White Light Black Light

Numerous vigils, protests and rallies are planned in San Francisco for Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq.

The rally five years ago at the start of the war attracted thousands of people, including more than 2,000 arrested over three days of San Francisco protests.

The number of people attending gatherings marking subsequent anniversaries dropped off. But organizers said they expect big crowds Wednesday.

Plans to close streets have not yet been made, said police officials.

-- Direct Action to Stop the War will gather at 7 a.m. at Market and Sansome streets. The group is coordinating a series of nonviolent actions, including blockading building entrances, targeting the San Francisco offices of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as companies such as Bechtel, Chevron Corp. and URS Corp.

-- At 11 a.m., Bay Area poets and writers will begin anti-war readings on the corner of Montgomery and Market streets. The readers will include poet Jack Hirschman, performance artist Guillermo Gomez-Pena and author Rebecca Solnit.

-- At noon, San Francisco's MoveOn Council will host a vigil at the cable car turnaround at Market and Powell streets. The vigil is co-sponsored by Democracy Action, San Francisco for Democracy and San Francisco Young Democrats.

-- At 3:45 p.m., members of the Chinese Progressive Association will gather at 1042 Grant Ave. and march to the United Nations Plaza to demonstrate the community's opposition to the war.

-- The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism coalition (A.N.S.W.E.R.) plans a rally at 5 p.m. at the Civic Center, followed by an anti-war march to Mission Street.

// posted by Alice @ Tuesday, March 18, 2008