Half-a-Thousand March to Stop War on Iran in Melbourne, Florida

Newly Published/ In the News: “The March to War with Iran” by Jeff Nall, Z magazine (Sept 2008) “Finding a Secret War on Iran” by Jeff Nall, The Humanist (Sept/Oct. 2008) Jeff Nall’s appearance on the Mark Weaver radio show. In the 2nd half of the 2 hour show, Jeff discussed the upcoming peace march, his new book, and activist strategies (August 22, 2008)v “Jeff Nall book-signing Friday,” Florida Today by Maria Sonnenberg (August 24, 2008)

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Boisterous denunciations of war echoed through the streets of downtown Melbourne as hundreds from around Florida marched to stop war on Iran this past Saturday, August 30th.
The daily paper, Florida Today (“Rally focuses on Iran, saber-rattling. Hundreds protest prospect of US acting against Iran,” August 31, 2008), reported that about half-a-thousand people participated in “Florida’s First Mass March to Stop War on Iran.” Participants included citizens from Miami, Riverview, St. Pete, Tarpon Springs, Daytona, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Palm Beach, as well as Broward, Indian River and Brevard counties.
Check out Florida Today’s 21 PHOTO GALLERY; and Progressive Democratic Coalition of Indian River’s PHOTOS PDCIR.org

As early as an hour before the start time, citizens teemed into Front Street Park in preparation for the demonstration carrying hand-painted signs, banners, flags, and drums. There the Melbourne Drum Tribe energized activists with a drumbeat for peace. Two media outlets were on hand along with several citizen journalists to witness the nation’s largest demonstrations on the Iran question since 1,000 marched in New York City on August 2.
At 2:45pm participants began marching. The demonstration snaked south and then north along a nearby major thoroughfare, US1/Harbor City Blvd. Further along the march route protestors’ forceful demands for peace echoed throughout downtown Melbourne: “If they wont give us peace/ we’ll take it to the streets”; “What do we want – Peace!, When do we want it – Now!“ Shop owners and other onlookers stopped to witness the march which brought together a wide variety of often disparate groups, socialists, Democrats, Ron Paul supporters, Greens; Buddhists, Humanists, Christians, Unitarian Universalists. All seemed to share the perspective that elections are just a small the beginning of social change. Florida Today reporter, Susanne Cervenka reported that among the participants were protestors who had grown dispirited and been inactive as of late.
Later protestors arrived at Melbourne City Hall where they weathered scattered showers and listened to a range of anti-war activists, artists, and candidates. The group of speakers represented an increasingly ubiquitous base of opposition to war. a

OUR VICTORY
Florida’s First Mass March to Stop War on Iran succeeded in multiple ways. First and foremost, it brought together people who are committed to making the world better than it is now. It energized those who had grown despondent and discouraged by our nation’s persistent and continual war policy. It helped to foster an alternative to the prevailing culture of war found throughout the US; instead the mass march reminded us all that we are not alone and that, if we remain as committed to peace and being opposed to war as the war mongers are committed to warfare, then we can prevail. More importantly, many recognized that ours is a “war” fought one battle at a time, one day at a time. On August 30th, we won the battle against propaganda aiming to bring our nation closer to war with Iran; we won the battle against those trying to dehumanize Iranians into targets and not human beings; on August 30th we won the battle against those who quietly support bills like H. Con. Res 362, which lays the groundwork for war.

OUR IMPACT – MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE
The March to Stop War on Iran succeeded in tearing the veil hiding Washington’s movement toward war with Iran. In addition to immediately impacting both those who participated in the march as well as the many who witnessed it, media coverage brought the issue to bare in a widely read newspaper and on televisions around Central Florida.
Over the course of the past month organizers succeeded in bringing the issue of war with Iran to the attention of multiple media outlets. Earlier in the month spokesman Jeff Nall appeared on a local cable access network (TV 31) and then more recently he appeared on the Mark Weaver show.
In the lead-up to the event, the daily paper (circulation of about 100,000 daily) ran a quality preview of the march and organizers’ concerns about war with Iran (“Organizers expect record crowd at anti-war rally,” Florida Today, August 30, 2008).
The day after the march the same paper published a rather sizeable piece on the cover of the local news section along with several photos from the protest. Online the paper published a gallery of 21 photos. (STORY: “Rally focuses on Iran, saber-rattling. Hundreds protest prospect of US acting against Iran,” August 31, 2008; GALLERY: “Peace March”).
Central Florida News Channel 13, based out of Orlando, also broadcasted news of the demonstration and marchers’ grievances to tens of thousands the day of the march.
Space Coast Progressive Alliance leader, Cammie Donaldson praised the event’s success in attracting mainstream media coverage: “I think the coverage of yesterday's march (in yesterday [August 30] and today's paper [August 31]) has to be the best that has ever been locally. Real content! And today, actual numbers documented -- perhaps a first for the freaking mainstream media. This may be the only count that hasn't been low-balled!” Central Florida Veterans for Peace organizer, Phil Restino, said the event was “a great success” and noted the excellent media coverage.
NOTE: Photos by Laura Fausone, Dave Bazinet, Florida Today, and Jeff Nall
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Big Turnout for Official Release of Perpetual Revolt
As many as 60 to 70 people participated in Jeff Nall’s official release of his new book Perpetual Revolt. Food, drink, and amazing music filled the evening. Nall offered the audience a passionate performance of his own, discussing his concept of “perpetual revolt.”
Particular thanks goes out to April Nall, Joseph Nall, Bill Burton, Bill Whitehead, Michele Paccione, and the guys of 23 Treez, The Nine Volts, and Benny S and Da Tribe.
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September Events
September 13 – Orlando Book Signing
On the heels of an August 30th official book release that turned out 50-70 people, Jeff Nall will hold a book signing on September 13 at Urban Think! Bookstore in Orlando, 625 East Central Blvd, Orlando. The event runs from 5pm to 7pm. For additional details go to http://www.urbanthinkorlando.com/
September 14 – New Progressive Alliance, Cocoa
On Sunday, September 14 Jeff Nall will present a talk on Uniting Secular, Religious and Spiritual Progressives to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cocoa (1261 Range Road, Cocoa, Florida). The event runs from 11am to 12pm. For more info go to http://www.uucocoa.org/
September 21 – Winter Park
On Sunday, September 21 Public Revolt & Jeff Nall will participate in the Global Peace Street Fair in Winter Park, Florida. Public Revolt will be on hand to offer fair-trade peace apparel made by independent artists. Jeff will also sign copies of his book, Perpetual Revolt. The event runs from 10am to 3pm. For more info go to http://www.peacefilmfest.org/