WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/19/08) - The convergence of the 5th anniversary of Shock and Awe with Christian Holy Week and Iraq Moratorium Number 7 has sparked hundreds of antiwar actions across the country, and three dozen in Wisconsin, this week. There are events scheduled today in Madison, Minoqua, LaCrosse, Appleton, Webster, Kenosha and Wisconsin Rapids. This weekend, additional events are to be held in Sheboygan, Racine, Viroqua, Wausau, Hayward, Madison, Janesville, Dodgeville, Ripon, Milwaukee, Fort Atkinson, as well as DeKalb and Duluth.

The Iraq Moratorium, a loosely-knit grassroots movement, is usually observed on the Third Friday of every month, but March events are spread throughout the week.

There's a noon vigil and march today (Wednesday) at the State Capitol, among others. Milwaukee will hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

Because the Moratorium, which encourages local grassroots action on the Third Friday of every month, coincides with the Christian observance of Good Friday, March 21, some actions will include a religious theme.

The Iraq Moratorium encourage local organizers to “do their own thing” on the third Friday of the month – but to do something, whatever it is, to end the war. It is all a loosely-knit national grassroots effort operating under the Iraq Moratorium umbrella.

Friday is the seventh monthly Moratorium, and more than 800 events have been listed on the group’s website, IraqMoratorium.org , which has a list of this month's actions and reports, photos and videos from previous months.

The list of Wisconsin events below was compiled by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. The comments, remarks, and requests regarding the events were provided along with the submitted information about the events being held. Events today and this weekend:

3/19 Wed 11 am Nonviolent civil resistance action – Madison. Meet at Arby’s on East Washington. On the 5th anniversary of the war, Wednesday March 19, Madison Pledge of Resistance is organizing an act of nonviolent civil resistance at the military recruiting station near East Towne in Madison. We need people to be involved who are willing to risk arrest and others who will be there in support and solidarity with those risking arrest. Contact Joy First at jsfirst@tds.net

3/19 Wed 11 – 11:55 am 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War Rally and Vigil – Madison. State St. corner of the Capitol Square. This Rally will be followed at 11:55 am – with a 5 Minute Silent Vigil. Then at 12:00 noon, the Peace Train Parade will march around the Square. For details call Miles @ 608-575-7683 pr Dennis Coyier at dcoy@execpc.com . Please wear black and bring a candle to light at the vigil.

3/19 Wed 11:50 am Peaceful March in Support of the ‘Winter Soldier’ – Iraq Veterans Against the War – Minoqua. Meet at Torpy Park. Sponsored by the Northwood Peace Coalition. We will march peacefully, without blocking traffic through Minocqua to across the 51 bridge over Lake Minocqua with signs and puppets and songs that folks may care to bring. We welcome veterans who know first hand what many of us can only imagine in horror. We thank the town of Minocqua and our beloved country for assuring the opportunity for peaceful and law biding protest of policies that we believe it is our patriotic duty to protest most fervently. Contact: Jerry Woolpy at jerryw@earlham.edu

3/19 Wed 12 noon 5 Years Too Many! Peace Vigil & Press Conference – Duluth.At the Civic Center. Everyone who can is encouraged to come mark the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Sponsored by NAWC. Contact adamritscher@gmail.com for info or northlandiguana@gmail.com

3/19 Wed 12 noon Women in Black Vigil for Peace on the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War & Iraq Moratorium - LaCrosse. At 4th and Main St. We are urging many women who have not vigiled before to participate with signs and stand with us. Contact: June Kjome at jkjome@fastermac.net

3/19 Wed 4 – 6 pm Drive-By Picket Against the War – Madison. At the corner of John Nolen Drive, Blair St., and Williamson Street. Picket on the five-year anniversary of the U.S. Occupation of Iraq to demand an End to the Occupation, Troops Home Now!, and sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition. Bring a sign or use one of ours. For more information, call 242-9232 or go to www.madpeace.org

3/19 Wed 4 - 5:30 pm Iraq War 5th Anniversary Vigil - Appleton. College and Appleton, downtown. Sponsored by the Fox Valley Peace Coalition. Wear black or dark colors if possible to indicate that we are in mourning for all people affected by the war. Contact: Ronna Swift at ronnas@athenet.net

3/19 Wed 4:30 – 5:30 pm Prayer Vigil for Peace – Webster. Meet in the parking lot of Grace United Methodist Church. Parking lot is located on Hwy. 35 one block north of Main Street. Contact: Jean McLaughlin at laughlin@sirentel.net

3/19 Wed 4:30 - 5:30 pm Peace rally - Kenosha. At the post office, downtown (7th Avenue). Organized by Kenoshans for Peace. Info: Denis Wikel, dwikel@wi.rr.com .

3/19 Wed 1 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6 pm Commemorating the 5 Year Anniversary of the Iraq War – Elm Grove. At the School Sisters of Notre Dame, 13105 Watertown Plank Road. The Global Justice & Peace (GJP) Commission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame invites you to join them in prayerful reflection and public witness commemorating the 5 year anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. At 1 pm and again at 6 pm the School Sisters of Notre Dame GJP Commission will host a showing of the film, No End in Sight – a film which explores the question…”More than four years after President Bush declared an end to combat in Iraq, the country is still fraught with many casualties, costly commitments, and an ongoing debate on how to end the violence. How did it come to this?” Reflection and prayer will follow. In addition, from 4:30 – 5:00 pm the public is invited to join School Sisters of Notre Dame as they take a public, prayerful stand for peace along Watertown Plank Road. Contact Tim for more information 262-787-1023 or tdewane@ssnd-milw.org

3/19 Wed 4 pm Rapids Citizens for Peace (RCFP) Protest of 5 Years of War in Iraq - Wisconsin Rapids. Meet at WI Highway 54 and 13 Expressway bridge over the Wisconsin River. Join in as we protest five years of the illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the war crimes of killing and wounding of Americans and Iraqis and the wanton destruction of Iraq. The event is open to our members and to the public. Bring a sign or banner of your own, borrow one of ours, or just stand in solidarity with us. Don Hoffman at doncanoe@tznet.com

3/19 Wed 4:30 - 5:30 pm Peace Vigil - 5 Years Too Many- Manitowoc. At Maritime Drive and 8th Street. Lakeshore Peacemakers - Contact: Linda Hunter at huntel@comcast.net .

3/20 Thurs 1 – 4 pm Five years of war in Iraq will be marked – Sheboygan.Fountain Park. Members of Veterans for Peace Sheboygan will read of the names of US killed in action. Contact: Chris Kuehnel at cqnel@vetsforpeacesheboygan.org

3/21 Fri 9 am Good Friday Walk for Justice - Racine. Start at Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain. Coordinated by Downtown Cooperative Parish. Contact: Dick Kinch at 262/638-0204

3/21 Fri noon Peace Vigil in Support of the Iraq Moratorium - Viroqua. At the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the War. Info amz@mwt.net.

3/21 Fri 4 – 6 pm Picket for Peace and Against the War - Wausau. 400 Block downtown. Join the stalwart for this special Moratorium event. Please feel free to join, if interested, in nonviolent witness of all those affected by the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in reflection on the many costs (physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, social, environmental, etc.) of living in a society rooted in militarism. In keeping with the practice of nonviolence and in order to respect the dignity of all, we ask that any posters carried reflect peace and not sarcasm or political attacks. peace to all, dave kast at dhkast@nicoletcollege.edu and Carol Lukens at clukens@charter.net

3/21 Fri 4 – 5 pm Iraq Moratorium Vigil for Peace – Hayward. Intersections of Hwys 27 and 63. Please dress according to the weather and bring signs, candles and a black armband if you have them. Bring a friend, and a Cheesehead Hat if you have one. Co-sponsored by Peace North and Veterans for Peace Chapter #153. See www.peacenorth.org for more.

3/21 Fri 4 pm Iraq Moratorium/Impeachment Emporium – Madison. Meet at University Ave at Park St. and the UW- Humanities Bldg. Bring your peace signs, anti-war signs, and IMPEACH signs. We meet the third Friday of every month at this site. Contact Steve Books at 437-5478 or books24u@aol.com or Larry Skupien at skup@mhtc.net .

3/21 Fri 4 pm Peacewalking for the Iraq Moratorium – Janesville. At the Janesville Mall (2500 Milton Ave). Sponsored by the Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation (rockvalleyfor.org). We will wear peace t-shirts that say “Honor the dead, Heal the wounded, End the war.” We will meet at the entrance next to Chuck E. Cheeses. There are lockers there for coats at that entrance. We will carry no leaflets or signs or wear any other message besides the one on our shirt. We will simply walk with our single message. Eleven of us walked in January and had a good time plus lots of exercise! You can order a peace t-shirt at http://www.donnellycolt.com/catalog/peacetshirt.html It takes about a week for the shirts to come, usually. Thanks. Sue Nelson at snelson@habiba.org

3/21 Fri 4 - 4:30 pm Monthly Vigil for Peace in Support of the Iraq Moratorium– Dodgeville. In front of the Courthouse. Meets the third Friday of each month. Contact Jane Hammatt-Kavaloski at jhammatt@mhtc.net .

3/21 Fri 4:30 pm Monthly Peace vigil for the Iraq Moratorium – Ripon. On the Square, by City Hall. 3rd Friday each month. Wear black armbands. Contacts: Kent Gallaway, Todd Berens, and Dianne W Ashley at kgallaway54971@yahoo.com

3/21 Fri 5 pm - IRAQ MORATORIUM Vigil - Milwaukee – At Water and Wisconsin. What to do wherever you are! Wear a black armband, don’t buy gas, wear an antiwar button to work or school, call your congresspeople 202-224-3121. Please link up with the national effort by going to the Iraq Moratorium website, http://www.iraqmoratorium.org/ and listing your event, every third Friday of each month. For more, contact info@peaceactionwi.org

3/21 Fri 5 – 6 pm Special Iraq Moratorium Peace Vigil – DeKalb. At Memorial Park on the corner of North First Street and Lincoln Hwy. (downtown DeKalb) Sponsored by the DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice. Contact Dan Kenney at dkenney53@hotmail.com

3/21 Fri 5:30 pm 5 Years Too Many! March, Rally, and Film Showing – Duluth. Lake Ave. & Superior Street, Washington Center. Assemble for a march to the YWCA Trepanier Hall - where there'll be an indoor rally, potluck/social, silent auction and a mini-film fest. Sponsored by NAWC. See www.northlandantiwar.blogspot.com or contact (715) 394-6660 or northlandiguana@gmail.com .

3/21 Fri 5 - 6 pm Vigil to Protest the Iraq War and plans to attack Iran – Fort Atkinson. By the Municipal Building, downtown, 101 N. Main St. Sponsored by the Rock River Peace Group, rrpeacegroup@gmail.com ."One of the reasons we vigil is to protest the myth that the surge in has worked," said Chuck Ogg. "In fact, the opposite is true. It has not created stability and security in Iraq, the Bush administration's stated goals. There is clear evidence that the recent drop in violence was due to other factors. We believe a political solution cannot not be forged until our troops leave. We are also concerned that Bush is attempting to provoke Iran, hoping to start yet another war--a debacle that could be even more violent and costly. That's why now more than ever we need to stand up and be heard to pressure Congress. We must bring our brave soldiers home now rather than lose yet more lives." The vigil is part of the nation-wide Iraq Moratorium (www.iraqmoratorium.org ). Contact Person: Chuck Ogg, 920/568-0729 oggc@psly.net