Wednesday, March 19, marks the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Five years ago, hundreds of us gathered around the Bloomington Courthouse Square, incredulous and devastated, when the bombs started falling on Baghdad.

Now hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed. Untold numbers of Iraqis and nearly 30,000 U.S soldiers have been wounded. Two million Iraqis are living as refugees in other countries, and another 2.5 million are displaced within Iraq. More than 500 billion dollars have been spent on the U.S. occupation of Iraq, so far.

The great majority of the people of this country want the U.S. occupation of Iraq to end. Yet, policymakers in Washington, D.C, including 9th District Representative Baron Hill and Indiana Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar, to this day have not used their power to end funding for the war and to begin bringing the troops home.

On the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, residents of south-central Indiana will come together in Bloomington, Indiana, to:

Mourn all those who have been killed, maimed, orphaned, widowed, brutalized, tortured, displaced and impoverished as a result of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Make a powerful statement to Congress that the U.S. occupation of Iraq must end, and that all U.S. troops and military contractors must be withdrawn immediately.

Demand that Congress seek peace with Iran.

We encourage you to join the peace demonstrations/action planned for March 19 in Bloomington and to visit the "Eyes Wide Open" Exhibit on the Bloomington Courthouse Square.

Schedule

March 19

4 p.m.: IU CAMPUS.