Over 90 people crowded onto the corner of Washington and Clinton streets to support the efforts of March for Peace activists Ashley Casale, an upstate New York native attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Michael Israel a recent high school graduate hailing from Jackson, California. Michael and Ashley have marched together over almost 6 states since May 21st when the march kicked off in San Francisco.
Some local protesters who were called upon by the efforts of the University of Iowa Antiwar group, walked with the Ashley and Michael from the edge of Iowa City to the Pentacrest vigil from 5:15 to 5:45 Friday evening.
At the vigil many children, men and women of all ages, and relatives of soldiers serving in Iraq. Some shook tambourines, beat on drums, while others held protest signs, and others raised their voices joining in protest chants.
A small number of Iowa City activists have been protesting the war on the same corner since the beginning of the war, while other activists have participated in silent vigils at noon on the Ped Mall, marched in parades, or joined in civil disobedience efforts joining in sit-ins at the offices of Senators Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin.
There will be a reception today for the March for Peace duo with free food and music will begin at 3pm at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St. Singer/guitarist Marv Hain will perform as will duo Jamie Fredericksen & Matt Kearney. If you would like to volunteer to bring food or other necessities, please e-mail Keri George at
keri.k.george@sbcglobal.net or call her at 847-287-0175.
The final event for the weekend will be accompanying the marchers out of Iowa City on Sunday, July 29, starting at 11am at College Green Park on the corner of S. Johnson St. and E. Washington St.
For more about the marchers see this from Common Dreams
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