General News
UFTers march against Iraq war
Nov 1, 2007 4:53 PM
Defying a heavy rain, dozens of UFTers joined some 45,000 New Yorkers in the Oct. 27 March and Rally to End the War in Iraq Now. Led by Iraq War veterans, military families and vets from other wars, the UFT contingent marched as part of New York City Labor Against the War, which included sizable participation from the UFT’s sister union, the Professional Staff Congress, as well as the United Autoworkers, SEIU Local 32B-J, UNITE, DC 37 and other area unions. Roger Toussaint, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, addressed the crowd and reminding it that “the key to ending the war, just like the key to winning union struggles, is mobilize, mobilize, mobilize.” Other speakers at the rally included the Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, associate general secretary for Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches; City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito; state Sen. Bill Perkins; and Fernando Braga of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Music was provided by Peter Yarrow, the Raging Grannies and others. Despite the downpour, most marchers made it from the rally site north of Union Square to the event's terminus in Foley Square where participants took part in a peace fair and learned more about organizations working for peace and how to get more involved in the work ahead.
