Vibrant march for peace & justice

Gold Star mothers and Iraq veterans were joined on April 1 by civil rights, labor, student, immigrant, LGBT, women, Katrina survivors and faith leaders as well as city and state elected officials marching behind a banner demanding “Peace in Iraq and Justice at Home.”

Starting at the gravesite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the more than 4,000 protesters were exhorted to continue the struggle against war, racism and poverty with the same dedication and passion as Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and Anne Braden, three women from the South whose actions changed history.

With giant puppets, colorful banners, signs and balloons, African, Japanese and plastic bucket drum ming teams, squads of radical cheerleaders, cultural performances from hip hop to country western to baritone solos, the demonstration was a vibrant display of people’s culture, all in the service of defending human and civil rights and opposing militarism.

Speakers at the rally in Piedmont Park included well-known figures such as Dr. Joseph Lowery, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. diplomat Ann Wright and Tisha Tallman of MALDEF. Youth played a big role in the event with emcees and speakers from the National Hip Hop Political Convention, Critical Resistance, FIST, SCLC, Bolivarian Circle: Emilio Zapata and Student Political Action Committee, and a high school group from Decatur, Ga.