Antiwar movement plans massive protest in Los Angeles

Thousands of antiwar activists will march through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, January 11, 2003 to say "Stop the War in Iraq."  The demonstration is expected to be the largest California protest against the Bush Administration's plans for a pre-emptive war on Iraq.

Demonstrators will gather in downtown Los Angeles at Broadway and Olympic at 11:30 a.m. for a brief rally, followed by a march up Broadway to a massive antiwar rally at the Federal Building at Temple and Los Angeles Streets.

Featured speakers will include Martin Sheen, star of NBC's Emmy Award winning "West Wing schedule to speak at 3:00 p.m.;" Kon Kovic, a disabled Vietnam veteran whose own experience in Vietnam was chronicled in the award winning feature film, "Born on the 4th of July;" Maria Elena Durazo, President of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE), Local 11; Alejandro Stevens, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 660; Jeff Paterson, the first active duty marine to refuse to fight in the 1991 Gulf War; and Jerry Quickley, performance artist.  Jackson Browne and Burning Star will perform.

Saturday's protest is sponsored by a broad coalition of activist organizations representing tens of thousands of Californians including ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Coalition for World Peace (CFWP), Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP), Not in Our Name (NION) and the Pacifica radio station, KPFK.

For more information about the march call (323) 281-7322.