(A group with which I am involved is participating in this event. I should have posted it earlier.)
Antiwar and anti-Bush activists from throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley and beyond are awakening a bit early Saturday morning (May 27) to take part in a march and rally outside West Point as President George W. Bush delivers the
commencement address to the military academy¹s graduation class.
The event begins with a gathering at 8 a.m. at Veterans Park in Highland Falls, where a march will start at 8:30 a.m. to the academy¹s Thayer Gate. The march will then return to the park for a 10 a.m. rally.
About 40 peace, justice, labor, and political organizations have endorsed the regional rally. Individuals should bring their own signs if they wish on topics of their choosing < from peace and justice to Bush¹s reactionary agenda, union rights and so on.
One way to reach the event from the north is to take Rt. 9W to the Highland Falls/West Point exit at Rt. 218, which turns north through the town to parking lots and Veterans Park. The Thayer Gate is close, just north of the town.
Due to the anticipated size of the demonstration and the fact that Highland Falls is a small town with limited parking opportunities, organizers recommend carpooling when possible. A list of carpooling pickup points, at which there will be volunteers to help out, are as follows:
KINGSTON: Hannaford¹s Parking Lot, estimated departure, 6:15 a.m.
NEW PALTZ: Park & Ride (at the Thruway entrance), est. departure 6:30 a.m.
NEWBURGH: Park & Ride (Coach USA on 17K), est. departure 6:45 a.m.
POUGHKEEPSIE: Cross bridge to Park & Ride (Rts. 299 and 9W), est. departure 6:15 a.m.
NANUET: Rt. 59 and North Middletown Rd. est. departure 7:30 a.m.
Here are the recommended parking locations in Highland Falls:
West Point Visitor¹s Center on Main St. (Near the Thayer Hotel).
Municipal Lot #2 on Main St. (Across from the WP Visitor¹s Center).
Municipal Lot #1 Behind Town Hall (Corner of Mountain Ave and Main St.).
Highland Falls Middle School (Mountain Ave and School St.).
(A bus is bringing activists to Highland Falls from Albany and Catskill. The Albany bus will leave at 6 a.m. and return by 3 p.m. The cost is $20. If interested, call Joe at [518] 439-1968 or email Trudy at tquaif@yahoo.com, soon¹s possible. To board at Catskill. call Wendy at [518] 781-0071.)
The endorser list is growing. Here it is as of yesterday:
Democratic Alliance of Orange County, Citizen Action of New York, Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), Orange County Peace and Justice, Code Pink Westchester, Rockland County Peace and Justice Coalition, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Northeast Peace and Justice Action Coalition, Orange County Peace and Justice Coalition, Hudson Valley Activist
Newsletter, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out/Gold Star Families for Peace, Veterans for Peace, NoWar Westchester, American-Iranian Friendship Committee, Women in Black, Citizens for Impeachment of Bush and Cheney, Haga Si of Orange County, New York State Green Party, Dutchess County Green Party, Northeast Citizens for Responsible Media, Code Pink Women for Peace Hudson Valley Contingent, Saugerties Committee for Peace and Social Justice, West Point 8 Organizing Committee, Sullivan County Peace and Justice, Grandmothers Against The War, Phillipstown for Democracy, WESPAC Foundation, Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action - Manhattanville College, Real Majority Project, Dutchess Peace Coalition.
Information,
Leslie Simons simonsboulton@yahoo.com,
Michael Sussman sussman1@frontiernet.net
http://www.RocklandAction.org
http://www.NoWarWestchester.org
http://www.westpointrally.org
http://www.WESPAC.org