On Sunday December 31st, 2006, the number of American soldiers killed in the US-led war on Iraq reached 3000. United for Peace and Justice called for people to take action and "remind others that hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children, women and men have also died in this outrageous war and occupation. Our call to end this war and to bring all the troops home now must be heard in every corner of the country! The killing must stop."

Veterans and anti-war activists gathered in San Francisco on Saturday evening for the first of the vigils. Photos and Report

In San Jose, a candlelight vigil was held on an I-880 overpass. Photos

In Fresno on New year's Day, peace activists held a large commemoration at Peace Corner. Photos and Report

In San Francisco, activists intended to cross the Golden Gate Bridge on January 1 but were accosted and arrested by police.

UFPJ called for people to make public statements when the 3000th death occurs- whether with vigils or other types of events. Under the slogan "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar", the American Friends Service Committee, which sits on UFPJ's National Steering Committee coordinated events all around the country for the day after the 3000th death. Nearly 250 events for the day after the 3000th death, and the following days, are listed at http://afsc.org/3000/resources.htm. Events in Northern California took place in cities and towns such as Alameda, Benicia, Fremont, Monterey, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and Ukiah-- and in many other cities.

Many protests involved people wearing black armbands or pin-on ribbons. The black (for mourning) background with the number 3,000 in white, UFPJ suggests, was a powerful statement of sorrow and of protest in the days after the milestone is reached. Many will be moved to have an armband or ribbon pinned on them. As they go about their daily routines, they will bear witness to the anger more and more people feel.

The Bring Them Home Now! campaign has made postcards, black for mourning, to demand that Senators and Representatives work to end the occupation and stop funding it. People could also flood local radio talk shows with calls, and bombard local newspapers with letters to the editor. The corporate media might give major coverage to the 3,000 U.S. death and "our voices should be heard," talking about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed in this war.

UFPJ plans to take its mourning to Washington, DC on Saturday, Jan. 27th, for a massive march for peace. On Monday, January 29th, they will be meeting with members of Congress to make sure they get the message.

United for Peace and Justice | I-Casualties