking for us, so we will keep speaking for ourselves.
In maintaining our vigil, we assert our freedoms of speech and assembly. "Homeland Security", the so-called USA-PATRIOT Act, and the pending PATRIOT 2 . threaten our civil rights and constitutional guarantees. The Oakland police fired "non-lethal" weapons at peaceful protesters and longshore workers standing near them. Who will liberate US?

We will not abandon the international peace movement.
It's true that other governments may oppose the US for their own imperial interests. But most of the millions protesting the U.S. war and occupation want peace and justice, just as we do. If people abroad do not see any opposition to Washington's policies, what will they think of this country?

The Montrose vigil has been encountering counter demonstrators (about 30) from the local VFW. They tend to be rather belligerent -- and the vigil organizers encourage people not to respond to their provocations.

They could use as much help as possible.

Thank you.

TIME: Fridays 5:30pm to 7:00
LOCATION: Oceanview and Honolulu (in Montrose)
Weekly Vigils Schedule
 This is only a partial listing of area Peace Vigils, for lists of other Southern California weekly demo locations try the following sites:
L.A.Weekly's "Find Your Local War Protest"
Almost All of the Los Angeles Peace Vigils
PeaceVigils.com
Orange County Peace Coalition
Interactive Google Map

Fridays
 5-7 pm unless otherwise noted

Alhambra, Main Street and Garfield Avenue,
in front of Edwards Stadium 14 Theater (7-8:30 pm)

Atwater, Glendale Boulevard and Glenfeliz (5-6:30)
Call 213 250-5500.

Century City, Beverly Glen and Santa Monica Boulevard (5-6 pm)
For more information email gosierras@yahoo.com

Echo Park, Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue (5-7 pm) (map)

El Sereno, Eastern and Huntington Drive (5:30-7:00 pm)
Call 323 257-1443 or email robertof@usc.edu

Granada Hills, corner of Balboa Boulevard and Devonshire Boulevard, (5-6:30 pm)
For more information email ceiloz@socal.rr.com

Glendale, Broadway & Brand.
For more information call 818 242-4320, 818-242-4320 and 818-484-5635
Website glendalepeacevigil.org

Hemet, Florida and Sanderson. Call 909 767-2203.

Huntington Park, intersection of Pacific Boulevard and Florence Avenue (4-6 pm)
For more information, email cascas3000@yahoo.com, rocketeria@hotmail.com, or luisvicente13@hotmail.com

Mar Vista, Mar Vista Park, Corner of Palms and McLaughlin
For more information email marvista4peace@attbi.com

Mid-Wilshire, Third Street and Wilton Place (5-6 pm)
For more information email esvhicl@hotmail.com

Montrose, Oceanview and Honolulu (5:30 - 7 pm)

Riverside, University & Iowa (6-7 pm)
Call 909 653-0743 or go to rapja.org

San Pedro, 1st and Gaffey (5-7 pm)
For more information email contact@spneighbors.org
or call 310 316-1567

Santa Barbara (Noon - 1 pm)
State Street and Anapamu Street

Silverlake/Los Feliz, in front of the Vista Theater – where Sunset, Hollywood, Virgil & Hillhurst meet (map)

Studio City, Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard (6:00-7:30 pm)
For more info or to be added to the email list: neighborsteve2002@yahoo.com
Dinner and meeting to follow every other Friday

Venice Main Street and Windward Avenue (5:30 - 7pm)
at the Venice Traffic Circle
more info: Peace@freevenice.org

West Hollywood, San Vincente and Santa Monica Boulevards (7-9 pm)
Call 323 620 2394

Saturdays

Burbank, 3rd and Orange Grove - at the Burbank Farmers’ Market (8-10 am)
Call 818 842-5055 or email BurbankPeace@sbcglobal.net

Eagle Rock, corner of Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards (4-6 pm)
For more information, email ntmzh@sbcglobal.net

South Pasadena, corner of Fair Oaks and Mission (5-6 pm)
For more information contact Linda K. 626 676 7110

Sundays

Arlington West
Every Sunday for over a year and a half, both the Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles chapters of Veterans for Peace set up the Arlington West mock cemeteries on the beach at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara and at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica where small white crosses are placed in the sand for each of the fatalities in Iraq. Volunteers are needed between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning to help set up and again in the evening around 5:30 to take down the memorial.

Downey, Lakewood and Firstone (12-2 pm)
For more information email Cali_abe@yahoo.com

El Sereno, Eastern and Huntington Drive (6-8 pm)
Candlelight vigil. Call 323 257-1443 or email robertof@usc.edu

Highland Park, Veteran's Memorial Square,
N. Figueroa & York (1:30 am - 3:00 pm)
For more information email Vonpooka@yahoo.com

Whittier, N/W corner of Whittier Boulevard and Painter Avenue
Der Wienerschnitzel corner (4:30 - 6:30 pm) 4th Sunday of each month
For more information call 562-692-2621
Event calendar - click here

Woodland Hills Valley West Vigil for Peace and Human Rights meets on the corner of Topanga and Oxnard Boulevards on the first Sunday of each Month 4-5pm
note: time will change to 5 pm in May
We have signs and you are welcome to bring your own. 
For more information email reneelancon@aol.com

Mondays

Monterey Park, (12:30-2:00 pm) corner of Cesar Chavez and Atlantic, 1/2 block from East LA College. For more information email alldewolfe@earthlink.net

Wednesdays

El Sereno, Eastern and Huntington Drive (5:30-7:00 pm)
Call 323 257-1443 or email robertof@usc.edu

West Covina, at Vincent and Lakes Drive (Vincent side of Applebees)
(7-9 pm) Bring a sign and candle. Dress in black or wear black armband
For more information email junglebob@yosemite.net

Thursdays

Downtown Los Angeles, (11:45 am -1:30 pm) 210 W. Temple Street
in front of the Criminal Court Building

Westwood "War Is Not The Answer" vigil
Wilshire and Veteran Boulevards. (5-7 pm)

 
neighborsforpeaceandjustice.org