THE GREEN-RAINBOW PARTY OF MASSACHUSETTS IS PROUD TO MARCH IN THE SECOND ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S PEACE PARADE!

The Green Party of the United States offers America a platform of peace and demilitarization. Supporters of Massachusetts native Jill Stein's national Presidential campaign, and of all other Green candidates, are encouraged to come out and participate in this historic event.

COME JOIN US -- AND WEAR DOUBLE GREEN!

St. Patrick's Peace Parade

People's Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Social & Economic Justice

Sunday, March 18, 2012.  Assemble at 1:00 pm, step off at 2:00 pm.
Assemble on "D" Street between 1st and 3rd St, South Boston. Take the MBTA to Broadway Station and follow Veterans for Peace flags, or park at D and Louis Streets.


Please join Veterans For Peace and other Peace and social / economic Justice organizations for this historic 2nd Annual “People’s Peace Parade" in South Boston.

Themes for the Day:

How is the War Economy Working for You

Bring the Troops Home and Take Care of Them When They Get Here

Cut Military Spending, Save Jobs, Teachers, Fireman & Police

Peace Is Patriotic! Not a Dirty Word

No War on Iran

Last year, Veterans For Peace were denied permission to walk in South Boston's traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The stated reason given by the Allied War Veterans Council was that the organizers “did not want the word peace associated with the word veteran”.

Seventeen years ago the gay and bisexual community applied to be in the parade and they too were denied. They sued and it resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that any group that organizes a parade can exclude whomever they like.

Last year with only three weeks to go, Veterans For Peace applied for their own permit and invited the gay and bisexual community to join the peace movement in a parade.  The parade had over 500 participants, a Duck Boat, Grand Marshals, The Leftist Marching Band, five divisions, Veterans, peace groups, Join the Impact (GLBT), religious groups and labor. It was a grand success and warmly welcomed by the residents of South Boston. It was also front page news in practically all the Boston Newspapers and was reported on TV and radio.

This year, once again, Veterans For Peace were denied. This year they were not given a reason why, just denied. So if you are a veteran of the U.S. Military and carry a gun or drive a tank you are invited to participate, but if as a veteran you stand for peace you are summarily denied permission to participate.

We invite all progressive groups (Peace, Environmental, Occupy Everywhere, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, GLBT Rights, Labor, and Faith Groups) to please join us in the St. Patrick’s Peace Parade: the Alternative People’s Parade. Please join us in this show of solidarity against bigotry and exclusion in the City of Boston.

This is the largest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the country, attracting in excess of 700,000 people, and is an excellent opportunity to get our messages of Peace, Equality, Inclusion, Jobs, Social and Economic Justice out.  Please Join Us! Send endorsements to info@masspeaceaction.org.

Read background about the St. Patrick's Peace Parade, and download and print the flyer.

Contact:

Veterans for Peace - Pat Scanlon, info@massvfp.org, 978-475-1776
Massachusetts Peace Action - Cole Harrison, info@masspeaceaction.org, 617-354-2169

Directions: Assemble at 1pm on D Street between 1st and 3rd St.  Step off approximately 2pm. Free Parking is available in the lot near D and Louis Streets.   Enter D St. from Summer St. and turn left into the lot just before you reach Louis St. Map of assembly point and parking location

If you can't walk 4 miles but still want to join the parade, Contact Pat Scanlon or Cole Harrison and they willl arrange for you to ride in a vehicle.


Endorsers (list in formation):

Veterans and Military Families

Veterans for Peace - Smedley Butler Brigade
Military Famlies Speak Out

Peace

Massachusetts Peace Action
Arlington United for Justice with Peace
Boston United National Antiwar Coalition
Massachusetts Global Action
North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice
South Boston Residents for Peace
United for Justice with Peace
Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment
Women's International League for Peace & Freedom - Boston Branch

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender

Join the Impact Massachusetts

Faith

Friends Meeting at Cambridge - Peace and Social Concerns Committee
North Shore Friends Meeting - Peace & Social Concerns Committee
Pax Christi Boston
Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport

Political Action

Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts, an affiliate of the Green Party of the United States
International Socialist Organization
Majority Agenda Project
MoveOn Boston Council
Peter White - candidate for Congress, Mass. 9th CD (independent)
Progressive Democrats of America

Occupy

Occupy Boston - Action for Peace Working Group