Silicon Valley residents rally to end wars

Marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, over 400 people lined the four corners of Stevens Creek and Winchester Boulevards in San José and Santa Clara on Saturday, March 17th to demand that the U.S. end its occupation of Iraq and bring the troops home.

Vigils and demonstrations have taken place every weekend for four years at this busy intersection ever since the war began in March 2003. Dubbed "Peace Crossroads," scores of Silicon Valley residents have spent many of their Saturdays and Sundays here.

People of all ages carried signs demanding "No war: on immigrants, Iraq, Iran," "Get out of Iraq! Stay out of Iran!" and "Impeach Bush." Some signs read "Honk for peace," prompting thousands of passing motorists to honk in support of the demonstrators.

Organized by South Bay Mobilization, the march started and ended at Santana Park, nearly a mile away. Speakers represented a broad spectrum of community groups, including the South Bay Labor Council, peace activists, and Hispanic, Iraqi, and Iranian organizations. They condemned the lies and fabrications of the Bush administration that led to war, and called for supporting the troops by bringing them home safely.