Still against the war

New York City did it. London did it big time. San Francisco stopped the presses. Now it’s Detroit’s turn. Damn it, more than 1,500 people have to turn out if we want to get on television as a city with forces in opposition to war in Iraq. On the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and in memory of his tragic death, Detroit Congressfolk John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (aka Kwame’s mamma) are hosting — along with a gaggle of peace-lovin’ organizations — an anti-war march and rally on Saturday, April 5. The Congress of Arab and Muslim Organizations of Michigan will be representin’, along with the Green Party of Michigan and many others. The event starts at Tiger Stadium (at Michigan and Trumbull) at 10 a.m. After some speeches and rabble-rousing, including demands for money for schools, not war, and an end to discrimination against racial minorities in America, marchers will head out at about 11 a.m. toward downtown’s Hart Plaza for more speeches and peaceful protest. (Shuttles will be provided.) Conyers will speak out against the war, and may discuss his investigation into whether there is support to file articles of impeachment against President Bush. Organizers are hoping the event lasts until the evening. Since we can’t imagine the mayor kicking his mother’s rally off city property, protesters should be in pretty good shape. For more info, visit www.michiganvoicesagainstwar.org.