Weekend Marches Signal National Discontent with Bush, Congressional Policies

Widespread national dissatisfaction with Bush Administration and Republican-led Congressional policies is palpable this weekend, as citizens protest enmasse in cities across the nation.

US War in Iraq - In New York City today, "thousands of anti-war demonstrators converged on lower Manhattan on Saturday to call for an immediate withdrawal of troops" from Iraq, reports AP.

Today's anti-war effort, led by activist Cindy Sheehan and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, was initiated by a myriad of grassroots groups, including United for Peace and Justice, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, National Organization for Women, Friends of the Earth, U.S. Labor Against the War, Climate Crisis Coalition, People's Hurricane Relief Fund, National Youth and Student Peace Coalition and Veterans For Peace .

"We are here today because the war is illegal, immoral and unethical," said the Rev. Al Sharpton today at the New York march. "We must bring the troops home."

CLICK HERE for all the details about the New York City rally today.
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US Policy in Darfur - In Washington DC on Sunday, April 30, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), actor/activist George Clooney, with his father, journalist Nick Clooney, and dozens of moral and religious leaders from many faiths, lead a massive protest to urge action against, rather than US passivity toward, genocide in Darfur.

The chairwoman of the Save Darfur movement is Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston, MA since 1997 and a pediatrician since 1981.

CLICK HERE for the who, what why, when and where of this important DC event.
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Immigration Reform - Millions are expected to march on Monday, May 1, in support of immigration reform legislation that would permit a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented workers who have been illegally hired by US employers.

Hundreds of thousands of marchers are expected in cities cross the nation, from Los Angeles, Houston , Phoenix and San Francisco to Chicago, New York, Washington DC and beyond. While a small minority of immigration reform leaders have called for a day-long national boycott by immigrants of the workplace, Catholic Cardinals are urging all to ignore boycott calls.

Reports the Boston Globe newspaper today, "Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley yesterday joined his fellow Catholic leaders -- along with President Bush and the Senate's top Democrat -- in calling for immigrants to ignore plans for a nationwide day of walkouts to demonstrate the impact immigrants have on the economy and society. O'Malley and two other US cardinals, Roger Mahony of Los Angeles and Theodore McCarrick of Washington, said they feared that widespread participation in the work and school boycotts immigration activists have set for Monday could incite opponents who want to defeat a comprehensive immigration reform bill presently before Congress."

The Boston Globe continued, "Senate minority leader Harry Reid concurred, predicting that the boycott will be ''very limited in nature' because so many Hispanic and religious leaders have spoken out against it. ''The wind has been taken out of its sails,' said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. "

May 1 immigration rallies and marches in most cities are set to start around 4 PM. The best source of info and details for the events are the Catholic Archdiocese websites for each city, and the Justice for Immigrants website.

CLICK HERE for extensive guidelines strongly suggested by Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles for Monday's rallies and marches.
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