March 18 marked the day in Salt Lake that citizens joined together to demand the U.S. withdrawl from Iraq on this 3rd anniversary of the Invasion and Occupation. A gathering rally was held at Pioneer Park, followed by a march to the City County Building at Washington Square where a program of musicians, poets, actors, and speakers was presented. Later that evening a livley panel discussion was held on the illegality of the Iraq War.
Mainstream and Alterntive news sources are reporting that numbers for rallies worldwide were lower than expected and significantly lower than pre-Iraq Invasion. Also in Salt Lake, the past two rallies have had as keynote speaker, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, which was a huge draw for most participants in those rallies.
Third Anniversary of Iraq war is Marked by Protests Around World~~Thousands Protest War’s 3rd Anniversary~~Thousands Protest War’s 3rd Anniversary~~Across Florida, protesters march against war in IraqOn the 3rd anniversary of the conflict, groups rally in several areas to urge troop withdrawal.~~Protests to mark Iraq war’s 3rd year: Despite larger events slated for S.F., Oakland, many of the activities will be held in the suburbs
Local news sources covered the events of yesterday.
The photos below include crowd and sign photos as well as our musicians, actors, speakers, poets, and radical cheerleading squad, Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs, of which I am a member.
The keynote speaker at the rally was Joan Maymi, of Gold Star Families for Peace, whose nephew was killed in Iraq. She provided a compelling speech about why our troops need to be brought home NOW.
Gathering Rally at Pioneer Park
March to City County Building at Washington Square
Rally at City County Building
Panel Discussion at Westminster College: “Is the Iraq War Legal?”
Below: Stan Funicelli, renowned composer, performs pre-panel music
Below: The Panelists
Below: Cliff Lyon moderates the panel. Cliff is a local political activist and runs the blog OneUtah
Below: Chuck Tripp, political science professor, Westminster College, provide information from his research on war crimes by George W. Bush,
Below: Bonnie Tyler, PhD, peace activist, provide her perspective on the war crimes committed by the Bush administration, relating her experiences with German culture.
Below: Jim Farmer, patent attorney, filed first lawsuit against Bush as a volunteer with Center for Constitutional Rights, provided information on his work writing habeus corpus for detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Below: Jenni Killpack-Knutsen, peace activist, provided a personal perspective from her conservative upbringing to her philosophy evolving to more liberal.
Below: Eileen McCabe-Olsen, peace activist, read from CodePink Women for Peace’s Jodi Evans list of war crimes committed since the 1990’s.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 
Great job organizers!
The events on Saturday were well organized. I like the idea of keeping the rally more entertaining and having the speakers at a separate event. Just a little sad that the numbers are down, though.