War protesters and supporters descend on DC

The Washington Post reports that Iraq and Afghanistan war supporters and protesters are hosting a series of events in DC this weekend.

Groups supporting the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Move America Forward, a Gathering of Eagles, and Free Republic, plan a rally at 11 a.m. today at the Washington Monument, followed by a 1 p.m. march along Constitution
Avenue.

Antiwar groups plan an extensive series of events, including marches, protests and blockades, across the city Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.

The protesters, headed by the umbrella group United For Peace and Justice, plan, among other things, a morning demonstration at the Internal Revenue Service at 12th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, disruptions along K Street NW and a 10 a.m. march on the Mall.

They plan roving activities throughout the day, as well as a procession from Arlington Cemetery to Washington, and demonstrations at the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dueling demonstrations are pretty common around here, but one thing strikes me as a bit different. Anyone know why the peaceniks will be demonstrating at the IRS?

The Post also has an interesting article on an event where war veterans shared their experiences. Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/14/AR2008031403887.html?nav=hcmodule. To see a live webcast of the Iraq War Veterans Against the War event go to: http://ivaw.org/ws_live.html.

Panel Series on Women's Studies & Policy Topics

The public policy and women's studies program, in association with the WSTU Graduate Student Association, has put together a panel series discussing contemporary policy problems involving or affecting women. On April 2, the panel will target international policy and related women's issues, and will include speakers Elizabeth Abi-Mershed and Mercedes Kremenetzky from the Organization of American States.

The Organization of American States (OAS) promotes collaboration among member nations within the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values and to define and defend common interests by debating major issues of concern to the region and the global community as a whole. The OAS lists its key concerns as strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs, and corruption. Made up of 35 member states, the organization seeks to defend mandates established by the body and carry them out at the Summits of the Americas.

Elizabeth Abi-Mershed and Mercedes Kremenetzky will speak about their experience at OAS and will discuss particularly how the issues they confront in their work affect women. The April 2 event will take place at 7:15 p.m in Room 211, 1957 E Street.

Log onto http://www.oas.org/ for more information about the organization, and http://www.summit-americas.org/ for information concerning the Summits of the Americas.