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For immediate release February 17, 2016

March 19 will mark 13 years since the US invasion of Iraq and 5 years since the US bombing of Libya. Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group and Portland Peaceful Response Coalition (PPRC) will hold a rally and march on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 5:00 PM in Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW Yamhill and Broadway) marking these two anniversaries while protesting the ongoing policies toward the two countries. The event's title is its purpose: "No More US Wars in Iraq and Libya." The war in Iraq has re-ignited under the guise of fighting ISIS as the US continues to send advisors and special forces, with troops numbering 4450 in early February (Military.com, February 3). The US has been shopping around the idea of new military intervention in Libya, also because of the presence of ISIS, prompting Glenn Greenwald to write "one of the few benefits of the NATO bombing of Libya will [come back] to the... machine of Endless Militarism: It provided a pretext for another new war" (The Intercept, January 27).

It so happens that March 18 also marks 750 weeks since PPRC began its weekly Friday rally in Pioneer Square, shortly after the US invasion of Afghanistan, making this the 751st continuous weekly protest. The protests have also focused on the continued US military actions in Pakistan, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, as well as other foreign and domestic policies.

The event is cosponsored by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace- Portland, Occupation-Free Portland and others. For more information contact Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group at 503-236-3065 or iraq@pjw.info.