U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome Italy anti-war demonstration in Rome

Past Events


Solidarity with Bradley Manning
December 17, 2011

No to "war as usual"
March 19, 2010

Winter Soldier Europe
March 14, 2009

Palestinian Flags Flutter
Alongside Peace Banners

January 17, 2009

Close Guantanamo Now!
January 17, 1009

10-Day Vigil for Gaza
January 8-18, 2009

Supporting La'Onf
October 29, 2008

Free the Cuban 5
Sept 13, 2008

Cheney in Chains
Sept 8, 2008

No Bush, No War
June 11, 2008

May Day ILWU Solidarity Action
May 1, 2008

War Tax Day
April 15, 2008

World Social Forum Global Day of Action
Jan 26, 2008

Shut Down Guantánamo Now!
Jan 11, 2008

No U.S. Military Base in Vicenza
Dec 15, 2007

Meeting Iranian Artists
Dec 05, 2007

End the War in Iraq, No War on Iran
Oct 27, 2007

Report on Final Days of No Dal Molin Festival in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 16, 2007

Camping for Peace in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 12, 2007

Impeach Them Both +
Judiciary Fax Blast

July 23, 2007

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !
April 28, 2007

4th Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq
March 20, 2007

No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy
Feb 17, 2007

Congress: Act Now to End the War
Jan 27, 2007

No Military Bases, Vicenza, Italy
Dec 2, 2006

No War, No Cluster Bombs
Sept 23, 2006

Protest Calling for Cease-fire in Lebanon
July 26, 2006

Military Spending
Bean Poll

July 18, 2006

Stop the Escalation
in the Middle East

July 17, 2006

Refusing to Kill
July 06, 2006

Shailja Patel:
Poetry in Times
of War

July 05, 2006

Troops Home Fast
July 04, 2006

Italian Vote on
Military Missions

June 27, 2006

Peace Parade
June 02, 2006

Michael Uhl of
Veterans for Peace

April 29, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden in Plain Sight

April 26, 2006

War Tax Day
April 15, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hotel Palestine: Killing the Witness

April 12, 2006

National Anti-war Protest in Rome
March 18, 2006

Soldiers Against War
March 18, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Aristide and the Endless Revolution

March 15, 2006

Women (and men!) Say No To War
March 8, 2006

An Eyewitness Account of Post Katrina New Orleans
March 2, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Life and Debt

February 09, 2006

Vote to Renew Italian Mission in Iraq
February 09, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
February 06, 2006

NBC Today
Show Blitz

February 06, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Revolution Will
Not Be Televised

January 26, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
In Rome

January 18, 2006

Crimes & Lies:
with Dave Lindorff
and Maurizio Torrealta

January 13, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Peace Propaganda and
the Promised Land

January 12, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Oil Factor

December 15, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Plan Colombia

December 01, 2005

Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre
November 30, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Wal-Mart

November 17, 2005

Protest at U.S. Embassy: White Phosphorus in Fallujah
November 14, 2005

Control Arms Petition
at Piazza Chiesa Nuova

November 12, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Invisible Ballots

November 10, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Corporation

October 27, 2005

Movie Night:
Viva Zapatero

October 25, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden Wars of
Desert Storm

October 13, 2005

Anti-war rally
at U.S. Embassy

Sept 24, 2005

USC4P&J Social
at the Beehive

June 22, 2005

Die-In with
Articolo 11
at Palazzo Chigi

June 21, 2005

Collecting Photos
with Control Arms

June 18, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Unconstitutional

June 16, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Outfoxed

June 09, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Weapons of
Mass Deception

May 19, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
May 05, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 28, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 21, 2005

International Day of Protest
March 19, 2005

 

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with
Articolo 11 / Ostinati per la pace

April 28, 2005

Members of our group joined the Italians at their vigil outside Palazzo Chigi calling for the withdrawal of the troops and an end to the occupation. The following is Stephanie's account of the evening:

This was my second vigil with Ostinati per la pace. I got there a little early and was in fact the only one there. Shortly afterwards Chiara from Ostinati arrived loaded down with flags, banners and signs.

As we started to unfurl the banner, some police officers and carabinieri stopped by to say hello and chat. Chiara's group has been holding this vigil since last September, at times every single night of the week. So they've gotten to know some of the officers quite well.

Some make comments of the type "you're still here?" To which Chiara replies, "It's not that we're still here, it's that they are still there!", referring to the troops in Iraq. Others tread lightly on the topic, knowing they can't express a political opinion while wearing a uniform, but do acknowledge that "war is a terrible thing for everyone involved, no one can deny this."

Another person from our group, Judith, arrived just in time as we started to "decorate" the small barricaded area reserved for protests in front of Palazzo Chigi. We tied the Articolo 11 banner to the railings, hung signs, peace flags on poles as well as about 10 peace flags tied together across the front of the barricade.

I also had some of the signs we had made for the March 19 demonstration. Though I felt a bit odd about putting them out. They clearly state that we are U.S. citizens and I didn't want to give the idea that our group had organized the vigil. We are newcomers and Ostinati have been doing this for months. In fact, talking with Chiara, we decided to make some new signs indicating that this is an international effort.

And making the group even more international, along came Ilija, who is from ex Yugoslavia. He has lived in Italy for some time and often joins the vigil. In fact, he was also there with his wife the first time I went.

It was admittedly a slow night. My first experience was quite lively, as many tourists stopped by to talk, offer support and ask questions. This time there weren't many people on the streets. And most walking by were very big groups.

A couple of friends who just happened to be in Rome on holiday stopped by. It was quite a surprise as I had just casually mentioned that I would be there on Thursday, but I wasn't expecting to see them there. We chatted for a while and they continued with their sightseeing.

Judith and I took advantage of our time together with Chiara. She gave us lessons on how to ask for permission to host protests/vigils. I had printed out the form available on the web and she gave me tips on how to fill it out as well as what to expect when presenting it. This will come in handy once we start organizing vigils or protests on our own.

She also shared some poetry with us. And we talked about ways to animate the vigil, to get more people involved. It is difficult as we all lead busy lives and many ask themselves, "What good does it do?"

For me it is very important. As Judith put it when asked that very question by an English/Scottish couple who stopped by, we are there representing all the people who oppose war, violence and aggression as a solution. We have to be there.

Stephanie Westbrook

Top

Ongoing/Future Events


Our Eyes Wide Open Film Series is suspended; for further information click here.


Upshot of our Nov. 9th group discussion on current politics:

It wasn't the Russians that got us Trump. Or Comey. Or even the massive GOP election fraud. It was the DNC.*
*Dem National Committee

To learn how to stop the DNC from delivering us another Trump, read Autopsy: the Democratic Party in Crisis.


Photo of a school in Yemen bombed by Saudi Arabian jets supplied by the U.S. and fueled in the air by the U.S. Air Force. Tell Trump to STOP THIS CARNAGE, not fuel it! Click here.

Also participate in the CodePink email and/or phone initiative:




Click here to sign a petition, to put an end to the sanctions against Syria - their only effect is to take a terrible toll on the population, causing them to migrate! And click here to see the video by the Italian Committee to lift sanctions against Syria.



Iraq Deaths Estimator
Did someone tell you that U.S. military intervention in Iraq was over? Not true: we're at it again. This time the pretext to drop bombs is "curbing ISIS" (which was created by the U.S. in the first place, to overturn al-Malaki in Iraq and then Assad in Syria, and is now out of hand. Like what happened to "our" creature al Qaeda in Afghanistan). And the death toll continues to rise...
Write your senators and tell them: "Enough! U.S. out!! Iraq has shown it can curb ISIS by itself!"

Mailing List

Stay informed
Join the USC4P&J mailing list to stay informed on events and initiatives.

Copyright © 2005 Stephanie Westbrook All rights reserved.
U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome, Italy