THE WORLD RISES UP AGAINST WAR: February 15: Millions march around the world today to say "No War Against Iraq" Organizing begins for March 1 Emergency Convergence on the White House It is one of the great ironies of recent history that the ultra-militarist policies of the Bush administration, threatening a catastrophic war of aggression against Iraq, have been the catalyst to a global anti-war movement unlike anything that has existed for three decades -- that is, since the close of the Vietnam War. Large anti-war demonstrations took place in most of the major cities of the world. All told, more than 600 cities and towns were the scene of simultaneous protests. In the United States, most of the major anti-war coalitions fully mobilized for the February 15 actions. In New York City, the people defied police refusal to grant a march permit by turning the upper east side broad boulevards into a sea of humanity. Hundreds of thousands filled First Avenue, Second Avenue and Third Avenue. On First Avenue the rally stretched from 52nd St. past 80th St. Second and Third Avenues, and even over to Lexington Avenue, were clogged with demonstrators who were prevented by police barricades and checkpoints from reaching the main assembly site.....  The following links are some photos of the NYC demonstration: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030215/168/3a6x9.html http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030215/168/3a88t.html In Los Angeles, 100,000 demonstrated in the largest anti-war protest in many years. Opening the Los Angeles rally, Michel Shehadeh of the Free Palestine Alliance and the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition welcomed the crowd with the words that "the demonstrations today taking place all over the world are revealing the fact that the Bush administration's planned war of aggression is now in direct confrontation with the will of the people everywhere." Demonstrations took place in scores of cities throughout the United States. 5,000 marched in Houston, 7,000 in Chicago, more than 7,000 in Sacramento, thousands marched in San Jose and Detroit. We are encouraging organizers in different cities to send in reports about their actions. Internationally, the demonstrations included some of the biggest ever. The original call for the February 15 demonstrations came from the European anti-war movement. In London, the demonstration was nearly two million according to march organizers. Millions more marched throughout Europe -- in Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Rome and throughout the continent. In Damascus, 200,000 marched. Tens of thousands marched in Buenos Aires. In Toronto, 80,000 took to the streets. We will try to compile a list of the turnout at other demonstrations that took place on all continents and have that list available tomorrow. On March 1, there will be an Emergency Convergence on the White House in Washington DC. In the coming days, we will see whether the Bush administration intends to defy the will of the people and plunge ahead with his criminal war plans. Everyone recognizes that it is critical that the movement maintain momentum and visibility as a means to further ignite grassroots opposition everywhere. At the White House convergence on March 1, thousands of people will demand No War on Iraq. They will also call for George Bush to be impeached for crimes committed in planning and executing war abroad and assaulting constitutionally protected civil rights and civil liberties at home. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.InternationalANSWER.org  http://www.VoteNoWar.org  dc@internationalanswer.org  New York 212-633-6646 Washington 202-332-5757 Chicago 773-878-0166 Los Angeles 213-487-2368 San Francisco 415-821-6545 Boston 617-522-6626 Sign up to receive updates (low volume): http://www.internationalanswer.org/subscribelist.html  International A.N.S.W.E.R. Act Now to Stop War & End Racism www.InternationalANSWER.org