Reporting on Iraq War DC March and Lobbying 1/27,29

Written by: Jill Fuhrmann on Jan 31, 2007 8:21 AM EST

Iraq War March and Lobbying 1/27-29 -07

         1/27 March:  - What  a beautiful day - the weather served us

The Turnout:

-1/2 million+      - Not 10's of thousands/      Not a few thousand - written in the media

- Comparable to highest attendance figures in previous Iraq DC marches

- Count based on overhead picture analysis.

The Crowd:

- Peaceful and friendly.

• - A crowd comparable to your neighborhood's block party.

- Media portrayed the field disparagingly as "the usual  crowd". Media continues to do us a disservice. We need muscle and action on the flagrant misrepresentation of the media.

- Children, baby carriages, dogs on leashes, families, old and young. Baby boomers and their extended families.

- People of color sorely missing. 

- Presidential candidates sorely missing (Only Kucinich spoke) - the crowd noticed and it was discussed. 

- Engaging, thought provoking and colorful street theater. 

- Thanks to all who walked on stilts, wore costumes, sang, chanted, made music and of course, designed and carried creative signs and banners.

- Minor amount of counter protests -  3 dozen people at best. 

1/29 Lobbying Senators and Congress 

- Excellent turnout.- bussed in from all over the US 

- Wedge issue: Concern from Republicans about the money being spent on Iraq and the lack of substantiation of costs from administration.

- Lobbied for passage of Passage of HR 508  (Maxine Waters)

- Many senior legislative aids met w/ groups.

- Groups reported to be treated much more cordially (than in recent previous years) by Republican offices. 

- Groups worked well together and separately. 

- Methodist Building was an excellent host - Love those open door Methodists! 

- Blue Dogs has a sign in one of the Congressional buildings tabulating the costs of the war and the dollar amount per each US citizen ($29,000.) 

- 9 people were thrown out of a congressional building for reading off names of those who died in Iraq. 

- Good follow up methodology conveyed by trainers and organizers. Let's make those calls and thank you letters and follow up each and every contact!

IF YOU HAVE NOT LOBBIED IN DC YET  -  GO!!!!!!!!  - I highly recommend it.

I think we are really getting it together on these progressive movements. 

I am so very proud of "us". 

We are the people we have been waiting for.

Let's keep the momentum going! 

Jill Fuhrmann - Hunterdon, NJ DFA 

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