National NOW Times >> Summer 2006  >> Article

Women Join Call for Peace at March in New York City

NOW, Progressive Groups Organize Massive Peace March Drawing 350,000 Protesters

By Melody Drnach, Action Vice President
and Lisa Bennett, Communications Director

NOW activists lead the women's contingent at the March for Peace, Justice & Democracy. More photos and video

Joined by 350,000 protesters, NOW activists from nearby New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Connecticut and Rhode Island, and as far away as Florida and Washington State, took to the streets of New York City on April 29 to demand an end to the war and a change in our country's priorities. The successful March for Peace, Justice and Democracy was the result of an intensive two-month organizing effort led by nine key groups.

NOW, along with leaders from United for Peace and Justice, Rainbow/PUSH, U.S. Labor Against the War, the Climate Crisis Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Veterans For Peace, the Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund, and the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, joined forces in this historic effort to mobilize the feminist and progressive communities for change.

Streets teemed with drum beats and voices calling for an end to the occupation in Iraq and no war in Iran. The sunshine warmed marchers as the protest wound its way from mid-town Manhattan to a jam-packed festival in Foley Square. Voices echoing off the skyscrapers, cheering onlookers helped lend a sense that there was no better place to be on that Saturday morning.

Star-power was present as Oscar winners Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Demme and Mercedes Ruehl united with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Cindy Sheehan and NOW President Kim Gandy on the front line. NOW Membership Vice President Latifa Lyles, NOW-New York State President Marcia Pappas, NOW-NYC President Sonia Ossorio and Albany Area Chapter President Barbara Morrissey also joined in the lead contingent calling for peace, justice, democracy and equality.

Executive Vice President Olga Vives and Action Vice President Melody Drnach led the women's contingent, and NOW's field organizers sustained the marchers for 2.2 miles with chants and dancing in the street. Crowds cheered as we called out "Condi, Condi, Condi Rice—your policies suck but your shoes are nice!"

The NOW communications team played a key role in the event, taking lead responsibility in the coalition for reaching out to the media to cover the march. Stories appeared in all the New York City daily newspapers and on all the local newscasts, as well as national, Spanish-language and alternative news outlets.

"April 29 was just the beginning," says Drnach. "NOW and our allies have vowed to keep the momentum going, to work together to maintain our ties, and to turn out votes in November."