Austin: Million Musicians March for Peace, March 20
Photo from the web. From Jose Ole:
Million Musicians March for Peace Braves Storm In Remembrance of the Costs of War…on the 7th Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq.
Defying sub-freezing wind chill and wind gusts of up to 39 mph, hundreds of Austin musicians and non-musicians expressed their passionate support for an end to the Iraq occupation and ever-spreading war at the annual Million Musicians March for Peace.
This unique Austin event, held in conjunction with demonstrations in 700 cities worldwide, marked the 7th anniversary of George Bush’s invasion of Iraq, based on false information, resulting in the displacement, wounding, or death of millions of innocent civilians and thousands of U.S. troops, and draining the U.S. treasury.
The Million Musicians March for Peace is a musician-led all volunteer effort that takes months to organize every year and is paid for by passing the tip jar at fundraising music parties and out of organizers’ pockets. Their passionate support for a peaceful U.S. policy was very apparent Saturday.
Despite icy wind that cut through clothing, blowing over p.a. speakers, hats, signs…even blowing the bow out of one fiddleplayer’s hand…the show went on. Although the weather had a big effect on the size of the crowd, it also emphasized the sincerity of those present on Saturday.
The cold, lively crowd gathered for two hours at the steps of the Capitol to hear music from many artists including David Garza and Southpaw Jones, and words from Colonel Robert Bowman on the realities of war. Everyone then formed a parade behind the Minor Mishap Marching Band and parts of the Jericho Brass Band and marched and played it’s way through downtown Austin. The parade spontaneously grew as it passed through SXSW crowds, ending up at City Hall with a concert by Guy Forsyth, Carolyn Wonderland, Shelley King, and Bill Kirchen.
The Million Musicians March for Peace is organized by the Instruments For Peace network of musicians and friends. The organizers and participants in this year’s event want to thank all who helped to make this a successful event, including the Austin Center for Peace and Justice…and Texans For Peace, Texas State Representative Lon Burnam, Dallas Peace Center, Artists For Media Diversity, VoteRescue, Texas State Representative Elliott Naishtat, Happy Living with Justice, icon media, Austin Permanent Peace Protest, Institute to Honor Freedom of Conscience, Waco Friends of Peace, Denton Peace Action, Texas Labor Against the War, CodePink Austin, Code Pink Greater Dallas, Veterans For Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Monkey Wrench Books, and Health Care For All Texas.
“Everybody can be an instrument for peace.”
Thanks to Richard Bowden for this story.
Tags: 2010, 7th anniversary, Austin, Instruments for Peace, invasion, Iraq, March 20, Million Musicians March, occupation, peace, Texas, war
