While scores of anti-war protesters gather in Washington, D.C. on September 24th, Oklahoma City residents will get their chance to speak out that same day.
NEWS ADVISORY
Immediate Release: 8-27-2005
CONTACTS: See BelowOKLAHOMA CITY “ANTI-WAR FAIR” WILL SUPPORT
NATIONAL PEACE EVENTS IN WASHINGTON DC,
— all on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th“Anti-War FAIR” @ Memorial Park in OKC
Saturday, September 24th
Noon to 4 pm — and “after party” all evening.This event will be a mass demonstration against the Iraq War to coincide with
other national demonstrations including Washington DC, New York, San
Francisco, and Seattle. The staging area for the Oklahoma City event will be Memorial
Park on the Classen Blvd side, south of NW 36th Street.One of the Keynote Speakers will be Dave MacMichael a former CIA analyst who
is on the steering committee with Ray McGovern for “VIPS” (Veteran
Intelligence Professionals for Sanity).The second Keynote Speaker will be former Oklahoma Governor David Walters.
A third notable speaker will soon be announced.Tables and booths of aligned organizations will offer information, petitions,
action alerts, buttons, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc. These will include
The Peace House, Oklahoma Committee for Conscious Objectors, Veterans for
Peace, Mennonite War Relief, Codepink, and others.A “Children’s Activity Area” will offer arts & crafts opportunities for kids.
A “Youth Peace Table” will engage teenagers in actions they can take, and
information about conscientious objection.The “Anti-War FAIR” from noon to 4 pm will offer a free concert in the Park
including a line-up of 7 bands and local musical acts. Numerous opinion
leaders in additin to the “keynotes” will speak briefly about their opposition to
the war.After the event, bands will continue playing music in the park into the
evening for a celebratory “after-party.”
I hope someone will be blogging this. If you don’t have a blog but plan on going out and covering this, let me know. I’d be happy to host your report here.
A kid’s play area?? First off, I don’t think I’d take my kids (at least those who need to be occupied by a play area) to a war protest. But if they did come with me, I’d hope that I’d have them with me so they’d be participating, not playing in a sandbox.
Don’t know why this irritates me, but it does.
Anybody from OKC thinking about going out and countering these yahoos? Some of us from the Guard base might show up to offer our opinions.
Hi Scotty,
I’m one of the organizers of this event and we would be more than happy to have members of the Guard base show up and peacefully discuss the issues. I have a very dear friend who has been to Iraq three times and I keep telling her we are doing this for her as well as the many members of the Guard who have served honorably in this war. We have good troops fighting a bad war based on misleading policies.
As far as the children’s area, this will NOT be a baby sitting area. The parents will remain with their children while they particpate in creative activities like arts and crafts projects. The area will be far away from the demonstration areas we have aquired permits for.
I understand your desire to “protest our protest” perhaps you guys could organize something similar to ours where you can publically vocalize your opinions on another date?