WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. political activist movement has said it will commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war with 1,100 protests.
MoveOn.org, a liberal, U.S. activist organization, said it would mark the fourth anniversary of the beginning of military operations in Iraq on March 19, 2003, by holding 1,100 candlelight vigils across the United States.
"The vigils will honor the troops who have sacrificed their lives and call on Congress to stop the escalation, bring the troops home safely and end the war. The vigils are co-sponsored by True Majority, USAction and Working Assets," MoveOn.org said ian statement Monday.
"For the first time Congress is considering a real deadline to bring our troops home safely from Iraq. This important step gives the troops, military families and concerned citizens around the country real hope for a change in course," MoveOn.org said.
"Voters gave Congress a mandate last November; bring the troops home safely," said Tom Matzzie, Washington Director MoveOn.org Political Action. "The best way to honor these troops and their families is to pass legislation that will redeploy American troops out of Iraq this year," said Nita Chaudhary of MoveOn.
MoveOn.org said it planned to focus many of the protest gatherings outside the district offices of members of the U.S. Congress in their home states with activists holding candles, signs and banners carrying such slogans as, "Keep 'em safe, Bring 'em Home," and "Iraq War: Wrong Way."
Widespread American unease at the course of the Iraq war is regarded as the main reason the Republican Party lost control of both houses of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections in November, after 12 years of control. However, so far, the attempts of anti-war activists to create a serious nationwide protest movement have not been successful.
