March and Rally Commemorates 4th Anniversary of Iraq War

None by Lara Jones

SLC Mayor, Veterans, Clergy to Speak

(KCPW News) We the People for Peace and Justice will hold an anti-war rally Monday morning at Pioneer Park to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq. Kim Spangrude, Utah organizer of Military Families Speak Out, says the rally's message is simple - no more business as usual:

"We gave Congress a chance to change the direction in November of 2006 and Congress is heading in the same direction. We say, 'No more business as usual' - end the war in Iraq and bring them home now."

That's a sentiment echoed by Army veteran Larry Cannon, who was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, from 2004 to 2005 and will speak at Monday's rally. While some claim that such rallies demoralize U.S. troops and embolden the enemy, Cannon disagrees:

"I just want people to know that going to these rallies, speaking out and questioning your leaders is not hurting the troops. If anything, for me, for myself, it's the way to support them," he says, adding, "you can't just have this unquestionable following of the president - that's not how our government should be, that's what we don't want. We're a democracy for a reason," Cannon says.

Monday's "No Business as Usual" march and rally begins at 11 a.m., at Pioneer Park. At 11:30, participants will march to Washington Square where speakers, including Cannon and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, will hold forth from noon to 1 p.m.

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